I don't think it's actual pushback. Pretty much everyone acknowledges that the wide receiver room is a weakness. No one's denying that. What I think some (like me) are doing is figuring out how to make lemonade. We're considering scenarios in which this offense could work by focusing on what we do have instead of what we don't.
Right now, we have one quality NFL receiver on the roster, a rookie, and a bunch of journeymen. Some have potential, but most probably are what they are at this point. So, if that's the case and we as fans can't do anything about it, what can work? Where can we project our hope?
Well, a heavy running attack with a two TE base means fewer receivers on the field. So, let's focus on running and the receiving skills of other positions. Maybe that will help. Do we have good runners? Do we have a good o line? Was Kliff dismissive and unimaginative when it came to the run game? If so, maybe we can deploy is a run centric/play action team. Bates and Sinnott can block. Sinnott catches the ball when it's thrown to him. Chig can be dynamic and has flashed despite playing with really bad quarterbacks. White looks to be a good third down receiving back. Bill was really dynamic for a half a season.
So, that's the glass half full. Again, that isn't pushback, it's just being pragmatic. It's being realistic. It's trying to determine the best outcome given what you have.
Circling back to weaknesses, I think everyone wants at least one more wide receiver. I expect we will get one. Until we do though, I am going to imagine narratives in which we can work around that weakness, make due or even succeed... at least until the first preseason game.
Just to be clear, I still expect this offense to make lemonade out of lemons. But the biggest reason is Jayden Daniels—not because I think the supporting cast is where it should be. And if they sign Diggs, which is still possible, the narrative changes completely for me.
What frustrates me is watching how the other quarterbacks from his draft class are being treated. It feels like their organizations are saying, "Here's 15 premium ingredients. We've done everything we can to make your job easier. Now go cook." Washington, on the other hand, sometimes feels like it's saying, "Here's three ingredients. Figure it out. We believe in you."
I think Jayden will figure it out because that's who he is. But I also wouldn't be shocked if, after another season, the conversation becomes, "All three quarterbacks—Jayden, Caleb Williams, and Drake Maye—are really talented, but Washington got the lessor of the three. Even though to me you can't judge them apples to apples because its too lopsided in favor of the other two especially this season.
Personally, I think Jayden's ceiling is every bit as high as theirs -- probably higher. Ironically, I actually had Drake Maye slightly ahead of Jayden before the draft. But after watching Jayden, I believe right now he's the better QB. But will see.
One person here who defends Peters' offseason pushed back on me by saying maybe Jayden is simply indeed the third-best quarterback of the group, and I'm giving him too much credit—that it's just a coincidence the other two have better supporting casts. Maybe that's true. I just don't believe it is.
That said, I'll admit I have a little ego invested in this debate. As a fan, I love having a quarterback who's universally viewed as one of the five best in the NFL. It adds another level of excitement and national attention to every season.
That brings me to another argument I hear from parts of the local media. Some believe giving Jayden a good defense is more important than surrounding him with elite weapons. If the argument is simply that a better defense might help the
team win more games, fine—that's a reasonable debate.
But if we're talking specifically about Jayden's development, its absurd IMO.
When Kurt Warner broke down Jayden's film and pointed out signs of regression, one of the responses from people around the team (leaked to Sheehan) was that Jayden was holding the ball because receivers weren't consistently getting open or weren't running routes the way they should. If that's true, then adding another pass rusher doesn't solve that problem. A polished route runner does. A receiver with legitimate vertical speed who can maximize Jayden's deep-ball accuracy does. Better weapons make the quarterback's job easier and accelerate his growth.
So yes, I expect Jayden to make lemonade out of lemons because I think he's that special.
I just don't like asking him to.
Especially when the other young franchise quarterbacks around the league are getting exactly the opposite treatment from their organizations.
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