Redskins: Five 2021 free agents to keep an eye on
By Ian Cummings
No. 2 – Detroit Lions WR Kenny Golladay
The Redskins need an alpha on the outside to compliment Terry McLaurin and Steven Sims. And while Gandy-Golden might get his chance to become that alpha, there’s no guarantee that he takes the role and runs with it. In 2021, the Redskins will have a massive opportunity to get better at wide receiver, and if they can snag Kenny Golladay, they will have undoubtedly succeeded.
Golladay might be the best fit on the free agent market for the “alpha” role requested earlier. He’s a big 6-foot-4, 214-pound target with 4.5 speed and solid explosiveness, and he’s exemplified those physical traits well with his big-play ability in Detroit. Despite playing with Jeff Driskel and David Blough as his quarterbacks for half of 2019, Golladay still earned Pro Bowl honors, amassing 1,190 yards and 11 scores on 65 catches.
For his career, Golladay averages almost 17 yards per catch, and he’d bring that same dynamic ability to the Redskins’ wide receiver room. Golladay has the speed and suddenness to get open, but also the size, body control, and strength at the catch point to make the tough receptions downfield. He’s a complete three-level threat, and he’d completely change the complexion of the Redskins’ receiving core.
With Matthew Stafford coming back to the fold, Golladay might be in for a career year in 2020, which could cause his value to spike. That’s no matter to the Redskins, of course; they have more money than they know what to do with in 2021, and spending it on Golladay would be a worthwhile endeavor.