Redskins Trade Rumors: WR Josh Doctson Could Be Dealt Before Season

Josh Doctson led all Washington wide receivers in yards last year, but his roster spot is reportedly in jeopardy.

Ben Standig of The Athletic projected the NFC East team's 53-man roster and suggested the TCU product's time in Washington may "have run its course." He reported Washington no longer has faith in Doctson and prefers to trade him before its Sept. 8 season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.

"Trading Doctson is the primary option rather than releasing him since his 2019 contract is guaranteed, though the return probably is no more than a fifth or sixth-round pick," Standig wrote.

Washington appeared to make Doctson a primary piece of its future when it selected him with the 22nd pick in the 2016 NFL draft. He played just two games as a rookie, however, before tallying a solid but unspectacular 502 receiving yards in 2017 and 532 receiving yards in 2018.

Last year's total was still higher than that of everyone on the team except for tight end Jordan Reed, but there are now other pieces in place at wide receiver.

Standig noted head coach Jay Gruden already said Trey Quinn will start. Washington could also turn toward Terry McLaurin, Cam Sims, Kelvin Harmon and Robert Davis as the other options outside of Paul Richardson Jr., especially since they have contracts that extend beyond this season and could develop rapport with quarterback Dwayne Haskins.

Doctson's future with Washington appeared tenuous at best when it signed Richardson to a five-year deal in 2018 and drafted Quinn, McLaurin and Harmon over the past two years. That future became even less likely when the team didn't pick up Doctson's fifth-year option this offseason.

"I think I'm hitting free agency next year. I won't be the first, won't be the last," Doctson said in July, per John Keim of ESPN. "It's nothing to be sad about, be mad about. Someone wants you there, so it's all love."

He saw the writing on the wall, but the end of his tenure in Washington could come even sooner than expected.