Redskins receiver Jamison Crowder set to sign with the New York Jets

The Redskins were bound to let some players go in this free agency cycle, and we now have word of what may be their first departure.

In 2015, the Washington Redskins drafted a short-statured slot receiver out of Duke in the fourth round. Not one with blazing speed or highlight reel catches, Jamison Crowder was, at first, slept on as a member of the Redskins receiving core.

Crowder would soon make himself known, however, in the form of a rookie season in which he amassed 604 yards and two touchdowns on 59 catches. He broke the franchise rookie record for receptions, a record previously held by Hall of Famer Art Monk. And from that point, he solidified a reputation as one of the better slot receivers in the NFL.

Over the course of Crowder’s career in Washington, however, his trademark consistency would wane at times. He battled injury and bouts of drops as both a receiver and punt returner in 2017, and in 2018, he only played in nine games, accumulating 29 catches, 388 yards, and two touchdowns.

Crowder was rumored to be asking for up to $10 million heading into free agency, and that proved to be a numerical figure that the Redskins weren’t looking to match. Nevertheless, Crowder didn’t have to wait long to hear a call for his services. Per Ian Rapoport, and as our own Jacob Camenker predicted, Crowder is set to sign with the New York Jets.

Crowder should help the Jets, who are in need of reliability at receiver, right away. In three of his four NFL seasons, Crowder has eclipsed 600 yards, and he was on pace to do so in 2018 before being taken off the field. For second-year quarterback Sam Darnold, Crowder provides a safety valve in the slot, with his nuance, quickness, and his ability to separate against box defenders.

For the Redskins, Crowder represents another draft pick gone in free agency, but depending on what the value of his new contract ends up being, the Redskins could get a high-value compensatory pick back in 2020. The loss of Crowder is a price Washington might be willing to pay, in their search for a more dynamic talent.

Update:

Here are the terms of the Crowder deal. A compensatory pick somewhere on Day 3 should be expected next year.