Redskins should pay attention to pass catchers shining at Senior Bowl

The Redskins added some talent on the offensive side of the ball in 2019, but they still have a lot of work to do.

Dwayne Haskins has proven to Ron Rivera and the Washington Redskins that he has the upside worthy of another year of commitment, at the very least. Now, the next step in his development is providing him with a stable cast of weapons to expedite further growth.

Between free agency and the 2020 NFL Draft, the Redskins will have plenty of opportunities to add talent to their offensive skill position group. The NFL Draft, in particular, is deep at wide receiver, and over the past month or so, the tight end class has been gaining a little bit more glamor.

Without a second-round pick, Washington is somewhat limited in terms of who they might be able to add, but given the depth the receiver class, and the breadth of tight end options set to be available in the middle rounds, things are set up well for them to yield a suitable return in April. And at the Senior Bowl, the potential of some available prospects is starting to show.

At wide receiver, Baylor’s Denzel Mims is the big winner so far. He was listed in my prospects to watch piece, as he has a great combination of size and athleticism. In the clip below, he shows this, as he’s able to generate explosive momentum off the snap, and use his physicality to separate from the cornerback.

In this next one, Mims generates a similar quickness, and uses his athleticism, size, and body contortion ability to snatch an off-balance pass in the corner of the end zone.

Mims will certainly be a riser after his performance this week. He might’ve been a possibility for the Redskins at the top of Round 3 in the 2020 NFL Draft before the Senior Bowl, but he’s putting himself in the Round 2 conversation with his play. If he isn’t available, there are other options, of course. Florida’s Tyrie Cleveland is considered a lesser known prospect, but he has a similarly exciting combination of size and speed. Receivers such as K.J. Hill, Collin Johnson, and James Proche have also separated themselves, and could be possible alternatives for Washington.

At tight end, there have been fewer consistent Senior Bowl standouts, but the upside of the class is very apparent. Stephen Sullivan of LSU has shown off his potential, as has Brycen Hopkins. Harrison Bryant has also been very reliable as a weapon down the middle of the field, but the biggest winner at tight end so far has been Dayton’s Adam Trautman. He has an enticing combination of size, speed, and nuance, as we’ve noted for a little while now. Check out this rep of his route running below. He’s a player, and he could be available at the top of Round 3.

The Redskins need more talent on offense, in order to give Haskins an offensive cast which can incubate his progression from this point. Luckily for them, this 2020 NFL Draft class looks to be stocked with potential, and provided that they can capitalize on it, they can accomplish what they set out to do by starting this process. Be sure to reference the Senior Bowl article linked above to keep track of prospects to watch this weekend!