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Washington Football Team releases QB, former 1st-round pick Dwayne Haskins

Mark Schipper

By Mark Schipper

Published:

The rumors had been percolating for weeks and Monday morning the Washington professional football team made them real, releasing their 2019 first-round quarterback pick Dwayne Haskins.

The team made the announcement via Twitter and included a short statement from their head coach Ron Rivera:

This afternoon I met with Dwayne and informed him that we would be releasing him. I told him that I believe it benefits both parties that we go our separate ways. We want to thank Dwayne for his contributions these last two seasons and wish him well moving forward.

It is rare that a projected franchise quarterback is released before his rookie deal is up but that’s where Haskins—who led Ohio State to a victory in the 2019 Rose Bowl over Washington—now finds himself. Haskins was a one-year college wonder, playing full-time during just his redshirt-sophomore campaign before jumping to the NFL. It was a risky play for an inexperienced quarterback and it appears the early returns have comeback short. 

In addition to spotty play on the field, Haskins was in trouble several times off the field for immature behavior, including a recent mask-free jaunt to the local strip club after a game that was photographed by several bystanders and used to embarrass the franchise, and presumably Haskins, publicly. 

Crazily enough, Haskins actually started Washington’s game yesterday at home against the Panthers, a 20-13 loss in which he went 14-for-28 for 154 yards, with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He was also sacked twice. Now today he’s no longer on the roster and looking for a new home. 

Mark Schipper

Mark Schipper is a reporter, sportswriter, and aspiring novelist living in Chicago, Illinois.