Washington Redskins post-NFL Draft 53-man roster projection

Wide Receiver

Roster Projection: Josh Doctson, Paul Richardson, Jamison Crowder, Trey Quinn, Brian Quick, Robert Davis

Roster Locks: Josh Doctson, Paul Richardson, Jamison Crowder, Trey Quinn

Offseason Sleepers: Maurice Harris, Simmie Cobbs

Everyone loves the storyline of undrafted free agent wide receiver Simmie Cobbs. And I don’t blame them. Cobbs, an uber-athetlic outside receiver with the skills and talent to win in the red zone. Many believe Cobbs should have been drafted.

But as exciting as Cobbs’ underdog story may be, the Indiana product has competition on the Washington Redskins receiving core. There are four wide receivers who are going to make the roster no matter what: Josh Doctson, Paul Richardson, Jamison Crowder, and Trey Quinn.

Doctson, Richardson, and Crowder are self-explanatory. Doctson is entering just his third season, and he should break out if healthy, providing the team with an athletic No. 1 receiver. Richardson is the speed of the group; he can get separation with crisp routes, something Washington Redskins receivers struggled with last year. And Jamison Crowder will continue to work well in the slot.

After those three, the final roster lock is Trey Quinn. Some may say that Quinn isn’t a lock because he was selected with the final pick of the 2018 NFL Draft. But, as I’ve said before, it’s not about the pick. It’s about the player. Quinn, standing at 6-foot-0, 202, is one of the most polished route runners in the 2018 draft class. He only had one year of starting production in college, but in that year, he showed fluid fundamentals and sure hands, two things Jay Gruden loves in his receivers.

Quinn was a fourth-round prospect in some corners, and after slipping to the final pick the draft, “Mr. Irreleveant” has a massive chip on his shoulder. Book it now; Trey Quinn will make the Washington Redskins 53-man roster.

After Quinn, however, the roster situation is murky. If the Washington Redskins keep six receivers, then there are four receivers battling for only two remaining spots: Brian Quick, Robert Davis, Simmie Cobbs, and Maurice Harris.

In this projection, I went with Robert Davis and Brian Quick. A year of experience could separate Davis from Simmie Cobbs, and Davis is faster at a similar size; at 6-foot-3, 217, Davis ran a 4.44 at the NFL Combine. That’s a special combination of size and speed, and the Washington Redskins can’t afford to cut him in this stage of his development.

Brian Quick, meanwhile, is the lone veteran in the wide receiver room. Set to turn 29 years old in June, he offers not only depth, but also special teams value for the Washington Redskins. The Washington Redskins wouldn’t have re-signed Quick to a one-year deal if they didn’t like we he showed on and off the field in 2017. With such a young receiving core, it’s important that there is some continuity. Quick could provide that, and more. People write him off as the one designated for the cut list, but there’s reason to believe the team is higher on him than most.