Random Commanders Thoughts

[HTTR]

I'm sorry JP - but it's a dumb argument.

You can win games without scoring a touchdown too, but that's not the recommended plan. I know folks are tired of the discussion but it doesn't make a strong WR room less optimal than a weaker one

Par for the course for JP. I’ll grant him this though…I’d rather use the money to improve other position groups, even if they don’t need it as bad, than go after someone out of desperation. Improving other areas would theoretically at least make up for the weakness at WR2.

Of course my point is moot since they don’t seem to want to use said money on anyone. If the choice is gonna be pick up a WR out of desperation or eat the money and do nothing then yeah give me the receiver.

 

[SkinsGuy99]

I'm sorry JP - but it's a dumb argument.

You can win games without scoring a touchdown too, but that's not the recommended plan. I know folks are tired of the discussion but it doesn't make a strong WR room less optimal than a weaker one

I don't think that's his point though. I don't think he's trying to claim the WR situation is fine or optimal.

I think he's reacting to those that are acting like if we don't go out and get an Aiyuk or Diggs or Allen, this offense will suck and will go nowhere.

Finaly is just pointing that teams can win games and offenses can move without having three WRs catching 1,000+ yards each, and to scale back pushing the panic button.

Most of the hand-wringing over the #2 WR is just based on the fear of the unknown. Washington has talent in the WR room, but will they coalesce behind McLaurin into a solid receiving unit?

They very well could, but not being sure is what drives this push to get another WR, whether they work out here or not.

 

[Conn]

This offense would be lucky to have three 400+ yard WR’s right now

 

[Boone]

I don't think that's his point though. I don't think he's trying to claim the WR situation is fine or optimal.

I think he's reacting to those that are acting like if we don't go out and get an Aiyuk or Diggs or Allen, this offense will suck and will go nowhere.

Finaly is just pointing that teams can win games and offenses can move without having three WRs catching 1,000+ yards each, and to scale back pushing the panic button.

Most of the hand-wringing over the #2 WR is just based on the fear of the unknown. Washington has talent in the WR room, but will they coalesce behind McLaurin into a solid receiving unit?

They very well could, but not being sure is what drives this push to get another WR, whether they work out here or not.

One man’s ’hand wringing’ is another’s reasonable assessment. The WR room behind McLaurin isn’t good. Finlay pointing out that teams have won without good WR rooms may not be inaccurate, but I think there are plenty of reasonable folks asking ‘why aren’t we doing more’ on that front, not predicting disaster because they haven’t.

 

[SkinsGuy99]

One man’s ’hand wringing’ is another’s reasonable assessment. The WR room behind McLaurin isn’t good. Finlay pointing out that teams have won without good WR rooms may not be inaccurate, but I think there are plenty of reasonable folks asking ‘why aren’t we doing more’ on that front, not predicting disaster because they haven’t.

No it's just hand wringing when we really don't know. When folks are going on and on for 20+ pages about it, it's hand wringing. 🙂

Our WR room may not be "The Posse", but I don't believe they're bad either.

Will they be the #1 WR room in the NFL? Most likely not, but I think they can get the job done and make the offense work.

Diggs or no Diggs.

 

[Conn]

I swear I’m not trying to belabor this, but how is it not (with the information we have now) a “bad”?

Saying you don’t think the hand-wringing is totally justified, and that the offense can win other ways, okay, I don’t agree but I get it.

But straight up saying you don’t think it’s objectively on paper a bad WR room, I don’t get that.

We can disagree on how much it matters that it’s bad, but how can anyone look at that WR depth chart and think it’s not bad lol. It’s arguably the worst in the league, right? Terry is Terry but he’s a year older, the rookie could be good but lots of teams have “could be good” 3rd rounders on their depth charts who aren’t being relied on so heavily. And everyone else has been lucky to hit 200-350 yards in recent years if they’re a vet, or never have if they’re young.

Again, totally understand that it’s not as important or as “code red” to some as others, that’s where most of the discussion has been for so many pages over the last months of discussion here. But I thought the disagreement was more in the resource allocation vein, and the specifics of what additions did or didn’t happen, and why, our projections for the young guys (optimism vs pessimism), etc.

But I didn’t think there was that much disagreement on the current state of the actual depth chart as it currently stands in a vacuum. It seems obviously bad to me.

 

[RedWolf]

One of the things that I've learned in life is to plan for 1/3/5 years out, as well as long term. I think that AP is coming along and hopefully getting better. My concern is having multiple wide receivers that are 30 plus

 

[burgold]

I'm somewhere in the middle.

I think our WR room is pretty weak, however, I think we do have weapons at TE and RB. If we can get away with having a star receiver and have the TE and RBs pick up the slack (which really does sound like 2024 with Terry being the star and Ekeler and Ertz being the next most important guys in the passing game with Brown, Brown, OZ and Crowder peppered in) we could be fine.

 

[Boone]

When you look at *examples* of teams that have won without stellar WR rooms, they usually have one thing in common - a difference making QB.

So the good news is - we have that. There is no question that Jayden is so good, he can make a tepid WR roster productive.

But one of the reasons I'm concerned about not having more 'go to' WRs he can rely on is that I think his lack of trust in the guys we've had so far has contributed heavily to him getting hurt. The inability of marginal WRs to get open, run precision routes, separate, etc... consistently is a problem because it forces Jayden to do one of two things, either hold onto the ball longer than he safely should, or take off running. Both of those things increase the likelihood of him taking shots and getting hurt.

We need a couple more WRs who consistently beat the DBs covering them. That allows Jayden to throw on time, get that ball out of his hands quickly, and stay healthy.

 

[DWinzit]

When you look at *examples* of teams that have won without stellar WR rooms, they usually have one thing in common - a difference making QB.

So the good news is - we have that. There is no question that Jayden is so good, he can make a tepid WR roster productive.

But one of the reasons I'm concerned about not having more 'go to' WRs he can rely on is that I think his lack of trust in the guys we've had so far has contributed heavily to him getting hurt. The inability of marginal WRs to get open, run precision routes, separate, etc... consistently is a problem because it forces Jayden to do one of two things, either hold onto the ball longer than he safely should, or take off running. Both of those things increase the likelihood of him taking shots and getting hurt.

We need a couple more WRs who consistently beat the DBs covering them. That allows Jayden to throw on time, get that ball out of his hands quickly, and stay healthy.

Or they had stellar defenses. Hopefully our defensive unit can gel quickly while applying pressure often and being a more sure tackling group and hoping they can hold up in coverage.

Yes, it sure would ease a lot of concerns if they did add a legit WR2.

 

[SkinsGuy99]

But straight up saying you don’t think it’s objectively on paper a bad WR room, I don’t get that.

That might be because you are thinking that me saying they're "not bad" means I'm saying they're good.

I'm not saying that. I'm saying I think they'll get the job done.

Could they be a good WR room? Sure they could. We could be surprised. We were surprised in 2024 going to the NFC Championship game, and we didn't have a great or good WR room then.

As the hand wringing goes, fans need to understand that maybe it's not Washington or any other team that needs a WR.

Maybe it is Diggs.

Maybe Diggs doesn't want to come here because we're not seen in the sports media as a contender. Or maybe he's asking for an absurd amount of money. Folks carried on last off-season about the front office and the McLaurin situation, declaring "Pay the man!". Then we find out that Terry was practically asking for Ja'Mar Chase money, which was absurd.

Maybe Diggs is asking for the same absurd money, which Washington is rightfully saying we won't pay that.

Or it could be that Diggs has become one of those lazy veterans that just wants to skip OTAs, mimicamp, and training camp and still get paid. We just don't know.

I'm not against bringing Diggs or Aiyuk or Allen in. But I don't think the season is over or the offense is going to suck because they don’t or can't.

 

[SkinsFTW]

Dyami Brown had 14/229/1 in 3 playoff games in 2024. Mc Laurin had 14/227/3. They were 2 of the top 3 postseason WRs for that year. Brown is back.

Ertz led all TEs with 18 catches and Ekeler led all RBs in receiving yards in the 2024 postseason.

If JD stays healthy he's probably capable of elevating the guys we have on the field. He did it better than anyone his rookie year.

I'm hoping they bring in Keenan Allen though instead of Diggs because they might need help. McLaurin might not be the same dude anymore. Diggs could end up suspended for something stupid.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I swear I’m not trying to belabor this, but how is it not (with the information we have now) a “bad”?

Saying you don’t think the hand-wringing is totally justified, and that the offense can win other ways, okay, I don’t agree but I get it.

But straight up saying you don’t think it’s objectively on paper a bad WR room, I don’t get that.

We can disagree on how much it matters that it’s bad, but how can anyone look at that WR depth chart and think it’s not bad lol. It’s arguably the worst in the league, right? Terry is Terry but he’s a year older, the rookie could be good but lots of teams have “could be good” 3rd rounders on their depth charts who aren’t being relied on so heavily. And everyone else has been lucky to hit 200-350 yards in recent years if they’re a vet, or never have if they’re young.

Again, totally understand that it’s not as important or as “code red” to some as others, that’s where most of the discussion has been for so many pages over the last months of discussion here. But I thought the disagreement was more in the resource allocation vein, and the specifics of what additions did or didn’t happen, and why, our projections for the young guys (optimism vs pessimism), etc.

But I didn’t think there was that much disagreement on the current state of the actual depth chart as it currently stands in a vacuum. It seems obviously bad to me.

I don't know if it's bad. I know that it is unproven. And might end up being bad. But it might end up being good/ok. And I'll concede, maybe it's the rose colored glasses.

If nothing breaks their way, they will be bad. But I just don't know yet. I know there isn't another name other than Terry to inspire confidence. But we have 3 draft picks, Williams, McCaffery and Lane. I think there's at least a punchers chance Williams is good. Part of draft and develop is you have to give the guys you draft at least an opportunity to play. Maybe McCaffery just was a bad fit for Kliff and he'll do well?

It might turn out they are bad. I'll absolutely concede the point. And I would have literally no problem if they could find a guy to come in and play outside. I'm open to a vet signing. Might happen. Who knows?

But I also REALLY want the draft picks to work out. And I want them to have the opportunity to do so.

 

[Conn]

I don't know if it's bad. I know that it is unproven. And might end up being bad. But it might end up being good/ok. And I'll concede, maybe it's the rose colored glasses.

If nothing breaks their way, they will be bad. But I just don't know yet. I know there isn't another name other than Terry to inspire confidence. But we have 3 draft picks, Williams, McCaffery and Lane. I think there's at least a punchers chance Williams is good. Part of draft and develop is you have to give the guys you draft at least an opportunity to play. Maybe McCaffery just was a bad fit for Kliff and he'll do well?

It might turn out they are bad. I'll absolutely concede the point. And I would have literally no problem if they could find a guy to come in and play outside. I'm open to a vet signing. Might happen. Who knows?

But I also REALLY want the draft picks to work out. And I want them to have the opportunity to do so.

I mean, fair.

Nobody ever knows. By that measure, there’s no point in ever thinking something will be bad.

But if you were to rank every WR corps in the league right now using the knowledge of production and pedigree we currently have to look at it, ours would be low. Extremely low. For many people, last or close to it.

Anything can literally happen, that’s the magic of sports.

But that’s a bad place to be right now.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I mean, fair.

Nobody ever knows. By that measure, there’s no point in ever thinking something will be bad.

But if you were to rank every WR corps in the league right now using the knowledge of production and pedigree we currently have to look at it, ours would be low. Extremely low. For many people, last or close to it.

Anything can literally happen, that’s the magic of sports.

But that’s a bad place to be right now.

I keep coming back to the 2024 draft. The biggest roster problem is the 2024 draft, particularly that none of Newton, Coleman, Sainristil, McCaffery or Sinnott has hit. If McCaffery showed he was even worthy of his draft round, I think this list looks different. But he hasn't.

I don't disagree with you, I do think the WR corps doesn't look great. Is it the worst in the league? I mean, on paper, maybe? I think Terry raises the ceiling a bit, but you have no argument from me that the rest won't move the needle much. And they are counting on a lot from a rookie.

If you have 5 players on the final 53, 3 of them are McCaffery (so far, not so good), Lane (Punt Return - good, WR - not great yet) and Williams - Rookie.

That's 60% of your WR room. Terry = good. But there is a bad taste nobody can get out of their mouth because of the injuries last year.

And then there is some depth guy, Van Jefferson, Burks, or DBrown.

They probably keep 6 WRs. So 50% are the draft picks. One is good, and 2 are probably pretty good depth pieces.

The draft picks just have to work out. If they don't, I mean, that's really disappointing. And somewhat roster crushing at this position. if you spend 3 3rd round picks on WRs and none turn into dependable starters, that's bad.

I have a lot of hope for Williams. But they need McCaffery or Lane to be more than a ST player. And I'm not sure that's going to happen, so that means at least one of them has to get gone. It wouldn't surprise me at all if McCaffery can't challenge for playing time at WR, he's the odd man out. If not this year, then certainly next.

 

[Mickalino]

Santana Moss.
No other player could elevate our futile teams, like Moss.
No matter how bad we were, or how the rest of the team underachieved, he stayed motivated, focused, productive, and always gave us a chance at winning a game no matter what.

I'll never forget, near the end of his career in 2012, during a game he was on a hot mic on the sidelines and was recorded saying to RG3, something along the lines of "Man, I appreciate you so much. We been waitin for a QB like you for so long..."
It almost brought a tear to my eye.

 

[SkinsFTW]

It almost brought a tear to my eye.

Then 2013 brought a tear to everyone's eye.

 

[NoCalSkins]

I still think a lot of my questions surrounding the WR2 spot have less to do with thinking that you need a stud at WR2 and more to do with being unsure what Terry's production will be like going forward. Terry is technically a WR1 but always been a sort of fringe Top 10 WR where he has some numbers to suggest yes some to suggest no. If the WR1 on this team was a no doubter Top 5 WR stud in his prime or at least on his ascension trajectory as player I think that changes a lot of discussion about the need for something better to fill out the WR room as a whole. Terry still has productive seasons left in him but I am not sure how many more seasons it is ideal that he is the WR the offense is relying on.