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Top dark-horse receivers that could make the Redskins roster

By Jacob Camenker

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 16: Isaiah Wright #2 of the Temple Owls runs onto the field prior to the game against the Tulane Green Wave at Lincoln Financial Field on November 16, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 16: Isaiah Wright #2 of the Temple Owls runs onto the field prior to the game against the Tulane Green Wave at Lincoln Financial Field on November 16, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBIA, MO – SEPTEMBER 14: Wide receiver Johnathon Johnson #12 of the Missouri Tigers warms ups prior to a game against the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks at Memorial Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MO – SEPTEMBER 14: Wide receiver Johnathon Johnson #12 of the Missouri Tigers warms ups prior to a game against the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks at Memorial Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

Johnathon Johnson

Again, it’s important to look at the two receivers that the Redskins signed as undrafted free agents because they made up half of the team’s undrafted free agent class. Isaiah Wright was one of them and Johnathon Johnson is the other.

Johnson played collegiately at Missouri and put together a nice four-year career. During his freshman through junior campaigns, he worked with Drew Lock and was one of the talented quarterback’s favorite pass catchers. In 2017 and 2018, he grabbed a total of 100 passes and posted at least 724 yards and five touchdowns in each season. It looked like he was one his way to being a potential late-round slot target.

Then, Johnson’s senior season happened. He wasn’t bad by any means, but he certainly regressed without Lock and dealt with injuries that kept him sidelined. He played in just eight games and caught 29 passes for a career-low 294 yards. His 10.1 yards per catch average was also a career-low and he didn’t catch a touchdown.

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Perhaps working with a quarterback better than Kelly Bryant will give Johnson a chance to bounce back. And maybe getting a chance to get fully healthy will do that as well. Either way, he could end up filling a need for the Redskins.

Johnson isn’t a big receiver; he’s just 5-10, 180 pounds, and those listed measurements may be generous. But he does have speed and can serve as a vertical threat and slot playmaker for the Redskins if all goes well. He’ll need to improve his hands and the team will have to draw up some plays to get him the ball, but the potential is there.

Johnson certainly has potential and while other players may get more hype, there’s a chance that he could make the team. He’s a bit similar to Steven Sims, who also averaged 10.1 yards per catch as a senior and is similarly sized to Johnson. So, maybe Johnson could be an ideal backup for him. We’ll see what he can accomplish this offseason, but if he bursts onto the scene like Sims did, he should have a chance to make the team.

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