Why Paul Richardson is a perfect fit for what the Redskins need on offense
Richardson came cheaper than other top options on the market, and he is just about as young as them.
Going into free agency, it was known that the Redskins had interest in both Allen Robinson and Paul Richardson. I had also speculated that Sammy Watkins, another young, dynamic speed receiver could be on their radar as well. When both Robinson and Watkins flew off the board in the early hours of Tuesday morning, the Redskins were left with Richardson as their top choice.
That said, looking at the deals that Watkins and Robinson got, Richardson is comparatively a bargain. Watkins surprisingly received the most of the bunch, despite being injury prone throughout his career and not living up to expectations with the Los Angeles Rams. Watkins received $16 million per year for three years, and also got $30 million in guarantees. That’s a hefty sum to pay for him, considering his history of lower leg injuries and how that may impact his greatest skill: his speed.
As for Robinson, he came at a slight discount from Watkins’ value. He too signed a three-year deal, but his was only worth $42 million over the duration of the contract ($14 million per year). He received $25 million in guarantees. But here’s the catch with Robinson. He barely played in 2017 due to an ACL tear, so he may not be 100 percent in his first season back. Yes, he will have had a calendar year to heal, but it often takes an additional season for players to work back into playing shape. So, he comes with risk as well.
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Comparatively, Richardson received only $8 million a year, despite having a similar skill set to Watkins. There are two reasons why this lower number occurred. The first is that Richardson was signed to a five-year deal, so he was actually give comparable money to the other two receivers ($40 million overall) but he just gets it over a longer period.
The second is that Richardson only has one quality season under his belt. Richardson’s 44 catches, 703 yards, and six scores in 2017 were all career highs. So, he is a player on the rise, but he doesn’t have the same level of consistency or any sort of proven track record.
Still, the Redskins got a player that could be at least comparable to the other players mentioned at a fraction of the price. And also, Richardson isn’t much older than Watkins or Robinson. Richardson turns 26 in April while Watkins and Robinson each turn 25 in June and August respectively. That bodes well for the team’s decision makers and while Richardson may never turn into a true No. 1 guy, he can have a lot of success in Washington.