Skins should be ecstatic if Haskins path continues to mirror Roethlisberger

Some thought Haskins would be better on the bench. Maybe they're kind of right.

The local media first, and now the national scene: Dwayne Haskins is receiving plenty of accolades for his first few stints in the yellow practice jersey. The Washington Redskins first first-round pick has done a solid job during his early days as the newest quarterback, and everyone is taking notice.

Knowing traits are the only thing that can truly be measured at this point, the reports are that Haskins arm talent is exactly as advertised. There will be a lot more that is required for him to be a top QB in the NFL, but former quarterback Chris Simms seems to agree what that arm can become in the NFL and compared him to a future Hall-of-Famer. Simms sees a lot of Ben Roethlisberger in Haskins, via NBC Washington.

"He reminds me a lot of a big Ben Roethlisberger with his style of football play. [Haskins] arm is special, there's no doubt about that," Simms said. 

Roethlisberger, of course, went 13-0 as a starter in his rookie year, but he did not start right away. Instead, he rode the bench for a game before injury brought him into a Week 2 game against rival Baltimore. He finished with two scoring passes and two interceptions in a double-digit loss, and then won every game he started for the season.

Pittsburgh traveled to the AFC Championship game with a 15-1 record behind a streamlined offense that didn't ask Roethlisberger to do too much.

Washington would love for similar results on the season and for the career of their new leader. The paths have started off in the same fashion. A big-bodied quarterback who played college ball in the state of Ohio ended up being the third QB selected in a draft. Both were top 15 picks who donned the No. 7. Both have the ability to attack vertically in a relentless fashion.

Roethlisberger wasn't intended to start in 2004, meant to sit behind replacement-worthy Tommy Maddox. It's tough to argue Case Keenum's last two years as a starter don't mirror Maddox' 7-3 season followed by 6-10.

It wouldn't surprise to see Keenum start the season, but at the first opportunity Washington turning to their young gun for a spark that could lead to something special.