Breaking down the Washington Football Team’s position battles: No. 2 Receiver
Top Challenger: Antonio Gandy-Golden
When Kelvin Harmon went down, it seemed logical that Antonio Gandy-Golden, the team’s fourth-round draft pick in 2020, would have a chance to step up into the No. 2 receiver role.
But that optimism has cooled a bit, at least in the short-term.
As ESPN’s John Keim detailed in a Twitter conversation about Washington’s receivers, Gandy-Golden’s “head was swimming” early on. Moving forward, though, Keim expects Gandy-Golden to move up.
It makes sense that Gandy-Golden’s development would be slowed a bit. This has not been a normal offseason for rookies. There was no rookie camp, no OTAs, training camp was delayed, and there is no preseason. That would stunt the growth of any young player, so expecting him to contribute as a starter right off the bat with all that working against him may be a bit too much.
Gandy-Golden still is the de facto challenger for the No. 2 receiver spot, but it probably won’t be to start the season. His focus will be more on learning behind the scenes and participating in specific packages that suit his skills and 6-foot-4 frame well. Then, as the season goes along, he can gradually take over for Inman as he gets acclimated to the league.
The expectations for Gandy-Golden are shifting accordingly with the season drawing near. While fans will likely want to see what the former Liberty Flame can do, it just may take some time for him to start. His goal should be to overtake Inman by the end of the year but even if he can’t, he should be able to gain valuable experience early on in his NFL career.