The Redskins have drafted some dynamic players over the past two seasons, and experts are taking notice.
Judging by grades from last season, signature stats and team impact, Pro Football Focus named Terry McLaurin as one of its top 25 players starting the 2020 season under 25 years old. And although No. 2 overall pick Chase Young has yet to play a single snap in the NFL, PFF pegged him as a "name to watch" this fall.
"McLaurin entered the NFL landscape last season as an older rookie -- a third-round pick with limited expectations," the article reads. "He quickly crushed those expectations, turning into the bonafide top option in the Redskins' passing attack."
PFF has been high on McLaurin since he had a breakout game in last year's season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. Using its wins above replacement (WAR) metric, PFF proclaimed in February that McLaurin was the most valuable offseason wide receiver addition in 2019.
McLaurin, who had one of the best rookie campaigns for a receiver in franchise history, put himself in rare company with his 58 receptions for 919 yards and seven touchdowns. He joined Odell Beckham Jr., Keenan Allen, Michael Thomas, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Doug Baldwin as rookies who received grades of at least 80 on 250 or more routes in the past decade.
PFF graded McLaurin seventh in receiving (86.5) and 14th in yards per route run (2.05) among all receivers. Quarterbacks also recorded a passer rating of 118.3 when targeting him.
Young, who is the favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, according to several betting sites, is the only "name to watch" on the list.
"Young's mention here was earned here by just how dominant of a prospect he was -- he's the best edge defender prospect that PFF has scouted since 2014. He is coming off a 2019 season that earned a 96.0 overall grade, and he produced two consecutive seasons with an elite pass-rushing grade (90.0-plus) and over 50 quarterback pressures."
What's more, PFF's Mike Renner felt so comfortable about Young's dominating performance at Ohio State last year that he called Young a future Hall of Famer.
Clearly, the expectations are high for McLaurin and Young entering 2020.
