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Washington Redskins: Why Maurice Harris should be the No. 4 Wide Receiver

By Ben Vasconcellos

LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 12: Wide receiver Maurice Harris #13 of the Washington Redskins catches a touchdown past cornerback Trae Waynes #26 of the Minnesota Vikings during the first quarter at FedExField on November 12, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 12: Wide receiver Maurice Harris #13 of the Washington Redskins catches a touchdown past cornerback Trae Waynes #26 of the Minnesota Vikings during the first quarter at FedExField on November 12, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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One of the most overlooked positions in the NFL is the No. 4 receiving spot. It’s essentially the first man off the bench, which is considered a crucial position for the rest of major league sports.

The top three receivers for the Washington Redskins have been established. Paul Richardson, Josh Doctson, and Jamison Crowder have earned their respective positions. I don’t foresee anything changing here unless something drastic happens. This leaves the battle for the No. 4 spot wide open and up for grabs.

Washington replaced Terrelle Pryor with Richardson, but have yet to fill the spot of Ryan Grant. As of right now, I believe that Maurice Harris is the leading candidate be the No. 4 wide receiver. He has all the potential to be the electric receiver that can be plugged in if the Redskins need a spark off the bench.

Unfortunately, we only got a small sample size last season. He had 4 receptions for 62 yards, a single touchdown, with an average of 15.5 yards per catch. His deep ball threat is exactly what the Redskins need to address their aerial attack down field, which has been one of their biggest weaknesses. In the glimpses that we saw last year, Harris showed that he’s got great hands and can make the tough catches. The clip below shows exactly what I’m talking about.

Only one receiver stands out to me that can do something similar; Odell Beckham Jr. Of course, I’m not going to entertain comparing the two. I’m simply showing that Harris has a skill-set that the Redskins need to experiment with and use more.

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Harris’ deep ball capabilities and physicality are exactly what the Redskins need to make big plays happen in clutch situations. He’s the perfect receiver to bring in on play-action or when the Redskins enter red-zone territory. God forbid that Jordan Reed goes down with another injury, but if he does Harris would be a fantastic plug and play for Reed between the 20’s.

The competition that’s lies ahead for Harris would be with Brian Quick and Mr. Irrelevant, Trey Quinn. The argument could be made that Quick has an advantage due to his veteran experience, but I question if he makes the final roster. If Quick hasn’t separated himself against the competition now, then he won’t win the spot. Quinn looked explosive in college and I believe he will transition seamlessly into the NFL. He would be great in the slot. However, as much as I like the guy and love the draft pick, I don’t think his time is now.

Harris has demonstrated that he should be the leading candidate for the No. 4 receiving position. It’s not often that you come across a wide out that is 6-foot-3, who likes to be physical, has great hands, and can run good routes. His size alone will increase Washington’s red zone efficiency.

Next: Why Ryan Anderson could be a hybrid player

Harris should have every opportunity to prove why he’s the fourth best receiver on the team, and I have no doubt that he will. His talents are exactly what Redskins need to benefit from. I’m excited and eager to see the next amazing catch he delivers.

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