Redskins Reconstruction: Wide Receivers

[Monkeydad]

Also, Niles Paul could make an impact on offense this year:

WR Niles Paul adds size, versatility - The Insider - The Washington Post

By now, you’ve heard all about Redskins draft pick Leonard Hankerson’s big hands and healthy confidence. The day after they selected Hankerson in the third round, the Redskins went for size and big-play capability again, drafting 6-foot-1, 220-pound Niles Paul out of Nebraska.

In Paul, the Redskins believe they have a versatile receiver capable of shining on both offense and special teams.

The Cornhuskers are known for running the ball, so Paul’s opportunities weren’t that plentiful. But he still managed to produce one of the best careers of any Nebraska receiver during his four seasons in Lincoln. His 103 career receptions for 1,532 yards rank fifth in school history, and his 1,887 kick return yards rank second on Nebraska’s all-time list.

As a senior, Paul recorded 39 catches for a team-high 516 yards while also averaging 24.2 yards a kick return and 11.4 yards per punt return.

The year before, Paul had 40 catches for 796 yards (19.9 yards per catch) and four touchdowns and averaged 27.9 yards on kick returns.

Paul’s senior numbers weren’t what he had hoped for partially because he missed two games with a foot injury. He is confident that he would have compiled bigger numbers had Nebraska’s offense not featured his good friend and fellow Redskins’ draft pick Roy Helu. so heavily...

Said Shanahan: “He’s a tough guy. He’s got good size: 220-pound range. He’s one of the better blockers, he can return punts, kickoffs, very competitive. Now you get to throw him into the mix. He’s a little bigger than the guys we have had. You know he’ll be able to help right away on special teams and have a chance to grow as a receiver.”

Suddenly, we're very deep at WR!

Santana Moss (possibly)
Anthony Armstrong
Leonard Hankerson
Malcolm Kelly
Brandon Banks
Terrence Austin
Niles Paul
Aldrick Robinson
Taurus Johnson

Also, still technically on roster:
Roydell Williams, Mike Furrey, Maurice Price

Plus:
Cooley
Davis
Paulsen





We COULD survive without Moss, but I'd prefer not to. It's going to be tough to keep all of the WRs on that list (Niles Paul and up) but if we can, we're set at WR, possibly for years. That's one deep, talented WR corp in my opinion. Yes, we have a lot of young guys but they have a huge upside. Then again, so did Malcolm Kelly at one time.

I'm happy and confident in this part of the roster though.

[ethat001]

Originally Posted by Monkeydad

“I knew they were going to take one WR,” he said. “Then we end up taking two and then three." -- Anthony Armstrong

Originally Posted by Monkeydad

Suddenly, we're very deep at WR!

Santana Moss (possibly)
Anthony Armstrong
Leonard Hankerson
Malcolm Kelly
Brandon Banks
Terrence Austin
Niles Paul
Aldrick Robinson
Taurus Johnson

Also, still technically on roster:
Roydell Williams, Mike Furrey, Maurice Price

Plus:
Cooley
Davis
Paulsen

I liked our draft for a change. But -- why exactly did we take three WR? Reminds me of when we took three pass catchers in round 2 a couple of years ago. They were all late draft picks, so I don't care as much, but... Perhaps they knew the hit rate on these draft picks is about 20-30% in the later rounds, and so if they took 3 one should work out.

Would have liked to address O-line, as all of us have said. Ah well, there's free agency.. I think.

[SirClintonPortis]

Originally Posted by ethat001

I liked our draft for a change. But -- why exactly did we take three WR? Reminds me of when we took three pass catchers in round 2 a couple of years ago. They were all late draft picks, so I don't care as much, but... Perhaps they knew the hit rate on these draft picks is about 20-30% in the later rounds, and so if they took 3 one should work out.

Would have liked to address O-line, as all of us have said. Ah well, there's free agency.. I think.

Nothing is actually addressed until the picks pan out, if they ever do. NONE of our WRs beyond Armstrong and maybe Moss, if he comes back, have shown that they are a "must-lock", not even Hank. Trying to get better depth on a team sorely lacking in it is hardly a crime, especially since building a Hogs-like OL is almost impossible nowadays.