Redskins: Analyzing the official 2019 53-man roster

Wide Receiver (6)

Terry McLaurin, Paul Richardson, Trey Quinn, Robert Davis, Steven Sims Jr., Kelvin Harmon

The Redskins did what they had to do here. It was bold, but the decision to cut Josh Doctson with one year remaining on his contract simply made the most sense. Now, Washington can move forward with a new batch of receivers, and they can give opportunities to players who otherwise wouldn’t have seen the field.

In Doctson’s absence, third-round rookie Terry McLaurin is likely to be the team’s No. 1 receiver. The Redskins held McLaurin out of preseason almost entirely, to preserve him for the regular season. He displayed exciting quickness and route nuance in training camp, and with his strong all-around skill set, he could exceed expectations, with a premier role now waiting for him.

McLaurin’s viability is further magnified when one views the two receivers behind him. Paul Richardson and Trey Quinn both have enticing potential as well, but last year saw both receivers miss a combined 23 games. Richardson’s health issues are more pressing; they span back years, whereas Quinn only has one NFL season under his belt, a sample size not large enough to accurately assess one’s durability.

If they can stay healthy, Richardson offers blazing speed and intriguing potential as a red zone threat, while Quinn has impressive quickness and nuance in his routes, as well as a certain toughness in contested situations. His end zone catch in Dallas last season comes to mind, and hopefully, we’ll see more of that from last year’s Mr. Irrelevant.

The Redskins went with a surprising trio to round out the depth chart at wide receiver, picking Robert Davis, Steven Sims Jr., and Kelvin Harmon as their No. 4, No. 5, and No. 6 pass catchers. Davis, an elite athlete, made the team after working hard to come back early from a devastating leg injury, and he didn’t appear to lose any explosiveness in preseason. Sims Jr. boasted a different kind of explosiveness; he’s not an elite athlete by any means, with 4.5 speed to go with his frail 5-foot-9 frame. But Sims has impressive vision and agility as a ball carrier, and he provides Washington with some versatility and returning ability.

Harmon is the last receiver to make the team, and he’s most likely to be inactive on game days. He dropped to the sixth round for his lack of speed, and in preseason, that lack of speed was concerning, as he frequently lacked the top gear required to gain separation. That said, he was able to bring to light his toughness in one-on-one matchups, and his strong hands at the catch point, and given that the team used draft capital on him, it makes sense that Harmon gets a roster spot, to prove he’s worth it.