The Washington Redskins make another splash, selecting former Ohio State wide receiver Terry McLaurin with the 76th overall pick.
McLaurin is being reunited with his former Ohio State teammate, quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who the Redskins selected with the 15th overall pick.
More importantly, Washington addresses a huge need. With taking Haskins at No. 15 and trading back into the first round to take EDGE Montez Sweat, McLaurin crosses off the need for a wide receiver. Now, the Redskins have effectively checked off their three biggest needs entering in the draft.
McLaurin caught 11 touchdowns as a senior in 2018 and averaged 20 yards per catch with 35 catches. He has top speed, displaying that with a 4.35 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
McLaurin becomes the second Ohio State wide receiver drafted in this year’s draft. While Parris Campbell, who was selected in the second round by Indianapolis, is viewed as the better of the two, McLaurin has an opportunity to develop into the Z receiver that Paul Richardson currently mans and DeSean Jackson did within Jay Gruden’s system with more flexibility.
At six-feet and 208 pounds, he has an ideal build. His speed will allow him to blow the top off defenses and create opportunities underneath for other receivers. With an improvement in his route precision, McLaurin has potential to develop into an all-around wide receiver at the pro level.
In fact, an AFC scout raved about McLaurin’s refined route-running at the Senior Bowl.
“There are some routes here that make me feel like I am looking at a different guy than the one I saw during the year. He looks a lot more refined right now in practice.” — National scout with AFC team from Senior Bowl
NFL.com
The Redskins, who had traded the 46th overall pick in this year’s draft to move up and acquire Sweat at No. 26, were just on the outside as a run of wide receivers occurred in the second round. However, they were able to get a solid option in the third.
McLaurin can also contribute on special teams. He is also viewed as a leader and high-character guy. The Redskins got more than just a teammate of Haskins. They got something they’ve been missing since the departure of Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson. Talent and determination at wide receiver. Something they’ve desperately been seeking.
And he will get the chance to continue his development alongside Haskins. There’s a reason he fell to the third round, however, there are reasons of his game and character that explains why he may be a huge steal for Washington.
He is a football player. Some may want to box him into being just a special teams guy or speed option, but with the right determination, McLaurin may be so much more. The way he knifes through his cuts creates spacing against cornerbacks is amazing.
He will need to be more consistent catching the football with his hands out in front. He also will need to show he can run after the catch — an area that was not exposed as much within Ohio State’s system. While at worse he will be Matthew Slater (a special teams great), he has a ceiling that could place his progression in a similar realm of some of the better all-around route-running wide receivers.
It’s now up to Gruden and his coaching staff, specifically wide receivers coach Ike Hillard to get McLaurin to reach his full potential.
