The Washington Redskins could use a true No. 1 receiver. The 2018 free agent market will bear some fruitful options if the team chooses to pursue them.
This offseason is a big one for the receivers of the 2014 NFL Draft. In what will likely be regarded as one of the greatest receiver drafts in the history of the NFL, 11 of the first 12 receivers selected have turned into quality starters and many have been true No. 1 wide-outs. In the 2018 offseason, a good amount of them will be free agents.
Four years after the class came into the league, many of the top receivers are set to hit the free agent market. And this is music to the ears of the receiver needy Redskins. One year after letting two of their top receivers walk in free agency, the team needs a real replacement for their No. 1 option. Terrelle Pryor didn’t pan out as an acquisition, so he will likely be let go after his one-year deal expires.
That said, the Redskins should look into putting some of their available cap space to their receiving corps. Here’s a look at the three receivers, all from the 2014 class, that they should look into selecting.
Marqise Lee may not be the biggest name on the free agent market. But, he has the potential to be a fine No. 2 option and possibly even a low-end No. 1 guy with proper coaching.
Lee is coming off one of the best seasons of his career. Serving as the de facto No. 1 option after the injury to Allen Robinson, Lee posted 56 catches for 702 yards and three scores. He did this in 14 games, and did well to play through injuries as well.
I mentioned Lee as one of the free agents to watch during the 2018 Divisional Round. Here’s what I said about the Jaguars’ top receiver for this past season.
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"Over the course of the past two years, Lee has developed into a solid receiver. It doesn’t look like he’s going to be anything more than a quality No. 2 option, but it’s worth remembering that he has played with the hyper inconsistent Blake Bortles during his four-year career. As a counterpoint, it’s also worth noting that in his first two seasons, Lee only was able to play in 25 games and caught just 52 passes for 612 yards and a couple of scores. Some thought he was en route to being a bust, but the Jaguars turned that around in the last couple of seasons."
While there are concerns about Lee, he will be a cheaper alternative to the true No. 1 options on the market and if the Redskins like him, they could get him easily. The team needs to look into him and with an upgraded supporting cast and quarterback, he could be ready to make the leap.
Sammy Watkins was once the fourth overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He was supposed to set the Bills up for the long term with a highly athletic speed threat who could become a true No. 1 receiver. However, that never panned out.
Watkins had some nice seasons in Buffalo. In his second season, Watkins played in 13 games, but he totaled 1,047 yards for 60 catches and nine touchdowns. However, the injury issues he dealt with that year carried over into the 2016 season and that caused Watkins to miss half the season. Given Watkins’ struggles with injury, the change in coaching staff and front office, and the limited ability of Tyrod Taylor to push the ball downfield, Watkins ended up being traded to the Rams where he was supposed to be an upgrade in their receiving corps.
In 2017, Watkins played fairly well, but he ended up firmly behind his counterparts in Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp. Because of the performance of those two, it may be difficult for the team to bring him back at the rate that he wants. It’s possible, but overpaying for a receiver who would be the No. 3 option in the passing attack who had 39 catches for 593 yards and eight scores doesn’t seem appealing.
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However, Watkins could end up having a bigger role in the Redskins offense. The Redskins are seriously lacking speed in their receiving corps, so they need to look to add a true deep threat to their offense. Watkins would be an excellent fit in the mold of DeSean Jackson. Watkins has a lot more potential that Jackson did when he arrived, Watkins is still just 24 until June, and his size will make him an intriguing deep ball man.
Imaging Watkins as the top option with Josh Doctson across from him in the Redskins offense is reason for hope. Provided that Doctson can become a possession receiver in the mold of Pierre Garcon, then Watkins will certainly find success. It would be worth it to ink him to a three year deal that is lucrative, but because of his injury history, they need to be careful with how much guaranteed money they give him. Still, Watkins’ fit in Washington is undeniably a good one.
If the Redskins are looking for a potential No. 1 receiver, the player with the most upside on the market is Allen Robinson. The Jaguars receiver has an excellent 6-foot-3, 220 pound frame and previously, he has been one of the best receivers in the NFL.
In 2015, it looked like Robinson was on his way to establishing himself as a top five receiver. He had 80 catches for 1,400 yards and a league leading 14 touchdowns. That year, he also had a 90-yard touchdown score that saw him outrun Brandon Browner on the Saints and get down the field quickly. His huge frame and solid speed made him an attractive candidate for a big follow up in 2016.
Instead, Robinson regressed and didn’t look as athletic. His downfield ability wasn’t as good, and he frankly looked a step slower. The reason for this is unknown, but it’s fair to wonder if he mailed it in a bit after having a spectacular 2015 campaign. Robinson was expected to bounce back in 2017, but a torn ACL in the first week of the season limited him to just a single catch.
Still, the upside of Robinson is undeniable. He has a proven track record of big production, and even his 2016 season wasn’t that bad. Robinson won’t turn 25 until late August, so he still has a lot of time to continue his development and become one of the premier receivers in the NFL.
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Because of his injury, the Redskins could look to ink him to a short term deal that has a lot of incentives, but low guarantees. He may take a “prove it” deal for a year like Terrelle Pryor did. That said, Robinson is more proven and less of a risk than Pryor, so the team should absolutely consider bringing him on board. Pairing him with Josh Doctson and Jamison Crowder could do a lot to accelerate the development of both and form a truly solid receiving corps.