For Redskins, adding elite receiving talent a priority for 2020

The Washington Redskins have lacked elite wide receiving talent in recent years and that needs to change if the team wants to have a potent offense.

Take a look. Take a long, hard look. The Redskins are 1-9. The front office couldn’t complete an easy and logical trade last month before the deadline expired. That is gross incompetence.

By all accounts, the Cleveland Browns wanted to trade for Trent Williams when all of the drama unfolded late in the summer. Ditto for the New England Patriots and they were reportedly willing to part with a first-rounder for Big Trent and the Redskins should’ve pulled the trigger. At the very least, there could’ve been a small bidding war for No. 71.

At 1-9, the Redskins are looking at a major rebuild and a new coaching staff in the coming weeks. Additional draft choices would’ve been a huge benefit for the Burgundy and Gold, but let’s dwell on what the front office can do at this juncture.

More from Riggo's Rag

The Redskins currently hold the second overall pick in the 2020 draft and that affords them the opportunity to likely trade down and acquire many more draft choices. After the initial burst of free agency in March, the Redskins will have the opportunity to fill many holes and wide receiver is one of the most pressing needs during the upcoming off-season. The front office has taken an awkward approach to the wide receiver position in recent years, but the remedy is close at hand. Let’s take a further look.

First and foremost, the plan to acquire wide receiver talent in the latter rounds of a draft is a flawed strategy. So is relying on undrafted free agents rarely works. Current wide receivers Trey Quinn, Cam Sims, and Steven Sims certainly have potential, but they are good for depth purposes at most.

Cam Sims almost never plays and is nothing more than a practice squad mainstay. Trey Quinn will provide the team with a catch or two per game, but his impact is non-existent. Steven Sims has flashed at times, but he has yet to make a huge statement in his rookie season. Darvin Kidsy and Jester Weah are languishing on the practice squad and both players will probably be out of the league in a year or two.

Paul Richardson was a very poor signing in 2018 and the former Seahawk has yet to produce a 100-yard game since he became a Redskin. He is not an elite receiver and the front office made a huge blunder here.

Kelvin Harmon has demonstrated some promise and his determination is certainly admirable, but it is too early to know what his long term impact will be at this level. No one doubts the long term impact that Terry McLaurin brings to the team and the Redskins scored a huge hit in the third round of the 2019 draft. So, what’s next and how can the wide receiving unit errors be upgraded?

It’s simple, to be honest. Part with Richardson after the season. Move on from Kidsy, Cam Sims, Weah, and Jehu Chesson (another practice squad wide receiver). Keep Quinn for depth purposes only. Draft a solid slot receiver in the third or fourth round. Continue to develop Harmon, Steven Sims, and McLaurin.

The next step is to add an elite receiver (or close to it) in free agency. The best option for the Redskins could be Amari Cooper of the Cowboys or Robby Anderson of the Jets.

The next step is to draft a slot receiver. These slot receivers could have a very good impact at the next level: Jalen Reagor of TCU, K.J. Hamler of Penn St., Tylan Wallace of Oklahoma St., DeVonta Smith of Alabama (my personal choice in the third or fourth round), and Aaron Fuller of Washington.

The time has come for the Redskins to make a serious effort at adding true talent at wide receiver. The team is expected to have a hefty amount of cap space for 2020 and some of that cash should be invested for an elite pass-catching prospect.

Next. How did Dwayne Haskins grow in Week 11?. dark

If the front office is able to trade down in the first round as widely expected, they could add a very solid slot receiver. Adding to the talent that is McLaurin and developing the skillsets of Harmon and Steven Sims is certainly a good plan, but this coming off-season is the time to add talented bodies to that corps.

Home/Commanders News