Washington Redskins: Notable benchmarks still in reach for 2019

The Washington Redskins are not having a banner year at 3-11 but they can still hit a few benchmark numbers by the end of the 2019 season.

At 3-11, it’s safe to say the Washington Redskins are not going to be breaking many records in 2019. However, they can still achieve some pretty big numbers in reach. The one most fans probably care about is “2”. Washington has a strong chance at the second overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. That would likely yield them Ohio State star pass rusher Chase Young.

There are a few issues with that, however. Washington would need some help to land that No. 2 spot as they would own the fourth overall pick if the season ended after Week 15. Moreover, Young is not even guaranteed to enter the draft this year. With that in mind, what about the benchmark numbers that the players can achieve?

Terry McLaurin is chasing a few big numbers. The rookie has been astounding this year, with 833 yards and seven touchdowns on 51 receptions. He needs 167 receiving yards until he hits 1,000. That would make McLaurin the first Washington receiver to do so since 2016 (DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon). He also needs four more receptions to hit 55, which is more than anyone had on the team in 2018 (Jordan Reed had 54).

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Meanwhile, Steven Sims Jr. is at 23 receptions and Kelvin Harmon is at 22. If either can hit 30, the Redskins will achieve something they could not last year. Having two wide receivers reach 30-plus receptions. It’s sad, but that’s a real number they will be trying to hit. For what it’s worth, that trio of McLaurin, Sims Jr. and Harmon could be really nice for years to come. The fact that all three are rookies makes this all the more impressive.

Then there’s Adrian Peterson, the ageless wonder. Peterson is at 784 rushing yards so far this season. He needs 216 over Washington’s last two games to reach 1,000 yards for the second year in a row. It would also be his ninth career 1,000-yard season. What’s more impressive, he’ll have done so in just 15 games with the Redskins benching him in the first week of the season.

On the defensive side of the ball, Quinton Dunbar is at four interceptions, while Fabian Moreau is at three. If either can reach five, they would be the first Washington player to do so since London Fletcher all the way back in 2012.

Matt Ioannidis needs 1.5 sacks to reach 10 (currently at 8.5). He would be the first Redskins player not named Ryan Kerrigan to reach that number since Brian Orakpo (10) in 2013. For what it’s worth, Kerrigan has done it four times since then.

Speaking of Kerrigan, Montez Sweat needs 2.5 sacks (currently at five) to tie Kerrigan’s rookie number of 7.5. While some Washington fans are weirdly sour on Kerrigan (and Sweat for that matter), this would be a nice passing of the torch. Kerrigan has 90 career sacks and had at least 7.5 in every season of his career before his 2019 ended prematurely with just 5.5. If Sweat can give that kind of consistent production, it would be hard to complain about.

Of course, every number with Dwayne Haskins will be important as well. Everything the rookie quarterback does has been placed under a microscope so far. Hopefully, he can finish off 2019 strong with a few more performances like that lights-out game he had in Week 15.

There aren’t any set numbers he should be going for though. Just nice days in the box score, and a few more wins for the Washington Redskins (although a lot of fans are hoping for losses at this point).