Who are the best WR targets for Washington in 2021?

The Washington Football Team desperately lacks receiving weapons outside of wide receiver Terry McLaurin. After McLaurin, Washington doesn’t possess a single pass-catching target that can get open with any level of consistency. The 2021 NFL Draft is loaded at the wide receiver position, and many believe it’s an even more talented group than last year. So with an obvious need to address the position, who are some of the best potential Washington 2021 WR targets?

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Washington 2021 WR targets

First-round players

Rashod Bateman, Minnesota

Rashod Bateman is arguably the most well-rounded wide-out in the 2021 class. The biggest of the top receivers, Bateman stands at a respectable 6’2″ and utilizes that size in contested situations. His focus at the catch point is elite, and every pass thrown in his area becomes catchable. He’s a respectable athlete with enough juice to get vertical against corners, and he’s a refined route runner capable of creating separation. Add in the fact that he’s a YAC threat and a strong blocker, and Bateman has arguably the highest floor of any 2021 receiver.

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Bateman’s fit in Washington is really intriguing because his existence would open up a lot of variation for McLaurin. Currently, McLaurin is forced to win against double coverages and bracketing because he’s the only capable receiver on the field. Bateman would let offensive coordinator Scott Turner get more creative with where they line-up McLaurin and what they ask him to do.

Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

Ja’Marr Chase produced one of the most prolific seasons in NCAA history last year at LSU. He’s one of the best contested-catch receivers in the NFL, and he’s a natural vertical threat who’s releases and vertical route running are some of the best I’ve ever watched. Chase profiles as a prototypical X-receiver in the NFL, and is currently the favorite to be the first receiver selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.

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While Chase would fill a similar role as Bateman, I think his production would be less impactful. For Chase to be a dominant receiver at the next level he needs to be on an offense willing to consistently take shots downfield, and I don’t think Washington is set-up to do that. Not for at least another full season.

Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama 

Jaylen Waddle has been dominant so far for the Crimson Tide. The youngest of four Alabama receivers who will all be high draft picks, Waddle has enjoyed his long-overdue breakout season. He’s one of the scariest athletes in the entire 2021 class, and he’s a chess piece that you find ways to get the ball. He’s dominant with the ball in his hands and he provides value as a return man.

Waddle would fit well in a Turner offense that has been predicated on quick passes that put the ball in the playmaker’s hands. It’s no coincidence that McLaurin led all receivers in yards after catch going into Week 4 of the NFL season. Waddle would excel in the open Washington offense and he’d be an elite number two to pair with McLaurin.

Rondale Moore, Purdue

Similar to Waddle, Rondale Moore is an elite athlete who excels in space and makes plays with the ball in his hands. He might be pound for pound the best athlete in the entire 2021 NFL Draft class. He’s dominant after the catch, and despite being undersized he’s incredibly difficult to take down. He runs hard through tackle attempts and his contact balance is ridiculous.

Middle Rounds

Damonte Coxie, Memphis

Washington already showed their interest in Memphis players who can do multiple things when they took Antonio Gibson 66th overall in the 2020 Draft. Damonte Coxie is a dominant YAC receiver, averaging over 16 yards per reception. He would function as the Z in the Turner offense and he’d be given the opportunity to make plays early in his career.

Tamorrion Terry, Florida State

One of the most dominant physical skill-sets in the 2021 receiving class, Tamorrion Terry would make for a very interesting selection. He has legit 4.3 speed and he’s phenomenal after the catch despite having a massive frame. At 6’4″, he also possesses an elite catch radius and impressive contested catch ability. Terry’s biggest issue is his awful concentration drops, where the ball simply slips through his fingers.

Kadarius Toney, Florida

One of my favorite players in the class, Kadarius Toney is an absolute weapon. He’s a bit of a poor mans Moore in the way he plays. He’s a bit bigger than Moore, but he’s an electric athlete who seems impossible to take down. Toney would function as another versatile chess piece for Turner to use in unique ways.

Late Round Players to watch

• Frank Darby, Arizona State
• Chris Autman-Bell, Minnesota
• Marquez Stevenson, Houston
• Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Iowa
• JD Spielman, TCU

Overview

The Washington Football Team desperately needs an influx of talent to the wide receiver room. Whether it’s as a bigger receiver who can take over the duties as the “X” and free up McLaurin to line up everywhere, or signing an explosive athlete who can make the most of Turner’s YAC dominant offense. Regardless, there’s a number of quality receivers who should be Washington 2021 WR targets.