Redskins 7-round mock: What if they embraced the tank?

Round 1 – WR D.K. Metcalf – Ole Miss

Whoever your franchise quarterback ends up being in the future, you need to get him a dynamic threat at wide receiver. Josh Doctson has his perks, as subtle as they may be, and Paul Richardson separates whenever he manages to stay on the field. But a No. 1 receiver has to be available, and able to win in different ways.

Enter D.K. Metcalf, a wide receiver who can win in all the ways.

Metcalf will be overlooked by some because of his underwhelming college statistics. He only logged 39 receptions in his first year as a full-time starter, and in 2018, his season was cut short due to a neck injury; he was on pace for around 50 catches, 1,000 yards, and ten touchdowns.

Therein lies Metcalf’s greatest strength; he’s a dynamic weapon. At 6-foot-4, 225, he can win with his size and length, but he’s also a superb athlete, and it shows both vertically and laterally. Metcalf is quicker than most 6-foot-4 receivers, and he shows a lot of nuance with his route running, able to use head fakes at the line of scrimmage to deceive opposing cornerbacks.

You might hear all this, and you might be concerned about Metcalf’s speed. Don’t be. His speed shows up on the limited tape he has, and his projected 40-time ranges from 4.46 to 4.58. From now until the combine, people will debate about Metcalf’s speed, but the debate should already be over. Metcalf’s shown on tape he has what it takes.

With Metcalf, the Redskins would add a supremely high-upside receiver who they can keep in the stable at a cheap price for a year, before adding a high-caliber quarterback later on. When the team’s next quarterback would theoretically get here, Metcalf would be waiting, ready to make plays.