Does Washington Need a #2 WR Opposite McLaurin???

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March 18, 2022

by David Earl

Terry McLaurin is Getting Plenty Of Attention

Terry McLaurin may be the best wide receiver Washington has had since Art Monk but that’s no secret – his 91.4 contested catch rate grade is not solely due to Heinicke’s lack of arm strength. Coverage understandably shifted his way, but it wasn’t just because of his talent. Who else is there to fear opposite Terry? So instead of recapping a season that saw Terry eclipse 1,000 yards, let’s dissect the importance of adding a clear-cut #2 wide receiver to this offense – and not just for Carson Wentz’s sake.

Who We Have Signed

Curtis Samuel: After a frustrating 2021 injury-plagued season that had many of us screaming deja vu in memory of Paul Richardson Jr., Samuel’s reliability and availability is rightfully in question. If healthy Curtis has the profile of a poor man’s version of Deebo Samuels in this offense. For Carolina, in 2020, he broke out for:

  • 77 receptions (79% catch percentage)
  • 851 yards (8.8 yards per target average)
  • 200 rushing yards on 44 carries (4.9ypc)
  • 5 total TDs

Dyami Brown: Brown, a 3rd round pick, was very underwhelming in his rookie campaign but was that due to his ability, or was he a victim of an overall unimpressive offense? Granted he did go into the season with relatively unfair expectations, drawing some Terry McLaurin comparisons, but that doesn’t excuse his inability to create separation on a consistent basis. Going into his second season he surely has a role and will have time to develop but that isn’t enough to rely on Brown as a viable #2 option this season. Rewinding to his North Carolina career, he has talent to harness:

  • 123 receptions (18.7ypc)
  • 2306 yards
  • 21 total TD’s

Who Is Available?

The team supposedly brought looking back Cam Sims yesterday for another season. DeAndre Carter has proven to be a valuable piece who the team should consider bringing back as well. However, they are just not options who scare opposing defenses. Washington needs a wide receiver who is not only reliable and available on a weekly basis but who will demand at least some level of respect on every down. They will also be wise to ensure this addition could, at minimum, fill in admirably as the team’s #1 in the event McLaurin misses time. Here are some options available who could be that immediate, impactful #2 wide receiver:

Allen Robinson: Last season was a wash for Robinson, as the quarterback situation and the offense as a whole were in flux and not very good. He is 2 years removed from a 100 catch season and has been a highly productive wide receiver in his career. He plays much faster than his 40 yard dash of 4.6 seconds would suggest, while carrying an ideal frame at 6’2″ and 220lbs. While he is my top option here, his potential salary of around $16 million may prevent this signing. If not for the price tag, his two previous season numbers combined make Robinson the perfect fit opposite McLaurin:

  • 200 receptions
  • 2,397 yards
  • 12 ypc
  • 13 TDs

Robinson has apparently signed with the Rams, so he may not be an option anymore.

JuJu Smith-Schuster: His 2021 season was cut short due to a shoulder injury, but he is a season removed from a 97 catch season and has hit over 100 receptions (2018) already in his young career. Sure he carries a bit of a charismatic persona about himself, he has hardly been called a locker room distraction and would provide a more than capable target opposite McLaurin. Running a mid 4.5 forty-yard dash and at 215lbs, there isn’t much doubt what he is capable of and could be lured in with a 1 year prove-it deal. Smith-Schuster would serve 2 roles in providing that #2 option at a reasonable price while providing a bridge to either Dyami Brown or a rookie this season if they decide to let him walk next year. The expected floor type numbers (high ceiling player), if healthy, could look like this:

  • 80 receptions
  • 900 yards
  • 11 ypc
  • 6 TDs

Jarvis Landry: Recently released Jarvis Landry is a bit of an enigma here because, with the Dolphins, he was averaged nearly 100 receptions a year and twice hitting 110+ receptions but never went over 90 receptions once in Cleveland. You can look at multiple factors with Baker Mayfield being the key reason for an up and downtime on the team. While he is on the smallish side (5’11” and 196 lbs) he has always played much bigger and is an excellent route runner. He’s already proven he can be a #1 and is another candidate for a prove-it type deal. To his fullest potential you can potentially expect:

  • 90 receptions
  • 900 yards
  • 12 ypc

The Wrap Up

There are some wild card options like veterans in T.Y. Hilton, A.J. Green, and Emmanuel Sanders or a reunion with Jamison Crowder which all FA wide receivers will be covered in our 2022 FA breakdown column. The point here is a rookie wide receiver should not be banked on as the guy especially since there isn’t a Ja’Marr Chase in this year’s draft. Regardless of your feelings on the Wentz addition (check out Paul Francis’ column) he is the type of quarterback Scott Turner needs for his offense. Taylor Heinicke’s inability for stretching the field is a strength of Wentz and Turner’s system will exploit that ability too. With the return of J.D. McKissic, Wentz has a viable weapon in the screen came and a safety valve when the play breaks down. McLaurin could very well eclipse his previous seasons’ numbers having Wentz running this offense, especially with the recent McKissic news, but not if he’s continuously double-covered or the safety always rolled to his side. It cannot be said enough that Washington must solidify that #2 wide receiver role and not rely on either who’s currently signed or a rookie wide receiver as they will be doing McLaurin a great disservice.