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Evaluating Redskins draft picks: How Antonio Gandy-Golden fits into WR corps

By Jacob Camenker

MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 25: Wide Receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden #11 from Liberty of the North Team during the 2020 Resse's Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 25, 2020 in Mobile, Alabama. The North Team defeated the South Team 34 to 17. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 25: Wide Receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden #11 from Liberty of the North Team during the 2020 Resse's Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 25, 2020 in Mobile, Alabama. The North Team defeated the South Team 34 to 17. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 01: Kelvin Harmon #13 of the Washington Redskins during the second half during their game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 01, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 01: Kelvin Harmon #13 of the Washington Redskins during the second half during their game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 01, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /

How Gandy-Golden fits with the Redskins

One of the things the Redskins were lacking in their receiving corps entering the 2020 offseason was size. With Gandy-Golden in the fold, they now have a big-bodied receiver, jump-ball threat, and potential red-zone weapon. So, his role figures to be of that nature in his first season.

Gandy-Golden could fight to be a starter for Washington. The Redskins have some young talent in the receiving corps, but very few of their players are proven. Last season’s rookie triage of Terry McLaurin, Kelvin Harmon, and Steven Sims finished the season as the team’s three starters, so it’s feasible that Gandy-Golden could push for a starting job if he’s ready.

McLaurin and Sims are probably locked into starting jobs on the outside and in the slot respectively. But Harmon’s job isn’t quite as safe. The 2019 sixth-round pick looked good late in the season thanks to his ability to make acrobatic catches and his connection with Dwayne Haskins, but he’ll need to progress to stave off competition from Gandy-Golden.

In many ways, Gandy-Golden and Harmon are similar players. They’re both on the bigger side (Harmon is 6-2), both are jump-ball threats, and they were productive and showed well on tape in college. They are also limited by their separation skills as neither has top-tier speed, and that’s part of the reason that they were available in the fourth and sixth rounds of the draft respectively.

While Gandy-Golden will push Harmon, he probably will start the year as a top backup given Harmon’s connection with Haskins. But Gandy-Golden should still see playing time. He’ll have a role to serve as a top backup and should be a part of the team’s red-zone package. Before officially earning that role, however, he’ll have to prove that he can play some special teams. So, that will be something to watch come training camp.

Next. Riggo's Rag Podcast - Evaluating OT Saahdiq Charles. dark

Gandy-Golden has a lot of upside. And it looks like his role should be that of a third or fourth receiver as a rookie. It will be interesting to see what he looks like early in his Redskins career. He has the tools needed to develop into a quality starter; his rookie role will just depend on what point he is at in his current developmental track compared to the Redskins’ other young weapons.

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