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Unit Analysis and an Eye Towards the Draft: Receivers and Tight Ends

Who’s Returning?

Santana Moss, Chris Cooley, and Antwaan Randle El are not only returning, but they’ve also each have received an extension in the past 8 months.  They are collectively the immediate future of the Redskins’ receiving corps.  The Redskins HAD a lot of depth at the WR position last year, but Reche Caldwell and Keenan McCardell remain unsigned.  Currently the roster features only Anthony Mix and James Thrash as backups, and the team will need to add at least one more contract as depth.

Who’s leaving?

McCardell could and likely will opt for retirement.  Brandon Lloyd was released by the team, and was picked up by the Chicago Bears where he will spend 2008 dropping passes from Rex Grossman and making controversial and downright idiotic statements in the media without anyone asking for his opinion.  Reche Caldwell has offers on the table from both the Redskins and the Rams, and should decide within the week.  Mike Espy and Stephen Harris were released earlier this week.

Who can the team add?

As a practical matter, the Redskins will probably draft a receiver between rounds 3-6.  The team will likely keep six receivers on the active roster, and since only 4 players currently on the roster at that position are likely to make the team, the Redskins will draft or otherwise add a rookie.  In the first round, fans are sure to mention Oklahoma’s Malcolm Kelly, Michigan State’s Devin Thomas, and Texas’ Limas Sweed, but the team would be best off waiting until the third to start considering a receiver.  Michigan’s Mario Manningham could be available, but the Redskins would have a better shot at landing L.S.U.’s Early Doucet, Kansas State’s Jordy Nelson, Costal Carolina’s Jerome Simpson, Florida’s Andre Caldwell (Reche’s brother), or Virginia Tech’s Eddie Royal.  If the Redskins wait to deep in the draft, they could take a gamble on New Mexico’s Marcus Smith, Appalachian State’s Dexter Jackson, Kentucky’s Keenan Burton, or Michigan’s Adrian Arrington.  The Redskins could get a total steal on Purdue’s Dorien Bryant, but his smaller stature would not give the team a compliment to Santana Moss or Antwaan Randle El.

Unit Prospectus

Left as is, this is still a top ten receiving corps in the NFL.  Last year, we watched Antwaan Randle El breakout and Chris Cooley continue to produce.  If Santana Moss can stay healthy, Washington’s passing game is going to improve.  The key here is replacing depth assuming that McCardell doesn’t return.  This should not be a difficult operation for a team and the only way they could really screw this up is by spending their first round pick on a receiver that the team doesn’t need (which seems to be a popular move around the league these days).  There are definately receivers to avoid in this draft, and the team does need a blocking TE, but the Redskins can make their receiving corps elite with very little effort in the draft.

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 22nd, 2008 at 1:36 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.