One of the reasons the Washington Commanders felt comfortable giving young quarterback Sam Howell a chance to be the starting quarterback in 2023 was his supporting cast.
The Commanders have one of the NFL’s better trios of wide receivers, Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel. At running back, Washington has Brian Robinson Jr. and former NFL 1,000-yard rusher and college wide receiver Antonio Gibson.
That’s a pretty good offensive core. Add in new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy; the Commanders are confident they can improve on offense in 2023.
However, not everyone is high on Washington’s receiving corps.
Pro Football Focus recently ranked every NFL team’s receiving corps from 1-32 and ranked the Commanders at No. 19. PFF’s rankings include receivers, tight ends and running backs as a whole.
The Commanders, like the Steelers, are a receiving corps that comes into 2023 with a lot of promise. Terry McLaurin is a stud, and that’s not a debate. But how much help he will get?
I am hopeful Jahan Dotson can be a suitable running mate as the WR2. He recorded four touchdowns in his first four games before missing time due to injury. He then had graded above 75.0 in three of his last four games.
Curtis Samuel has yet to record a receiving grade above 70.0 since signing with the Commanders, but I’m still holding out hope for his best year yet in Washington. Logan Thomas doesn’t move the needle much, but Antonio Gibson’s receiving ability out of the backfield does.
While we feel the rating is too low, especially when you consider some of the teams the Commanders are behind. Yet, PFF was correct in much of its assessment. McLaurin is a stud, Thomas doesn’t move the needle much [the Commanders hope that changes], and Gibson’s receiving ability could be a difference-maker.
The knock on Samuel is his PFF grade. Really? Samuel thrived last season, lining up in multiple spots and playing with three quarterbacks. Samuel is entering a free-agent season, and he could be the perfect weapon for Bieniemy’s offense.
This rating feels far too low. Of course, rankings are subjective. Ultimately, if the Commanders produce on offense in 2023, no one will talk of their receiving corps being ranked too low the next time around.
