Terry McLaurin outplaying Jay Gruden’s expecations
By Bryan Perez
Washington Redskins rookie pass-catcher Terry McLaurin has already caught the eye of coach Jay Gruden at the team’s training camp this summer.
Former Ohio State wide receiver Terry McLaurin wasn’t among the popular names whenever the top receiver available in the 2019 NFL draft came up. Sure, his game was respected, but few draft analysts if any had him pegged as a first-round pick.
As it turned out, neither did the NFL.
McLaurin slid to Washington in the third round; two rounds earlier, the Redskins selected McLaurin’s former Buckeyes QB, Dwayne Haskins, No. 15 overall. The goal is for the duo to continue the production they enjoyed as college teammates, and so far in training camp, McLaurin is exceeding expectations.
Coach Jay Gruden told SiriusXM Radio that McLaurin has been one of this summer’s pleasant surprises.
“I didn’t know he was this good,” Gruden said. “He knows both outside positions, the special teams guys can’t get enough of him…I’m like hey, hold back on special teams. He has been actually one of our better players in camp.”
One of the reasons McLaurin flew a little bit under the draft radar was his lack of gaudy numbers. He totaled just 35 catches for 701 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2018. It was his best season on campus by a pretty wide margin.
What really helped his draft stock was his performance at the Senior Bowl. He ran crisp routes and proved he was limited more by the system at Ohio State than by any lacking skill set.
McLaurin’s draft value peaked at the NFL Combine. He ran a blazing 4.35 40-yard dash and established himself as one of the better all-around prospects at his position.
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Now, just a few weeks into training camp, he’s establishing himself as one of the best wide receivers on the Redskins. While most of the attention paid to this rookie class is on the likes of D.K. Metcalf (Seahawks), A.J. Brown (Titans), N’Keal Harry (Patriots) and Marquise Brown (Ravens), it’s McLaurin who may end up being the most productive rookie receiver in 2019.