3 reasons Steelers should not have signed QB Dwayne Haskins

Dwayne Haskins Jr. #7 of the Washington Football Team. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
Dwayne Haskins Jr. #7 of the Washington Football Team. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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Former Washington Football Team quarterback Dwayne Haskins (7) Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Not a lot of tools to work with

Ten years ago, Haskins would have been much better suited for the NFL game than he is today. At nearly 6’4” and 231 pounds, Haskins is a true pocket passer. Unfortunately, he offers little upside when it comes to his ability to extend the play and squeeze the ball into tight windows.

At the NFL Combine in 2019, Haskins ran just a 5.04-second 40-yard dash (12th percentile) and his 28.5” vertical jump (18th percentile) showed just how much explosion he lacks as an athlete. In comparison, even Mason Rudolph tested as a faster player. While speed and agility aren’t requirements to play the quarterback position, NFL teams are swiftly going away from the traditional pocket passers and are drafting quarterbacks who are versatile and can get outside the pocket and make plays.

Haskins rarely is able to make accurate throws on the move, and his arm strength isn’t as good as some thought it was coming out of Ohio State. Like Rudolph, Haskins has enough strength to get the ball down the field, but he lacks the velocity and accuracy to squeeze the ball accurately into good coverage, and his overall skill set is underwhelming. The Steelers would have been better off re-signing Josh Dobbs, who at the very least has good tools and elite athleticism for the position.