Redskins Training Camp Profile: WR Josh Doctson

Jacob Camenker

ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 30: Josh Doctson #18 of the Washington Redskins at AT&T Stadium on November 30, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Josh Doctson still has a lot to prove in his third season. But, the Washington Redskins should have faith that he will improve in 2018.

When he came out of the 2016 NFL Draft, Josh Doctson was seen as a luxury pick by the Redskins. The TCU product was the fourth receiver on their depth chart in his first season, and he flashed a solid skill set at times during his first season. However, an Achilles injury robbed him of most of that year and Redskins fans were only left to wonder what could have been if Doctson had stayed healthy.

The next offseason turned into a lot of speculation about Doctson’s health, his upside, and his ability. His ceiling was truly unknown and his floor appeared to be that of a bust. There was nowhere to go but up for Doctson after a lost rookie season.

Doctson did better in his second season, but there is still quite a lot of questions surrounding him. Moving forward, those questions will be answered and that all starts at training camp. Here’s a look at Doctson’s training camp outlook for the 2018 season.

Doctson’s 2017 season

Doctson’s first full season with the Redskins was nothing spectacular. He was decent and posted decent numbers, but he made far too many mistakes.

By the end of the year, Doctson had played in all 16 games and totaled 35 catches for 502 yards and six touchdowns. He has the potential to do and certainly would have had a chance to record more touchdowns if he didn’t have certain issues. And those problems are going to be things that he has to fix during training camp.

ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 30: Josh Doctson #18 of the Washington Redskins pulls down a touchdown in the end zone against Byron Jones #31 of the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth quarter of a football game at AT&T Stadium on November 30, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

What Doctson must show at training camp

Last season, Doctson struggled with consistency, and his hands were a big problem. He was only officially credited with two drops, but he had many chances to make other plays and let them slip through his hands. It’s something that he will definitely have to work on moving forward.

In addition to issues with his hands, it’s clear that Doctson isn’t going to be the game-breaking speed threat that some thought he could be. He never had electric speed, but his performance with an injured Achilles as a rookie made many believe that he could be a solid, all-around combination player. That doesn’t appear to be the case, and it seems that Doctson will have to pick and choose where to use extra burst to separate.

That said, Doctson might be best served to become a possession receiver, as I outlined in a previous article. Here’s what I said about Doctson in that piece.

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"Doctson’s 6-foot-2 frame will allow him to have a size advantage on most of his opponents. The average height for a corner in the NFL is usually about 5-foot-11, so that will give Doctson three inches or so on some of his matchups. Either way, Doctson has to learn to use his body to his advantage. Ideally, he could run downfield and body up against defensive backs when he can’t get separation. If Doctson can learn to run step for step with corners and then fight for the ball thrown his way to make the catch, he will have a much greater chance of sticking around in the NFL."

In addition to working on body control, it would be nice to see Doctson work on his route running. That will be another crucial way for him to get separation or any sort of edge against opposing defensive backs.

This may seem like a lot to work on. Hands, route running, body control, and physicality. But, even with minor improvements in all categories, Doctson could become a 1,000-yard receiver and have a chance to develop into a true replacement for Pierre Garcon. That would be the ideal scenario and it could be attainable if Doctson puts in a lot of work this offseason.

LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 24: Wide receiver Jamison Crowder #80 of the Washington Redskins rushes for a touchdown in front of free safety Bradley Roby #29 and inside linebacker Todd Davis #51 of the Denver Broncos after catching a second quarter pass at FedExField on December 24, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Doctson’s main competition

Doctson’s direct on-field competition will come from the plethora of pass-catching options that will start the season on the field. Notably, among receivers, Jamison Crowder and Paul Richardson will look to establish themselves as Alex Smith‘s favorite target. So, Doctson will have to stave off a battle to earn targets.

I see Doctson losing out to the other two guys in the pecking order, and he will likely be the No. 3 option among receivers. That said, he will still play outside and there’s a good chance that he could become a red zone threat if given the opportunity. And even if he’s the No. 3 receiver, he’ll still be starting. It just means that Crowder and Richardson will get more targets than him.

Elsewhere on the roster, Doctson will face stiff competition from a group of young players if he can’t prove himself. Mr. Irrelevant, Trey Quinn, will be looking to earn a role bigger than the No. 4 receiver. Quinn will likely be targeting Doctson or Crowder as a potential weak link in the receiving corps. While it’s likely that Quinn will be a backup to start his career, he shouldn’t be counted out as a potential surprise to earn a bigger role.

2018 outlook for Doctson

Doctson is a polarizing player among Redskins fans. Some like his upside a lot. Others think that he is well on his way to being a bust. Doctson is entering a critical season in which his future will be determined. He will either continue to grow or stagnate and become a mediocre starting option.

That said, it’s worth noting that Doctson’s third season is really his second. He barely saw any NFL action as a rookie and was never fully healthy when on the field. So, if last year is looked at as his rookie season, he really didn’t perform that poorly.

Still, Doctson is going to have to make some strides next season in order to secure a roster spot for 2019. Of all the starting receivers he definitely has the most to prove. He is being given every opportunity to prove that he is worth the investment the team made in him. And this will be the make-or-break season in his career.

Next: Redskins tough to predict in 2018

Doctson is one of the true boom-or-bust players on the Redskins roster. If he does well, he will be viewed as a critical part of the team’s future. If he doesn’t, he may be on a new team next year. There’s a lot of work to be done, but Doctson still has a lot of upside. At least for one more season.

Jacob Camenker