Five veteran receivers the Redskins could target after Cody Latimer’s arrest

Okay, so Taylor Gabriel isn’t at all like Latimer as a player. But Gabriel has some nice skills that could benefit the Redskins if they wanted to sign him.

Gabriel only stands 5-7 making him one of the league’s shortest receivers and a far cry from Latimer’s 6-2 frame. But what Gabriel does possess is great speed and quickness that has afforded the former undrafted free agent out of Abilene Christian a chance to find sustained success at the NFL level.

Gabriel, 29, began his career with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2014. Since that season, he has averaged 43 touches and 508.5 scrimmage yards per season while racking up 15 total touchdowns. He was a great deep threat earlier in his career and still has the speed necessary to break big plays, but his elite foot speed and quickness also affords him a chance to find success as a route runner. He breaks away from opposing corners with ease and can turn short routes into instant gains with that foot speed and his separation skills.

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As recently as the 2018 season, Gabriel was producing at a solid clip with the Chicago Bears. He was effectively their No. 2 receiver and had a career-best 67 catches for 688 yards while adding two total touchdowns. He was on pace to be similarly productive in 2019 but only managed to play in nine games. It marked the first time in his career that Gabriel missed more than three games in a single season. And prior to last season, he hadn’t missed a contest since 2016 which is remarkable considering his smaller size.

Gabriel certainly has merits. He’d be a great backup option for the Redskins and would add a respected veteran to the receiver room. He’d also be a great role model for the other undrafted players looking to make the roster or stick around on the practice squad. So, for that reason, he could be a sensible short-term addition.

It also wouldn’t hurt Gabriel’s cause that he had six catches for 75 yards and three touchdowns against the Redskins last year. Yeah, Washington has a new regime, but perhaps some of the front office holdovers will remember that as his peak performance and they’ll hope that in a super-speed package, he could make a similar impact.

If not for his lacking size, Gabriel would probably top this list. But nonetheless, he’s an intriguing option for Rivera and Co. to consider.