The Redskins receiver room is very hard to sort out.
There are no players in the Washington Redskins receiver room who definitively stand out above the rest, and there are few players who can be considered locks to be cut.
There is certainly the potential for someone less known to break out. The circumstances for such an occurrence often require a weaker receiving core. But more likely is the possibility that the Redskins receiving core won’t quite carry its weight as a whole, or that it will be a year too early to expect great things.
Bright spots are present in some areas. Kelvin Harmon has the potential to be a late-round gem for the Redskins. Terry McLaurin has preexisting chemistry with new quarterback Dwayne Haskins, as well as the physical tools to maximize that chemistry. Trey Quinn is working his way into an increased role from the slot.
That said, these bright spots don’t do enough, this early in the offseason, to change what the Redskins receiving core is: A question mark. Things have yet to be settled for this group of pass catchers, and in the coming slides, we’ll do our best to organize the madness.
Redskins Starters: WRs Josh Doctson, Paul Richardson, and Trey Quinn
Let’s just start by saying that literally everything in this piece is subject to change. These players are listed as the starters at the moment for a number of reasons, which will be explained. But all it takes is a strong offseason for someone else to enter the starting equation. Rookies Terry McLaurin and Kelvin Harmon have the most potential to rise, in that regard, but even then, there are a few others who have the potential to do so.
For now, however, we’re sticking with the players who have some experience in the Redskins system, and the players who have NFL starts under their belt. The team could start someone else in favor of Josh Doctson, since Doctson is all but gone in 2020. But they’ve always taken to starting the best players, and they may see Doctson as such, despite his cloudy future with the team.
These three receivers will fill up the traditional X, Y, and Z-receiver roles as starters, but where they line up is up to the team. Such positions are versatile, and the Redskins would do well to mix it up. But a likely lineup, from this point, is the Redskins having Doctson and Paul Richardson on the boundaries, and Trey Quinn in the slot.
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The biggest question mark in this group might be the highest-paid. Richardson has the speed to gain separation, and he’s a detailed route runner who made some good catches last year. But staying healthy has been a problem for him his entire career, and last year, injuries hit hard. He was never able to maximize his play due to lingering ailments, and by Week 10 versus Tampa Bay, he landed on injured reserve. In his five-year career, Richardson has only played all sixteen games once. It’s a trend at this point, but if he’s healthy, his speed could make a modest difference on the flank.
Opposite from Richardson, there will be Doctson. Doctson has filed in on the boundary for most of his time in Washington, and as long as the Redskins opt to start him, that won’t change. Something could be gained from placing Doctson in the slot more often, cultivating artificial separation for him and allowing him to play in space a bit more. But we usually see Doctson and his 41-inch vertical on the outside, and that’s probably where we’ll see him in 2019.
Doctson’s always outstanding athleticism, and he’s only missed one game over the past two years. That said, while Doctson carved out a niche as a solid receiver last year, converting the chains in crucial moments, his NFL progression was stalled by injuries and poor work on the staff’s part to develop him. If the 26-year old is to reach new heights, it will likely be with another team. But if Doctson can refine his nuance this offseason, and rework his game, he could mesh well with Dwayne Haskins. It all depends on Doctson fixing the snag on his developmental curve, and the Redskins giving him the right opportunity. So basically, it’s a long shot.
The third starting spot is trickier to predict, as Terry McLaurin could factor in here. Jay Gruden is also on the record speaking about potentially shifting Kelvin Harmon into the slot, from a situational standpoint. But for now, the job is Trey Quinn’s.
Quinn, who earned the Mr. Irrelevant label in 2018 after being the last pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, was on his way to becoming relevant in his rookie season, before injuries cut his campaign short. Quinn had trouble staying healthy, but when he was available, his crisp route running skills and sure hands were put on display. He flashed against Houston, catching four passes for 49 yards, and again at Dallas, where Quinn caught his first NFL touchdown: a leaping, contested catch from Colt McCoy.
Quinn earned early favor with Jay Gruden in the offseason, as Gruden is quoted conveying his excitement for Quinn’s development as a starter in the slot. Those words mean less now that the Redskins have two drafted rookies in the fold, but they still hold weight. Quinn has been drawing attention in OTAs, and should he continue to do so, he could hold down the starting slot job for the rest of the year.
Redskins Rotational Players: WRs Terry McLaurin and Kelvin Harmon
The rookies are clearly a tier above the rest of the pack, but their starting spots are not guaranteed. For now, Terry McLaurin and Kelvin Harmon are the Redskins rotational players at wide receiver. But between injuries and uncertain potential, that could change. And even if it doesn’t, the Redskins should find ways to factor these two into the offensive game plan often.
Both of these rookies have exciting upside, given that the Redskins can use them the right way. In the words of Draft Network analyst Brad Kelly, McLaurin is “a technician who doubles as an elite athlete”. He possesses an enriched attention to detail as a route runner, but also has the athletic traits to hone his mental traits and be a dangerous threat, both in the flats, and down the field.
Those traits were quantified by McLaurin’s combine performance, where, at 6-foot-0, 208 pounds, he logged a 4.35 40-yard dash, a 125-inch broad jump, and a 37.5-inch vertical. Combine numbers, of course, mean very little if a player doesn’t know how to use his abilities. McLaurin does, however, and with his already-existing chemistry with rookie signal caller Dwayne Haskins, McLaurin has the potential to quickly exceed his draft slot in the Redskins offense.
Kelvin Harmon, meanwhile, should have an even easier time outplaying his draft stock. The NC State product was drafted by the Redskins in the sixth round, but some draft analysts had him graded as high as Round 2. He ultimately fell because his timed long speed was less than ideal, but receivers have won on the boundary without speed before. As I wrote in a piece earlier in the offseason, Harmon has many of the requisite traits to thrive on the outside without elite athletic ability.
"There are no lazy snaps with Harmon, and while his timed speed might leave something to be desired, his play speed is very fast. Harmon uses a combination of quick feet and fluid torso movement to get open, and he knows how to manipulate leverage in tight spaces, to not only cultivate separation, but to put himself in the best position to snare the ball. Harmon has enough suddenness in his route stem breaks to create separation without top-tier short-area quickness, and he uses head fakes to tip false direction on occasion, misleading defensive backs. In general, Harmon showcases polish and nuance with his routes, and he clearly understands what it takes for a receiver with his traits to get open."
With a well-developing sense of route nuance, and an alpha mentality and sheer play strength that gave him the advantage often in one-on-one situations in college, Harmon could be a key contributor at some point in the 2019 season, depending on the fate of the starters. The Redskins have two very promising rookies in tow, and whether in 2019, or beyond, they should become a big part of the Redskins offense.
Redskins Top Reserves: WRs Cam Sims and Brian Quick
The final seven receivers on the Redskins roster are a bit jumbled. You could order this group in a number of ways, but generally, you’ll find that two receivers stand out amongst the rest: Brian Quick and Cam Sims.
Simply because these receivers are deemed as the top reserves doesn’t mean they’ll stay that way. As we’ll get into later, the receivers at the bottom of the depth chart have enticing traits as well. But Quick separates himself from this group with his NFL experience, and Sims separates himself with his size and his 2018 preseason performance (his Alabama lineage probably doesn’t hurt in D.C.).
Sims likely has the best chance of making the roster; after all, he made it last year, when, as an undrafted free agent, he stood out enough with his 6-foot-5, 213-pound frame and his impressive contested catch ability. At just 23 years old, Sims still has plenty of upside, and the Redskins could deem him worthy of keeping with a sixth receiver spot.
Brian Quick’s roster spot is far less of a sure thing. The veteran, who turns 30 years old in early June, was the player brought on to replace Cam Sims last year when Sims was placed on injured reserve after Week 1. He signed his third one-year deal in a row with the Redskins in March, and at this point, there might be too much young talent on the roster to warrant using a spot on Quick. For the offseason, he’ll provide solid veteran leadership. Afterward, however, his fate is less certain.
Everyone Else: WRs Darvin Kidsy, Robert Davis, Jehu Chesson, T.J. Rahming, Steven Sims
This group rounds out the Redskins current receiving core. While these players are at the bottom of the pack for now, they don’t deserve to be forgotten. Cam Sims was one of these players at this time last offseason, and there’s plenty of time for someone to climb up the depth chart.
Three of these five receivers are returning to the NFL in 2019. Kidsy was an undrafted free agent in 2018, and he boasts exciting athleticism which he can mold, as long as he remains diligent in refining his craft as a technical receiver. Robert Davis also has impressive athleticism and a burly 6-foot-3 frame. Injuries may have chipped away at his available time to develop this offseason, but he has some potential as well. He’s not a likely roster inclusion, but if he can stay healthy, there’s certainly a chance he could stick around.
Jehu Chesson is the only one on this list who played with the Redskins for the majority of the 2018 season. The Michigan product played in 12 games for Washington, although he saw minimal action as a receiver, instead performing well as a gunner on special teams. If he continues to impress there, the Redskins could decide to keep him around for that primary purpose, although his lacking utility as a true receiver could be an issue.
Steven Sims and T.J. Rahming are the longest shots to make the 53-man roster. Both are undersized, with Sims measuring in at 5-foot-10, 176, and Rahming measuring in at around 5-foot-7, 170. Both players caught for over 2,000 total yards in college, and both have limited experience at returner, but as we’ve seen in the past, undrafted free agents need a bit more to break onto the scene. Only one has made the Redskins final roster over the past five years, and that was Cam Sims, who had his size and his aggressive style to separate himself. Sims and Rahming are names to watch, but until they stand out in preseason, they’ll face a steep uphill battle.
This is how the Redskins receiving core looks right now, but in time, the order could change drastically. Unheralded Player Darvin Kidsy could keep impressing in OTAs, and find a place for his athletic talent. Cam Sims could continue to grow and maximize his role as a jump ball specialist. And McLaurin and Harmon could usurp starting roles from the incumbents. Whatever happens, the wide receiver position will be a breeding ground for speculation this offseason. Can they transcend their ‘average’ label? In time, we will see.