The Washington Redskins flourished as an offense thanks to two receivers who surpassed 1,000 yards and another who finished with more than 800. But there will be questions whether that will happen again next season, mainly because it's uncertain who will be doing the receiving. That's why it's a position to watch this offseason.
Here's a look at the Redskins' receivers:
On the roster: Jamison Crowder, Josh Doctson, Maurice Harris, Ryan Grant
Free agents: Pierre Garcon, DeSean Jackson
Analysis: The Redskins’ strength was their talent in the passing game, from receivers to the quarterback and the pass protection. But if they lose both Jackson and Garcon, they’d be losing their two starting receivers who both gained more than 1,000 yards. Crowder, who finished with 847 yards, is an excellent slot receiver, but they’d need two new starters on the outside. Doctson should fill one of those spots, but that assumes his Achilles finally will be healthy and that he can actually play at the NFL level. He was their No. 1 receiver on the board last year, a guy they had rated as a top-10 pick. The Redskins still like Grant, but he hasn’t shown in games that he can be anything other than a depth guy who can help as a blocker and the occasional catch. Both Garcon and Jackson do things others can’t. With Garcon, it’s the ability to make tough catches and play with violence – and he’s excellent at running intermediate routes thanks to his ability to create space off cuts. Jackson is fast and scares defenses. Harris is intriguing because of his height, but he, too, is viewed as a depth guy and not a future starter.
How to address: Free agency. They can always draft someone to develop. But with Doctson unproven, they can’t go into next season with him and another rookie starting. Ideally they’d re-sign either Jackson or Garcon. Shortly after the season, it still appeared doubtful that would happen, but that could always change as both sides weigh their options (as of Feb. 1, there have been no contract talks). So if they both leave, they need to find a veteran who can replace some of what they do. Even without those two, if the Redskins added a solid veteran, they could still have a good passing attack.
Top free agent receivers: Alshon Jeffery, Kenny Britt, Kenny Stills, Terrelle Pryor. Make no mistake: Garcon and Jackson will be two of the more coveted targets in free agency. It’s unlikely that Pryor gets free from Cleveland and that could be the same with Jeffery from Chicago. Britt is a realistic target unless new Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay convinces the front office to try and keep him around. He surpassed 1,000 yards with a bad quarterback situation this past season and perhaps has matured as a receiver. He’s not viewed as a No. 1 target, but the Redskins have enough depth in the passing game that he wouldn't need to be. Stills would be a speed guy.
Top receivers in the draft: Mike Williams, John Ross, Corey Davis, JuJu Smith-Schuster. Those are the first-round possibilities – Williams should be a top-10 pick. Ross was considered a speed guy at Washington. Davis has good size and runs well and plays with toughness. Smith-Schuster also has good size and toughness. I’d say they won’t take one in the first round, but multiple sources said they wouldn’t do so last season and … then they picked Doctson. He was their top player available so they drafted him. In an ideal situation, the Redskins will add a veteran via free agency. Otherwise they’ll undergo a lot of growing pains at the position.