Five Redskins who received votes of confidence in 2020 NFL Draft
By Ian Cummings
No. 4 – Redskins WR Steven Sims
The Redskins drafted approximately 1.5 wide receivers, so on the surface, it doesn’t feel like they’re entirely comfortable with trotting out an undrafted free agent in the starting receiver unit in 2020. But the context, as well as the nature of the Redskins’ selections, bodes well for Sims’ usage in 2020.
The lone pure receiver whom the Redskins drafted was Liberty wideout Antonio Gandy-Golden, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound behemoth who profiles as a boundary pass catcher with Devin Funchess-like traits. He’s a full half-foot taller than Sims, so he can’t be viewed as direct competition for Sims.
Meanwhile, the Redskins’ second “receiver” drafted was Antonio Gibson, although he’s much more similar to Sims, in the sense that he’s more of a gadget player who can line up at receiver or running back. Offensive weapon is a more accurate term for Gibson, and judging by how excited offensive coordinator Scott Turner is about Gibson, and can be safe to assume that he has a role waiting for Sims as well.
It’s never a bad thing to have multiple versatile weapons to move around and confuse defenses, and that’s exactly what the Redskins might have in Gibson and Sims. The enthusiasm around Gibson doesn’t suggest that he’ll phase out Sims; instead, it might mean that both players will be creatively employed in the coming season. Plus, Sims has a slot role to claim as well.