It's officially stupid social media season.
First, one national writer ponders the obvious on Redskins quarterback Alex Smith not likely playing this coming season, something everyone locally already knew and wrote about ad nauseam. That prompted overkill by other media that Smith is out for the season as if it was just declared.
Now step two has speculation on every available passer coming to Washington. The latest has Miami supposedly wanting to trade Ryan Tannehill to Washington for a draft pick. Like that's a real thing, which it isn't.
The Redskins shouldn't trade anything for a player another team is about to cut unless there's a big free agent market waiting for that player, which there isn't in Tannehill's case. Washington can't afford to spend heavily on another quarterback, because Smith's $20 million remains on the books this season whether he plays or not. Besides, who needs someone else's failure?
No, the Redskins shouldn't think about 2019 when looking for a passer in coming months. Forget the stopgap move. Fans aren't fooled by it anymore. In fact, it will make the Burgundy Revolution even madder.
The best move is in the draft and only then if it makes sense. But that depends on whose sense we're discussing. The late Pimlico general manager Chick Lang would ignore any reports of rain in Baltimore on his beloved Preakness Day until finding one that said sunshine, even if it came from Miami. NFL execs are the same way. They see what they want to see.
One mock draft has Drew Lock falling to the Redskins at 15. Others may cite Ryan Finley or Kyler Murray, maybe even Will Grier or Daniel Jones. Just keep looking at mock drafts until you find one you like.
If the Redskins weren't so desperate for someone to base their ticket sales campaign upon maybe they could skip finding a passer until next year, but they can't. Nothing sells hope like a young quarterback, and Washington fans are low on optimism so owner Dan Snyder must find one.
But, find one that's going to play well in 2021, not a has-been that's burning time to groom someone for the future. They might as well keep Colt McCoy as a place holder.
Washington's past sins of buying in a sucker's market makes social media reports of every wild thought seem possible. But the only thing that makes sense is just waiting for the draft and maybe even next year.
Rick Snider has covered Washington sports since 1978. Follow him on Twitter: @Snide_Remarks
