Redskins draft Antonio Gibson with the No. 66 overall pick in the NFL Draft

With the No. 66 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins have selected Memphis running back and wide receiver Antonio Gibson.

The Washington Redskins came into Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft with a clear need for offensive weapons still lingering. They managed to add blue-chip talent on Day 1 by selecting edge rusher Chase Young with the No. 2 overall pick, solidifying their defense, but their offense remained short-staffed at various skill positions.

Ron Rivera insisted on Thursday that there was no urgency to force the issue, in terms of offensive weaponry, and that the team would simply go by “best available player”. At No. 66, the best available player on their board was apparently Memphis weapon Antonio Gibson. The Redskins selected Gibson at the top of the third round, supplementing their offense with versatile talent.

Gibson, who turns 22 years old in June, isn’t strictly a running back or a wide receiver. He’s a bit of a hybrid player; he didn’t have a large sample size of plays at Memphis, but he produced at a high clip when given the opportunity. In 2019, Gibson logged 38 receptions for 735 yards and eight touchdowns, and he also ran 33 times for 369 yards and four scores. He also accumulated 645 kick return yards and a touchdown on 23 returns.

Gibson is an explosive offensive threat with the flexibility to function as both a ball carrier out of the backfield and a route runner in various alignments. At 6-foot-0, 222, he has a solid build, and he’s a very good athlete, possessing 4.39 speed, a 35-inch vertical, and a broad jump of almost ten feet.

How much value the Redskins are able to glean from Gibson’s selection depends on how creative they are with him. Scott Turner clearly valued Christian McCaffrey’s ability as a multifaceted offensive threat in 2019, and he could view Gibson as a player of a similar vein, in terms of his versatility. Considering that the Redskins needed both security at running back and wide receiver, picking a player like Gibson, who has the traits to fulfill both roles, is a solid move.

All this said, it’s worth wondering if the Redskins left too much value on the board. Borderline first-round tackle Josh Jones fell to them at No. 66, as did Prince Tega Wanogho and various tight end options. The Redskins chose to add to their skill position group, equipping Dwayne Haskins with additional weaponry. It’s a pick with upside, but the execution of the coaching staff is particularly important here.