Washington Redskins: Will Josh Doctson Live Up to First-Round Status?

After a redshirt season, there seems to be mutual confidence that Redskins’ receiver Josh Doctson won’t lose a step in his return to the football field. But what will the quality of his production look like? Will he live up to his first-round status?

Doctson’s recovery may decide whether this free agency was a success or a failure for the Redskins.

The Redskins lost Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson to other teams, leaving Jamison Crowder as the only starter remaining from the previous year. The void left by Jackson and Garcon is a big one; the two receivers were not only seasoned veterans, but also reliable and versatile contributors.

The Redskins entered recovery mode shortly after, signing Terrelle Pryor and Brian Quick to deals. The Pryor deal was $8 million over one year. The terms of the Quick deal have not yet been released.

While these signings bring height and depth to the Redskins’ receiving core, there is still a void at the receiver slot opposite Pryor. Quick came into the league as a 2nd-round pick, but if Doctson is healthy, the job should be his to lose. Key word: should be.

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There is urgency for Doctson. Expectations that may collapse in on him if he can’t meet them. Because the Redskins lost two key veterans, there is added pressure on Doctson to file in and keep the production coming. For a franchise that has just begun to hit its first strides since the 1990’s, a setback on the offensive side of the ball could be costly. Doctson is under a considerable amount of pressure for a player in the early stages of their career. Pressure often gets the best of players.

If Doctson fails to step up, it’s safe to say that this would be a massive blow to the Redskins. His continued absence from the lineup would not only hinder its performance, but also stunt its depth. It would also strengthen the sentiment that the Redskins’ should have drafted a defensive player with last year’s first-round pick, rekindling a sour taste that all Redskins’ fans have experienced at one point or another during this offseason.

However, even the pessimistic fans should expect Doctson to contribute right away. He showed off rare athleticism and talent in college, and in his limited action last year, he did the same. He has good size to match the new players on his supporting cast. There was no loss of players in any other areas of the offense, so the continuity is there to help Doctson develop in his early years.

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Bottom line: Expect some hiccups as the receivers work on their in-game chemistry with Kirk Cousins, but nothing more. Pryor will function as a number one, and Brian Quick will serve as valuable height and depth at the position. Doctson fits into this puzzle nicely. He has time to fully recover, and he’s said himself that he’s already 100 percent. When given the opportunity, he should slide right into the number two spot, providing Cousins with an athletic receiver who can make plays all over the field. It sounds like a best case scenario, but it might not be that far-fetched.

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