Not long after the Washington Redskins drafted wide receiver Josh Doctson with the No. 22 pick, the proclamations came in many forms.
By adding Doctson to fellow wide receivers DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon and Jamison Crowder — plus tight end Jordan Reed — the Redskins possess what very well could be the best receiving corps in the league.
Crowder, who impressed in his rookie season with 59 catches and 604 yards as the team’s slot receiver, made the claim last month on ESPN 980. Former Redskins general manager Charley Casserly said Reed, Garcon, Jackson and Doctson makes up the best four-receiver package in the league.
There is no doubt the Redskins and quarterback Kirk Cousins will have great options in the passing game. It’s promising on paper, but how will the group come together in training camp? We’ll find out soon. The Redskins’ position breakdown continues with a look at the wide receivers.
Wide receivers
Roster locks: Jackson, Garcon, Crowder, Doctson and Ryan Grant
Likely: Rashad Ross
On the bubble: Maurice Harris, Valdez Showers, Jarvis Turner, Dez Stewart, Reggie Diggs
What to expect: The group is pretty clear entering training camp with perhaps just one spot available — and even that might not be the case. It’s obvious what they have in Jackson and Garcon, who are both entering the final year of their contracts. I also expect Crowder to improve upon his great rookie season in which he supplanted veteran Andre Roberts for the starting slot role. Whether he gets the amount of targets to bump his numbers remains uncertain, but he built a strong rapport with Cousins in 2015 and can still improve, even if he doesn’t end up with a big jump in statistics.
Coach Jay Gruden is also a big fan of Grant, who’s entering his third season. Despite catching just 30 passes in two seasons, Gruden likes the receiver’s versatility and route-running ability. When Jackson missed the first seven games with a torn hamstring, Grant was plugged in and finished the year with 23 catches for 268 yards and two touchdowns.
Washington will finally get its first extended look at Doctson in training camp, presuming he is healthy after missing most of organized team activities and mandatory camp with a left Achilles’ injury. His 6-foot-2 frame makes him a valuable red-zone target. That, plus his athleticism, is a big reason the Redskins took him with their first-round pick and it will be exciting to see him finally work with the offense.
After a strong preseason in 2015, Ross made the 53-man roster but only played 10 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. The speedy wideout was a valuable kick returner, highlighted by his 101-yard score against the New York Giants in Week 3. It’s likely he’ll make the roster, but he could be challenged in camp. One rookie that stood out in OTAs and minicamp was Maurice Harris, who signed as an undrafted free agent out of California.
• Anthony Gulizia can be reached at agulizia@washingtontimes.com.
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