Redskins rookie rundown: How has the 2019 class performed so far?

Redskins receivers

The Redskins drafted two wide receivers in the 2019 NFL Draft: Ohio State’s Terry McLaurin and North Carolina State’s Kelvin Harmon. Both receivers have gone on to impress in different ways during training camp, and both could factor into the starting equation.

The latter part of the sentence won’t be easy, as the Redskins receiver battle is very cluttered. But McLaurin and Harmon both have exciting trait combinations to bring to the table, and they’ve been showing off those traits at training camp.

For Harmon, it’s his sure-handedness, toughness, and tenacity that stands out. He only has average quickness as a route runner, and he doesn’t have the breakaway speed to gain consistent separation over the top. But Harmon makes the most of almost every opportunity in his catch radius, and he’s been working after practice with Josh Norman consistently, learning what defensive backs do, and how he can exploit that knowledge. He’s a tireless worker, and he should find a way to maximize his best traits.

Terry McLaurin is a bit luckier than Harmon; he has a ton of ‘best traits’. Whether it’s his elite athleticism, his consistent catching ability, his route running nuance, or his understanding of the quarterback-receiver relationship, McLaurin already looks like the complete package at wide receiver. He made headlines when he juked Troy Apke out of his shoes, but the reality is, McLaurin has been tough to stop every day, and on his best days, he’s been impossible to stop. He’s the most likely rookie candidate to start, with the boundary as the open slot.