5 quick thoughts on the Washington Football Team

1. A decision must be made about DeAndre Carter

But not the decision that we were all talking about a few weeks ago. At that point, we were discussing whether the Washington Football Team should make a serious effort to re-sign a quality return man and deep depth receiver.

Now it has become clear that Carter can flourish as a receiver. He is essentially doing everything that high-priced free agent Curtis Samuel was supposed to do.

But this does not mean Washington should walk away from Samuel and swallow the cap hit. It means that Washington needs to figure out whether Carter is more valuable to the team as a return man or as a starting receiver.

Right now, he is being pressed into service as both, but that should not be the plan moving forward. If Samuel can stay healthy and if Dyami Brown can show improvement, then you can use Carter the way he was initially intended to be used. But if you determine that Carter is actually your second-best receiver, then he cannot be your primary kick returner. You can still use him is key situations – as Washington used to use Darrell Green and how Kansas City continues to use Tyreek Hill. But he will be too valuable to use as both your starting receiver and your primary return man.

This decision may be at least partly out of Washington’s hands. I would expect Carter’s agent Andrew Baker to demand Carter be paid next year at starting receiver levels, and not at the returner price. It will be interesting to see how that all plays out – especially since Baker and Exclusive Sports Group also reps Terry McLaurin, who is in line for a big-time extension. Which makes Andrew Baker a key player in the development of the Washington Football Team passing attack.

Weird, huh?