Redskins refused to deal Terrelle Pryor when Browns came calling

Some believed the Redskins would be better off trading Terrelle Pryor before the deadline hit. After a recent report came out regarding a trade call for Terrelle Pryor, it appears the Redskins disagreed with that sentiment.

Terrelle Pryor hasn’t been the playmaker that was advertised all throughout the offseason. Many, including yours truly, thought he had unparalleled upside in the Redskins’ offense. Many thought that as he continued to develop as a wide receiver, his production, which saw him accumulate 1,000 yards last year in the factory of sadness, would only increase.

That hasn’t been the case. Rather, Pryor has stumbled in an equally fantastic and terrible fashion. He’s shown mere glimpses of the player who could be dominant, but just when you start to gain confidence in the former quarterback, he drops an open pass that any wide receiver with quarterback-sized hands should have caught.

As the trade deadline approached, the thought of trading away Pryor before his stock dropped any lower became a reasonable idea, in the minds of more than a few fans and pundits. Until now, it was believed that the Redskins hadn’t even fielded calls for the disappointing free agent signing. But that changed, with a report coming out today that the Browns called the Redskins, inquiring about a possible trade for the 27-year old. The Redskins weren’t interested in even discussing the matter.

The Browns, who have 20 draft picks in the next two years, certainly would have had enough ammunition to strike a deal for the much-maligned pass catcher. But the Redskins apparently weren’t keen to even participating in preliminary talks.

It’s interesting that this is the case. Pryor only has 240 yards and a touchdown on 20 receptions in eight games. More often than not, when presented with a big play opportunity, he’s failed to come up with the football. The offensive woes, of course, haven’t been his alone to take blame for. Without any success running the football, opposing defenses don’t respect the ground game, and as a result, they stay out of the box and easily lock down the receivers. It’s been hard for the Redskins’ receivers to break free this year, and Pryor is no different.

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However, he’s had his fair share of individual shortcomings, and if you ask me, I think he’d played badly enough to warrant a change of scenery. But the Redskins seem to disagree. It raises another question. Do the Redskins still think they have something in Pryor? Do they think that he’ll break out eventually, even with lesser reps in the future? It’s nice to have Pryor for depth purposes, but a player who showcased so much potential last year should be more than a shift changer. More than a guy to give the starters a breather. Pryor should be a fixture of an electric offense. And he isn’t.

For now, Pryor will remain in Washington, presumably for the remainder of the season. After that, however, his future is uncertain. He recently apologized for his disappointing play on Instagram, and he’s expressed a humble nature, a desire to get better through hard work on multiple occasions this season. Would Pryor be willing to stay with the Redskins for less money, in order to simply prove himself? Would he pull a Junior Galette, but to a lesser degree? Perhaps the Redskins still believe in him, even after his struggles.

It’s speculation at its finest. But it isn’t too far-fetched. And if Kirk Cousins stays, whether on the franchise tag or on a long-term deal, then that would only add fuel to the fire. Pryor was noticeably excited to play with the Pro Bowl quarterback, and through eight games, Pryor has shown that he believes he’s largely at fault for the duo’s inability to get a rhythm.

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From such an obscure event, it’s hard to take away any tangible information that makes sense. For now, all we know is this. The Browns wanted Pryor. They could have given the Redskins what they wanted. The Redskins knew this. And yet, they refused to give up the big-bodied receiver. Is more in store for the converted quarterback? Do they believe him to be due for an increase in production? It’s all speculation, at this point. But the Browns called. And the Redskins refused. That alone is worth noting.

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