Ideal landing points and commercial value for Steelers wide receiver James Washington | NFL News, Rankings & Stats

Wide receiver James washington would have requested a transaction Pittsburgh Steelers, according to ESPN Adam schefter. The 2018 second-round draft pick dropped into the depth chart and was eclipsed as a receiving option by Diontae Johnson and Chase claypool in recent seasons.

Given its relative lack of playing time last season and how things turned out in Thursday’s Hall of Fame game, Washington sees the writing on the wall in a contract year and wants a better one. opportunity.

He saw 27 snaps in the game but didn’t start despite the Steelers opening the contest with three wide on the field. In total, only two targets reached him, one of which he dropped.

Last season he played 514 total snaps and was, in most cases, the team’s No. 4 wide receiver.

Acquiring team would take just over $ 1 million in wages for Washington, get first glimpse of player ready to test free agency after the 2021 season.

The market was more or less determined by another recent transaction of a 2018 second-round wide receiver, with the Chicago Bear Sending in progress Anthony miller and a seventh-round pick in 2022 at Houston Texans for a fifth-round pick in 2022. Miller is a slots catcher, while Washington is more of a deep-ball threat on the outside, so they bring different skill sets to the table. Even still, the Miller trade provides a solid benchmark.

Here’s how Washington – drafted nine picks after Miller – has stacked up since they both entered the league:

Add to the fact that the Bears weren’t thrilled with Miller’s expulsion from their 2020 playoff game against the Saints of New Orleans and had bought it from the time of the draft, and Washington’s compensation plans were slightly higher. The Steelers should look to reclaim a fifth-round pick without including a seventh-round pick on their side, or maybe they’ll trade a sixth-round pick and Washington for a fourth-round pick.

LANDING POINTS

Saints of New Orleans

With Michael thomas recovering from an offseason operation, the Saints are in despair with the receiver and can no longer count on Drew Brees‘magic to do it regardless of the weapons around it. Whether Taysom Hill or Jameis Winston starts, that player will need viable targets. Washington is a cheap option with talent and good athleticism that might be worth adding to the mix and hoping they stumble into an upgrade. The Saints have a bye in Week 6 this season, and it’s possible Thomas will return right after that hiatus, giving them at least five weeks to find a viable group of playmakers.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs have multiple stars catching passes from Patrick mahomes, but they are heavier and heavier. After Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, the options become much less effective, especially after Sammy Watkins” free agency departure and Mecole Hardmanthe failure of so far to play a larger role. Demarcus robinson was brought back but never achieved an overall PFF rating above 61.0 in a season, and although there is some excitement about the rookie Cornell powell, the team could look to Robinson to step in and fight for a spot on that depth map. Not only could Washington contribute, but Kansas City presents a rare opportunity for him to really start if he impresses early.

Detroit Lions

The Lions are only part of the way through their rebuilding project that has seen them prioritize the trenches. The team added linemen during the offseason and beefed up the secondary, but it didn’t do much to provide the quarterback Jared goff with any type of weapon to prove that it is more than just commercial weight for Matthew Stafford. The best receiver in Detroit, Breshad Perriman, has never seen more than 65 targets in a single season, and the entire depth chart is wide open for anyone with a strong performance in training camp or preseason to win a role major. Few teams would feature a weaker challengers collection for Washington to exceed on the depth board than the Lions.

Minnesota Vikings

Obviously, Justin jefferson and Adam thielen are Minnesota’s top two receivers, and it’s a team that doesn’t use a Number 3 much, but an injury would put the Vikings in a bad hole this season. They lost Olabisi Johnson to injuries, making a weak spot even weaker, and Washington would have a chance to replace the new DeDe Westbrook or beginner Ihmir Smith-Marsette for this third role. Minnesota don’t use their third receiver much, with Johnson collecting just 21 targets in that role last season, but if either of their top two receivers were injured there would be a heavy workload as a leaving.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks are always intrigued by sports receivers who can bring something to the table, and Washington ticks that box, even though his NFL career has been a disappointment so far. The Seahawks cut starters in DK Metcalf and Tyler lockett, but beginner D’Wayne Eskridge is currently their # 3 receiver, and there is little behind him to inspire any confidence. It would be a place Washington should be patient, but there is a path to great plays and highlights success that will grab the attention of Role # 3, like David moore shown last year.