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Why Paul Richardson is a perfect fit for what the Redskins need on offense

By Jacob Camenker

SEATTLE, WA - OCTOBER 29: Wide receiver Paul Richardson #10 of the Seattle Seahawks heads off the field after beating the Houston Texans 41-38 at CenturyLink Field on October 29, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - OCTOBER 29: Wide receiver Paul Richardson #10 of the Seattle Seahawks heads off the field after beating the Houston Texans 41-38 at CenturyLink Field on October 29, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – OCTOBER 29: Wide receiver Paul Richardson #10 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates his touchdown against the Houston Texans during the second quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on October 29, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – OCTOBER 29: Wide receiver Paul Richardson #10 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates his touchdown against the Houston Texans during the second quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on October 29, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

Richardson’s best skill is his athletic ability.

Since coming into the NFL, Richardson was considered to be a great athlete. At the NFL Scouting Combine in 2014, the year he was drafted, Richardson ran the third fastest 40-yard dash at an even 4.4 second, trailing only Brandin Cooks and John Brown in that category. Given his 6-foot frame and the athletic ability he had shown on tape, Richardson was considered to be a potential speed receiver for the NFL level, but he has become more than that.

Richardson did have trouble staying on the field early in his career, as he suffered a torn ACL during the playoffs in his rookie year. Complications from that and a hamstring injury robbed him of most of the 2015 campaign, and it wasn’t until late in 2016 that he truly started to flourish.

Late in the 2016 season, Richardson ended up earning a bigger role in the offense after Tyler Lockett got hurt. Richardson performed admirably in his place, matching his athletic ability and making numerous great catches. His most famous one was this one-handed touchdown grab against the Detroit Lions in the playoffs that year.

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Many will point to Richardson’s speed as his greatest strength, and that certainly is one. However, in the wake of his ACL tear, Richardson has learned to play with more than just speed. Now, the more impressive parts of Richardson’s athletic arsenal are his quickness and body control. Richardson uses his quickness in routes to gain separation with sudden movements. This allows him to get to open space where he can make a catch and then utilize his speed to his advantage.

In terms of body control, Richardson is able to move his body in ways that allow only himself to catch the ball. He can contort his body in borderline unimaginable ways to toe-tap inbounds and get catches that other receivers may not be able to get. Also, the way he can move his arms and utilize his hands gives him a massive catch radius, thanks to his flexibility.

Richardson is more than just a speed receiver. He’s a true athlete on the field who can beat opposing defenders in multiple ways whether it’s with speed, body positioning, or just insane athletic ability. This is exactly what the team needs, and it’s what they were missing without DeSean Jackson. Think of Richardson as a better version of Jackson with similar skills, but better overall ability to get to contested balls. Or, at his ceiling, Richardson could be a poor man’s Odell Beckham Jr. But that may be a stretch.

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