In any other receiving corps, Jamison Crowder would be getting hyped up as a potential bust-out star.
The slot receiver used his rapport with Kirk Cousins to post a stellar rookie season with 59 receptions (a franchise rookie record) for 604 yards. The shifty wideout with after-the-catch acumen owns the potential to be a high-end No. 2 receiver.
Given the cornucopia of pass catchers in the Washington Redskins' offense, however, it seems unlikely Crowder will get the targets needed to make a huge leap in Year 2.
With the addition of first-round pick Josh Doctson and others, Crowder believes the Redskins boast the best receiving group in the NFL.
"Yeah, yeah, we do," Crowder told ESPN 980, via the Washington Post. "We think that, you know, we're the best in the league. Knowing that we've got guys like (DeSean Jackson), Pierre Garcon, like you said, Jordan Reed, he had a great season last year. We even added Vernon Davis at the tight end, but he's still another weapon that can really help us out in the passing game, and Niles Paul and myself, so we feel like we have a really talented group of receivers. We just have to go out there every day at practice and work on our game -- it starts on the practice field -- and make sure we're on the same page with Kirk or Colt (McCoy) or whoever is playing quarterback, so we'll be ready when the season comes around. The coaches know that we have a really talented group, we know that we have a really talented group, and I really can't wait to get out there and show the world how talented we are."
I'm already on record saying that the abundance of targets -- more importantly, the diversity of traits owned by those receivers -- gives the Redskinspotentially the deepest set of pass-catchers in the NFL.
Reed is the second-best receiving tight end in the NFL. Jackson is still a top deep threat when healthy. Garcon remains a reliable intermediate target. Crowder can make plays after the catch. Doctson brings toughness and excellent high-point catching ability.
Are they the best?
That's up for debate.
Two years ago, Around The NFL's Chris Wesseling placed Jackson and Garcon as the NFL's No. 5 receiver tandem. That was before infusing Crowder and Doctson and prior to a finally healthy Reed blowing up.
If Martavis Bryant wasn't suspended for the year, we'd probably consider the Steelers' receivers slightly above the Redskins in terms of "best" overall receiving group. The Cardinals' quartet of Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd, John Brown and J.J. Nelson would give both a run for there money. You can't ignore that Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker provide the Jets the top 1-2 punch in the NFL. A healthy Jordy Nelson slots the Green Bay Packers' receivers back into natural spots, making it once again a deep, intriguing group. The Jaguars have a potent trio in Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns and Julius Thomas that should be on every list. Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman deserve to be on any rundown of top duos.
This list could go on and on ...
The Colts own a bounty of speed with T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief and Phillip Dorsett. Jarvis Landry and DeVante Parker offer alluring skill in Miami. In Seattle, we expect Tyler Lockett to make the leap, pairing with the perpetually underrated Doug Baldwin. It wouldn't be a shock if the Bears' Alshon Jeffery, Kevin White and Eddie Royal made up the top receiving trio if all stay healthy (admittedly a big if at this stage).
We're still going ...
Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders proved they can carry average passers. Pairing a suddenly resurgent Michael Crabtree with young stud Amari Cooper helps provide newfound hope in Oakland. San Diego added deep threat Travis Benjamin to maven Keenan Allen and ageless wonder Antonio Gates.
We don't even get to stars like Dez Bryant, Julio Jones, A.J. Green, DeAndre Hopkins, Odell Beckham Jr., etc. who can carry entire receiving corps.
I'm sure I left your favorite team or player off this arbitrary, winding list (you can whine about it below, but zero people will care). The point is, the NFL has never boasted as deep and diverse pass-catching talent as we now have spread throughout the league. Enjoy it.
