Redskins: Uncoiling the layers of the Josh Doctson dilemma

The prospect, Josh Doctson

There is a certain outcome that fans associate with a wide receiver drafted in the first round. It’s an outcome that features the receiver producing on an annual basis, with average stat lines that follow a path like this: 80 receptions, 1,000 yards, 10 touchdowns.

What is lost in this assumption, however, is that all first-round picks are different. They all have different traits and some traits don’t bode well for this assumption. There are also players who had no business going off the board in the first round at all.

So what kind of draft prospect was Josh Doctson? Did his tape warrant such an early selection?

Washington Commanders

Pre-draft evaluation develops every year, as teams continue to learn what traits match well with the style of football that is played today. Traits play a key part in determining where players are selected, but college production trickles into the equation as well.

Taking a look back into the history of one of the Redskins’ most polarizing players is tricky, but Lance Zierlein’s Draft Profile on Doctson, from NFL.com, expunges enough useful information for our purposes. Two quotes leap out above the rest (pun intended). Here is the first one, showcasing Doctson’s calling card:

“[Doctson] climbs to snare jump balls and has body control to adjust in mid­air.”

That’s Doctson’s bread and butter. When he doesn’t win with in-route separation, he beats the defender at the destination. But those kinds of plays will only occur so often in the NFL if you’re not open. That is where our second quote stems from:

“[Doctson] doesn’t look sudden or urgent in his routes and is upright into his breaks. Out-­breaking routes are rounded and obvious.”

There we have it. Josh Doctson in three sentences. His sheer playmaking ability was worthy of a Round 1 grade, in Zierlein’s opinion, but he came into the NFL as a very raw, very undeveloped route running prospect. In the NFL, you almost have to be versatile, unless you’re absolutely dominant in one facet of the game. Doctson is a very good contested catch receiver. But the skill does not compensate for other traits he lacks.

From the information gathered in Doctson’s draft profile, it appears as though the warning signs for his potential failure were there. Either the Redskins didn’t weigh such concerns heavily, or they felt they could teach him. Either way, it has not turned out the way they had hoped.