The Redskins have a need at wide receiver. But don’t tell that to Trey Quinn.
After losing Jamison Crowder to the New York Jets in free agency, the Washington Redskins receiving core has only gotten thinner, compared to the shell it already was at the end of the 2018 season.
Josh Doctson is an improving, yet underachieving receiver who will likely be gone after next season. Paul Richardson is a speed threat who hasn’t shown he can stay healthy. There are various developmental players still in the fold such as Cam Sims, Robert Davis, and Tre McBride, but none of them can be counted on to be contributors, let alone fill the void left by Crowder.
But wait. There’s one more name to list. A player who fits the mold of the slot receiver. Mr. Irrelevant, Trey Quinn.
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Make no mistake: Quinn hasn’t done enough to lock down the slot job yet. He played in three games, starting two as the team’s slot receiver in place of Jamison Crowder. He was targeted ten times last year and caught nine passes for 75 yards and a touchdown. Modest numbers at best, but they hint at potential for Quinn, if he can stay healthy.
Quinn, in games he started, averaged five targets, 4.5 receptions, and 37.5 yards. It’s a small sample size, as Quinn battled injury issues in his rookie season. But the SMU product showed the ability to get open and make the tough, contested catches. Lauded as a workmanlike, reliable receiver out of college, he has the traits to resume Crowder’s role, so long as he bulks up before his sophomore season. Injuries in one season can be an outlier; just because Quinn was bothered by them in his rookie year doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to be a problem for him moving forward. At the same time, he needs to prove he can stay available.
Count Jay Gruden as one person who is exceptionally confident in Quinn’s abilities. He said this about Quinn’s opportunity in 2019, per Kyle Stackpole of Redskins.com: “Obviously losing Crowder hurts, hurts quite a bit. But I’m ready to watch Trey Quinn jump in that slot role and dominate the position. I’m excited for him.”
Count Trey Quinn as another one who believes he has a chance to make an impact, per the same article.
“I did enough last year I guess to get that comment , but I haven’t done anything this year. As far as I know, I’ve played two-and-a-half games, and that’s not enough to be a starting slot receiver. So I’m going to take this offseason pretty seriously.”
Once the very last pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Trey Quinn now appears to be the Redskins first pick at slot receiver. It’s an opportunity he’s prepared to capitalize on.