Receivers Washington could add after Cody Latimer lands on Commissioner’s/Exempt list
Trade Targets
The trade market yields some more promising options, as we explored after Harmon’s injury occurred. Here’s a brief recap of those options plus some other players that could make sense for the squad.
Dante Pettis, 49ers. Pettis was a second-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, but he quickly fell out of favor in San Francisco last year and was a healthy scratch during the Super Bowl. Still, Pettis had a nice rookie season (27 catches, 467 yards, five touchdowns) and could thrive with a change of scenery.
Given that San Francisco added Brandon Aiyuk in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, they may be ready to move on from Pettis… for the right price. If Washington offers a fifth-round pick for Pettis’ services, perhaps the 49ers will jump at the chance to add draft capital. And it’s worth noting that these two teams already made a trade this offseason involving Trent Williams, so perhaps there is a good relationship between those two front offices.
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Curtis Samuel, Panthers. Samuel was rumored to be on the trade block during the 2020 NFL Draft, but nothing ever came of those rumors. He may not be available but given that he’s in the final year of his contract and Carolina just signed Robby Anderson to a three-year deal, they may not be able to retain Samuel and could consider moving him.
Rivera and Turner should at least consider calling about Samuel. He may not ultimately be available, but it’s worth checking in. He’s another guy that can play all over the field, as Turner likes, so they could find a way to use him if they could get him. But the cost may be prohibitive to making a deal happen.
Keke Coutee, Texans. Coutee caught 11 passes in his first game as a Texan and it looked like he was on his way to becoming the team’s starting slot man. But over time, he battled injuries and made mistakes that landed him in Bill O’Brien’s doghouse and allowed the likes of DeAndre Carter to pass him on the depth chart.
Now, Houston has Will Fuller, Brandin Cooks, Randall Cobb, Kenny Stills, Coutee, Carter, and fifth-round draft pick Isaiah Coulter on the roster. That’s a deep group, and Coutee may not make the cut. Washington could trade to grab the slot man for a seventh-round pick and develop him as a backup to Steven Sims.
John Ross, Bengals. Ross has been a disappointment as the No. 9 pick, but he still has done some things well. In his second season, he caught nine touchdowns and emerged as a quick, shifty red-zone threat. In 2019, he averaged 18.1 yards per catch (28 catches, 506 yards in eight games) despite playing with Andy Dalton and Ryan Finley at quarterback.
Ross (5-11, 194 pounds) could add speed to Washington’s offense. And given that he’s behind A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd, and second-round draft pick (33rd overall) Tee Higgins in Cincinnati, the team may be willing to trade the free-agent-to-be in the final year of his contract. Grabbing Ross cheap would be a smart move and if he pans out, the team could certainly find a way to keep him beyond this season.
DaeSean Hamilton, Broncos. Denver drafted three receivers in 2020. Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler, and Tyrie Cleveland. Because of this, some of their back-end roster candidates at the position may be available for cheap.
One of those could be DaeSean Hamilton. The 2018 fourth-round pick out of Penn State has worked as a backup slot receiver for Denver and posted modest numbers in two seasons with the team. He has averaged 29 catches for 270 yards and has three career receiving touchdowns. The numbers aren’t any great shakes, but the 25-year-old is 6-foot-1, has experience, and is versatile enough to be a top backup. Adding him, if available, at a low cost wouldn’t be a bad move.
Tim Patrick, Broncos. Here’s another member of the Broncos that could make sense to add. Patrick is 26 and has averaged 20 catches for 267 yards during his NFL career. He has just one touchdown, but his 6-foot-4 frame suggests he could be capable of doing more if developed properly. Sacrificing a conditional seventh-round pick for him wouldn’t be a bad move if Hamilton can’t be had for a similar price.