Washington Redskins should not sign Jermaine Kearse

The Washington Redskins will likely be in the market for additional wide receiver help this offseason. The 2016 free agent class isn’t stocked full of wideout talent, which may lead to the Burgundy and Gold turning to Jermaine Kearse, something that I believe would be a mistake.

The Washington Redskins and general manager Scot McCloughan are gearing up for another offseason, meaning they’ll soon have to make tough personnel decisions regarding free agents. They’ll have to decide who to bring back and who to let walk. In addition to their in-house free agents, Washington will also have to make decisions about players on the open market.

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A lot of different things go into adding an unrestricted free agent to a new roster. Bringing an outsider into the mix, if not done properly, can be a disaster for a franchise, as it could set the team back from a developmental, financial, and production standpoint.

In an effort to minimize the risk involved in signing free agents, many general managers and coaches prefer to sign players they have coached or worked with in the past, usually from their time working for a different organization. This is something that Scot McCloughan has done quite often during his time in Washington – Ricky Jean-Francois, Dashon Goldson, and Jeron Johnson all had working relationships with McCloughan before signing with the Redskins.

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I have no problem with general managers relying on their older prospects in a time of need, but, at the same time, they mustn’t grow too attached to players that they have scouted, drafted, or signed in the past, as it’s something that can potentially harm their current roster. One potential unrestricted free agent that comes to mind is Jermaine Kearse of the Seattle Seahawks.

While the 25-year-old wideout has gotten better with each season and certainly has the potential to become a reliable starter in the league, I don’t believe that he would be a good fit for the Washington Redskins. That’s not to say he isn’t talented, because that’s not the case. In 2015 Kearse caught 72 percent of the passes thrown his way, and has caught 62 percent of the passes thrown his way throughout the entirety of his career.

Although his constant improvement and overall production is impressive, I don’t view him as a long term solution at wide receiver for the Redskins. I just don’t think he’s the type of player that Washington needs on the perimeter, as he’s basically a younger version of Pierre Garcon in terms of build and size.

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It is my belief that the Redskins should look into acquiring a big-bodied wide receiver to secure the position opposite of the speedy DeSean Jackson. This would ensure that Washington’s passing attack is capable at all levels. Jordan Reed would handle the short to intermediate routes, Jamison Crowder would work underneath from the slot, Jackson would blow the top off of the defense, and a newly acquired wide receiver, preferably 6-3 or taller, would handle the duties of a possession receiver.

Alshon Jeffery of the Chicago Bears would be the ideal fit, but I highly doubt that he’ll be in a new uniform next season. With Jeffery likely returning to Chicago and Kearse not fitting the preferred mold, I think it’s best for the Washington Redskins to draft and develop a talent of their own – perhaps Michael Thomas out of Ohio State is the answer to their problems.