Brendan Pignataro and Mark Morales-Smith will be debating a different topic each Sunday. This week will be a debate about which NFL team currently has the best wide receiver corps in the league.
This week’s debate is one of our tougher ones. There are many great wide receiving corps in the league during this era of pass happy offenses. If we were arguing best duo’s, you could argue the Jets (Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker), Broncos (Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders), or Packers (Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb). However, these teams don’t have great depth at the position. We are looking for the best complete wide receivers corps, and I am hear to keep my streak alive of demolishing Mark in these debates.
Related Story: Sunday Debate: Jacksonville Jaguars Best WR Corps in NFL
After much thought, the honor of best wide receiver group in the league goes to the reigning NFC East Champion Washington Redskins. Veteran leadership and rising stars? Check. Versatility? Check. Depth? Check. Speed? Double check. This Redskins group has it all. On the other hand, Mark has decided once again to bank his money on the young Jacksonville Jaguars team. The Jaguars were the offseason darlings, and are getting way too much hype. Teams getting that much attention always fail to live up to expectations, just like Mark does every week when he debates.
The Redskins already had a tremendous receiving group last year, but decided to double down on that position by adding Josh Doctson in the first round of this years draft. For my money, Doctson was the best and most complete receiver in this years draft. In his final year at TCU, Doctson had 79 catches for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns. Scouts have always loved his hands and tremendous leaping ability. Doctson will use his size in the NFL to make highlight reel catches, and will win most 50/50 balls against cornerbacks. He currently has a minor injury in camp but should be back to 100% in the next week or two.
Doctson joins a great group of receivers in Pierre Garcon, Desean Jackson, and Jamison Crowder. Garcon is still only 29 years old, and has been a reliable and consistent receiver for the Redskins for the last four years. While he may never approach his career high of 1,346 yard total receiving yards he achieved in 2013, he will again give you a solid season somewhere close to the 800 yard range. The Haitian sensation has been one of the best possession receivers in the league for the last seven years and is fully healthy this offseason.
That brings us to the lightning quick pair of Jackson and Crowder. There is no need to waste time talking about Jackson’s skills. When healthy he is a top of the league receiver capable of 1,100 to 1,300 yards in a season. Another year building chemistry with Kirk Cousins at the helm will only help him more. Crowder and his 4.46 pro day 40 speed had an impressive rookie season with 59 catches and 604 yards. He fits perfectly in the slot with Garcon and Jackson on the outside. Crowder’s targets may go down a little bit with Jackson healthy, but is one of the best insurance policies in the NFL. Three WR sets with Crowder or Doctson will be tough to defend.
Unfortunately I am limited to just the wide receiver depth chart in this debate. If I was allowed to include Jordan Reed in this argument, Mark wouldn’t have had to waste his time in writing his article. Reed is the second-best receiving tight end in the league and absolutely tore apart opposing defenses last year. Him and Cousins have tremendous chemistry, and adds an element to this passing offense that can only be matched by New England and Carolina.
Mark’s choice of the Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver group was a solid one, but they aren’t at the top yet. The young talent of Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns and Rashad Greene is impressive but they need more success in the league before they can top the Redskins group. Their statistics were inflated a bit last year due to the Jags bad defense and being forced to come from behind in most games.
If one of the Jaguars’ top receivers gets injured this year, their next man up would be Marqise Lee. Lee has been an incredible bust since being drafted in the second round in 2014. I’d much rather roll with the rookie Docston, who is immensely more talented than Lee. The Jaguars lack the versatility and depth that Redskins have, and also top of the league speed.
Another knock out victory for the debate champion…
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Please check out Mark’s opposing article, and feel free to join in on the debate in the comments!