Washington Position Group Breakdown: Wide Receivers
July 26, 2024
by David Earl
Returning Group
This position group has been tough to grade over the years considering the rotation at quarterback since the Alex Smith injury. Last year was no exception, with Sam Howell as essentially a rookie quarterback. While the position was stable under 1 player the lack of consistency was the biggest issue all season. Then compounding the consistency issues of Howell, the offensive line was simply awful, and Howell was under constant pressureurn affected his accuracy. Entering this season Washington will most likely have a rookie quarterback, number 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels at the helm but still a highly questionable offensive line. The departure of Curtis Samuel takes away a valuable weapon and veteran presence for the rookie quarterback. Therefore, let’s look at the returning players in this group first.
Certainly the most reliable hands of the group, a drop rate of 3.8%, Terry McLaurin is an ideal leader not only on the field but in the locker room. This will help the young rookie quarterback. His drop rate is higher than Justin Jefferson‘s 1.1%, but he seems to catch everything. McLaurin is matched very well among some of the top in the game with 95 or more targets. Some of the drop rates in this group are Cooper Kupp with 96 targets and 4.2%, A.J. Brown, with 158 targets and 4.2%, CeeDee Lamb, with 181 targets and 3.3%, Ja’Marr Chase, with 145 targets and 4.4%, and the list goes on. I am not saying McLaurin belongs among these wide receivers but you have to consider how good he could be if he had the same consistent quarterback play as those mentioned.
The compliment to McLaurin is Jahan Dotson, who has been the stark opposite. In college, he was one of the more reliable pass catchers, especially beyond 20 yard, yet in his first two seasons in the NFL, his drop rate was 9.8% and 6.0% respectively. While he improved from his rookie season, Dotson will need to completely flip this negative into a positive as the number two wide receiver for the rookie quarterback Daniels. Dotson will be counted on to assume the majority of Curtis Samuel’s vacated 91 targets while logging a 56% snap count rate and accumulating a 2.2% drop rate.
Jameson Crowder is a 9 year veteran and will provide depth to this receiving core. Since tracking the drop percentage rate since the 2018 season, he finished with a drop rate of 6.6% in 2019 from 122 targets and 3.4% in 2020 from 89 targets. While Crowder has proven to be a good receiver throughout his career, Dyami Brown has the most to prove in this group entering his 4th season. More than doubling his drop rate from his rookie season, going from 4.0% to 8.7% last season, Brown will have the opportunity at a much larger role with Samuel’s departure.
| Player | Snap Count% | Targets | Catch% | Drop% | Yards Per Target | Yards Per Reception |
| Terry McLaurin | 85% | 132 | 59.8% | 3.8% | 7.6 | 12.7 |
| Jahan Dotson | 82% | 83 | 59.0% | 6.0% | 6.2 | 10.6 |
| Jamison Crowder | 13% | 20 | 80.0% | 5.0% | 8 | 9.9 |
| Dyami Brown | 23% | 23 | 52.2% | 8.7% | 7.3 | 14 |
The remaining players returning who logged fewer than 20 targets are Mitchell Tinsley, Dax Milne, Kazmeir Allen, and Brycen Tremayne. Of these names, Mitchell Tinsley and Kazmeir Allen draw the most interest in my opinion. Tinsley typically has reliable hands, according to his scouting report, but won’t break away from many defenders. A smooth route runner and good in open spaces, he could provide a reliable possession-type receiver especially if he cleans up his occasional double-catching passes. Kazmeir Allen is a bit undersized at 5’9″ and 175 lbs, but he will most likely be a utility gadget-type player on offense. Where his biggest potential could be in kick returns, especially under the new set-up the NFL adopted from the AFL. The new rules are designed to be safer for the returner while allowing him the opportunity to make the first initial move before the kickoff team already establishes a full head of steam in their direction. Whether you love or hate this move, it very well could bring some excitement back to the return game, and Allen is capable of providing such electric runs.
New Offseason Aditions: Free Agents and Rookies
At 8 and 5 years of service, respectively, Damiere Byrd and Olamide Zaccheaus come with the most experience of the three free-agent signings. Of the two, Zaccheaus is the most intriguing, as he had a 0.0% drop percentage and averaged 16.4 yards per reception last year. To add more perspective, in 2021 and 2022, he produced a drop percentage of 3.1% in 53 targets and 3.8% in 61 targets, respectively, and averaged just over 13 yards per reception in both years. He came out of college with a time of 4.9 seconds in the forty yard dash, which isn’t good; however, Zaccheaus gives the potential of added wide receiver depth, as he has reliable hands. He is another option for special team returns. He could be a player to watch if Dyami Brown does not turn the corner or if Jamison Crowder appears to take a considerable step back this season.
As for Davion Davis, he has only produced a total of 3 targets in two seasons with a 16% total snap count last season. He is likely destined for the practice squad. His clear path will have to be through special teams unless he stands out significantly in training camp.
| Player | Snap Count% | Targets | Catch% | Drop% | Yards Per Target | Yards Per Reception |
| Olamide Zaccheaus | 41% | 20 | 50.0% | 0.0% | 8.2 | 16.4 |
| Davion Davis | 16% | 3 | 33.3% | 0.0% | 5.7 | 17 |
| Damiere Byrd ** | 36% | 23 | 56.5% | 0.0% | 11.7 | 20.6 |
(**) Denotes 2022 season as Byrd appeared in one game during the 2023 season
Rookie Additions: Scouting Reports
- Luke McCaffrey: He transitioned from quarterback to wide receiver in college, McCaffrey took significant strides last year. He is quick out of his breaks at top speed and is a sure-handed receiver. As a former quarterback, he understands coverages which best aids him in finding where the openings in coverage may exist. He makes the tough catches look easy and does not shy from contact over the middle of the field. He did struggle releasing off press coverage. In addition, he can one-dimensional with his speed especially in transitions into his routes.
- Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint: He isn’t a speed receiver, with a 40-yard dash time of just 4.81 seconds, but he does well with contested balls. He has quick feet off the line and can create immediate separation. He is very refined in route running and can generate quick clean breaks into his cuts. He had good body control when contesting a 50/50 ball and maintains a very large catch radius. Although Rosemy-Jacksaint is very quick off the line he will struggle to maintain separation throughout his route and will be limited in yards after the catch.