The Washington Redskins are in one of the worst positions a team can be in right now. They took a huge risk by trading multiple first-round picks to the Rams to acquire Robert Griffin III, and despite an amazing rookie season, Griffin has disappointed so far three years into his career.
But one thing that the Redskins did have going for them in their lackluster four-win 2014 campaign was the strength of their receiving corps. They have one of the most exciting receivers in the game in DeSean Jackson and a strong group of tight ends, led by Jordan Reed and Niles Paul, plus a variety of other targets.
One man that was often overlooked for the Redskins was Pierre Garcon. Garcon came into 2014 after a 2013 season in which he broke the record for most receptions in a single season with 113. He was the Redskins top receiver and Griffin’s favorite target. But over the summer, the Redskins signed the former Eagle DeSean Jackson, and he immediately grabbed all of the attention. The star receiver who makes flashy plays overshadowed Garcon.
Garcon only caught 68 passes in 2014, and he was targeted 105 times by the Redskins three quarterbacks last season. Garcon was the leader in receptions, but was never seen as a major factor in the Redskins offense.
The Redskins have huge decisions to make this offseason regarding their salary cap. They will most likely lose linebacker Brian Orakpo, but they have a few other players they still need to deal with. They will most likely have around $14 million in cap space entering free agency with about $7 million of it being reserved for draft picks. That leaves $7 million in cap space.
Players like Niles Paul and Brandon Meriweather will probably see bigger contracts come 2015, and the team still has many needs. They will need to find a replacement for Orakpo in free agency and they also need help in the secondary. Additionally, their offensive line is extremely weak other than Pro Bowler Trent Williams.
Pierre Garcon accounts for $9.7 million of Washington’s cap next year and they will have a tough decision to make. Garcon is a skilled player who can bring a lot to the team, but the Redskins may feel as though they can replace him.
The Redskins receiving corps is the team’s strongest unit, and although the loss of Garcon would weaken them, the extra $5 million in cap space they will receive could be invested in other areas to strengthen the team overall.
Potential starting quarterback Robert Griffin has struggled heavily with injuries in the past, and a better offensive line would help alleviate the issue. The Redskins must make a big decision soon, and the consequences could haunt them in the future.
Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to follow me on Twitter – @MansurShaheen. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport and @LWOSworld – and “liking” our Facebook page.
Have you tuned into Last Word On Sports Radio? LWOS is pleased to bring you 24/7 sports radio to your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. What are you waiting for?
Are you interested in writing on your favorite sport? You can check out our “Write for Us” page for details on getting started with Last Word on Sports.
Main Photo:
