Redskins: Riggo’s Rag Podcast: Antonio Gandy-Golden pick breakdown
By Ian Cummings
The fourth round can be an area of great value for NFL teams who know what they’re looking for. In 2020, the Redskins acquired two players who could help them capitalize in such a way.
With their first pick in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins selected LSU offensive tackle Saahdiq Charles. Their round was already off to a strong start, and it didn’t stop there. Later on, with a compensatory selection closely preceding the fifth round, the Redskins double-dipped on the offensive side of the ball, and selected Liberty wide receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden.
Reviews surrounding the Charles pick were generally optimistic, but opinions were less consensus when pertaining to Gandy-Golden. Some were incredibly high on the former Flames star, but others cited his speed as a limiting factor at the next level.
The only way to truly grasp the kind of value Gandy-Golden can provide is to look at his profile in its entirety, and break down the details of his game. That’s what Riggo’s Rag co-expert Jacob Camenker and I hopped on the podcast to discuss!
We broke down Gandy-Golden’s game in great detail, going over components such as his route running, contested catch ability, run-after-catch ability, and many others. We also analyzed his athletic profile, the dangers of saying his last names out of order, and discussed whether or not the concerns surrounding his speed are merited in their entirety. To listen, simply click the play button below!
Additionally, it was noted after recording that some fans sought to learn whether or not Antonio Gandy-Golden would be able to make the switch to tight end. We did not talk about that during the podcast, but I was able to reach out to Jacob for an answer to that question. Here’s what he said:
"Hypothetically, Gandy-Golden could play the tight end position if he added 20 pounds of muscle to his frame. But will he do that? No. He won’t. He’s at his best as a big-bodied, jump-ball threat on the outside, not working the middle of the field like a tight end might be asked to do.Simply put, the Redskins drafted Gandy-Golden as a receiver and he will be a receiver. Besides, it’s not like the Redskins are particularly strong in that area, so his potential to upgrade the team at a familiar position is much greater than his potential if moved to an entirely new spot."
I’m in agreement with Jacob. Plus, adding 20 pounds might sap whatever athleticism he already has at 6-foot-4, 220. He’s in a sweet spot right now, possessing enough explosiveness to be a mismatch at his size as a boundary receiver. He’d potentially lose some of that by pursuing the frame of a tight end.
For more on Gandy-Golden, check out Jacob’s film breakdown of the Liberty receiver, linked above, and stay tuned for our episodes on the Redskins’ fifth-round picks, Keith Ismael and Khaleke Hudson. And as always, feel free to give us your thoughts in the comments section below!