The 5 O’Clock Club: Is it Jarvis Landry or bust in Free Agency this season?

The 5 o’clock club aims to provide a forum for reader-driven discussion at a time of day when there isn’t much NFL news being published. Feel free to introduce topics that interest you in the comments below.

The Redskins let Garcon & DJax walk last off-season, and if their injuries and lack of production in 2018 are any indication, it may not have been a huge mistake.

What did seem to be a huge mistake was signing Brian Quick and Terrelle Pryor to fill the void. Pryor just never seemed comfortable in a Redskins uniform on game day, and for some reason, the coaching staff left Brian Quick at the end of the bench picking splinters out of his ass for most of the season - one which probably was supposed to be his “prove it” year with Kirk Cousins throwing balls to him.

As it stands right now, the Redkins have four receivers (aside from futures contracts). Those four are:

• Josh Doctson
• Jamison Crowder
• Maurice Harris
• Robert Davis

It is widely expected that Ryan Grant will be re-signed soon, as well.

This looks like an under-powered group to most observers. I think there’s a general assumption that the Redskins will go out and get a free agent WR to start across from Josh Doctson, with Crowder continuing in his role as slot receiver.

That begs the question of who that free agent wide receiver should be.

Our own Mark Tyler has gone on the record early and often with the idea that Jarvis Landry is the best man for the job.

Landry led the NFL with 112 receptions in 2017. He had close to 1,000 yards (987) and he scored 9 touchdowns. He is a very good receiver.

Mark compared him to Odell Beckham Jr.

I think of him more like Pierre Garcon.

Whoever he reminds you of, Landry is going to command a huge salary in the free agent market; in fact, he’s sure to be on the market because the Dolphins don’t have the cap room needed to re-sign him (a bit like the Redskins with Breeland — a good player you’d like to keep, but can’t due to salary cap).

Will the Redskins be able to afford his asking price? Remember, the team has big salaries committed to Josh Norman, Ryan Kerrigan, and Trent Williams already. They may need to throw a lot of money at the QB position as well. The team let Garcon & Jackson walk because they were looking for paydays in the $10m per year range. Landry is likely to command around $15m APY in the current market. Should the front office add yet another high-dollar veteran to the team?

There may be other issues with Landry. Most notably, Jarvis Landry will probably have his pick of teams. If the Redskins haven’t locked up Kirk Cousins (or an equally skilled passer) by the time free agency starts, why would Landry take a chance on coming to the Redskins? He could end up getting his pay day, but seeing his statistics drop off a cliff. Also, the Redskins under Jay Gruden are known for spreading the ball around to multiple receivers. Landry might very well decide to join a team with a head coach or offensive coordinator in the mold of Kyle Shanahan who prefers to scheme a particular player like Garcon or Julio Jones or Jarvis Landry open for 150+ targets per season.

Jarvis Landry has a great skill set. He is undoubtedly one of the best receivers in the NFL, and probably the best free agent receiver available this off season.

Should the Redskins try to sign him?

Should they pay top dollar for him?

Will Landry sign with Washington if they try to get him?

There’s a lot to digest with Jarvis Landry, but the one other key question is:

If not Jarvis Landry, then who should the Redskins bring in to start opposite Josh Doctson?

I have listed all the Unrestricted Free Agent Wide Receivers in the league at the moment (at least I think I got them all... it should be a pretty comprehensive list).

Not all of these guys will make it to the free agency period -- many of them will be retained by their 2017 club.

Some players may not be a consideration for the Redskins. Does anyone want to re-visit Andre Roberts? Even Pryor and Quick may be off the table, though that probably depends on what exactly the front office and coaching staff perceive to have been the issues with the two Redskin receivers this past season.

I invite you to take a look at the list below, and use the comments section to let us all know which free agent receiver you think the Redskins should sign as a starter for the 2018 season, if any.

• Terrelle Pryor
• Mike Wallace
• Sammy Watkins
• Eric Decker
• Dontrelle Inman
• Taylor Gabriel
• Kamar Aiken
• Kendall Wright
• Matt Slater
• Andre Roberts
• Albert Wilson
• Harry Douglas
• Danny Amendola
• Jaron Brown
• Charles Johnson
• Michael Floyd
• Marquise Lee
• Jordan Matthews
• Mike Campanaro
• Paul Richardson
• Brice Butler
• Brandon Tate
• Cody Lattimer
• Joe Webb
• Louis Murphy
• Allen Robinson
• Jarvis Landry
• Justin Hunter
• Brian Quick
• Josh Bellamy
• Deonte Thompson
• Donte Moncrief
• John Brown
• TJ Jones
• Brenton Bersin
• Tavarres King