Top five receivers for Redskins to target in 2020 NFL free agency

I really like the idea of the Redskins bringing in a seasoned veteran to help their young receiving corps grow. A case could be made that the aforementioned A.J. Green fits the bill, but I think Emmanuel Sanders might be the more logical fit.

Sanders has been in the league for a decade and he has always been a pretty productive player. This year, however, Sanders has been very impressive in the way that he was able to come back from an Achilles tear he suffered at the end of the 2018 season.

Despite splitting the season between two teams, Sanders was able to total 66 catches for 869 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He really took off with the 49ers, as they had better quarterback play than the Broncos had before he was traded.

Sanders has always had good speed and quickness, but he had a bit of a renaissance in that area in 2019. He averaged 13.2 yards per catch which was his best mark since the 2015 season. Part of that improvement was that he was able to make quicker cuts and get into open space very quickly. And, of course, he had some big downfield plays as we saw against the New Orleans Saints in Week 14.

Sanders may not have as much upside as Anderson. And he may not be as talented as Green. But I just like how he would fit into the Redskins receiving corps. He would give the Redskins a trio of fast, quick cutters that will make life difficult for opposing defenses to plan against.

Ideally, Sanders would serve as the No. 2 receiver on a two-year deal that would let him mentor McLaurin, Sims, Harmon, and a player that the team may draft in the loaded 2020 receiver class. He could be excellent in that role and he would certainly give Dwayne Haskins a reliable target.

We’ll see if the Redskins examine Sanders as a cost-effective option at the receiver position that would let them spend up a bit more at tight end. In this analyst’s opinion, the fit would be really good and that’s why I have Sanders higher on this list than most.