The Washington Redskins did everything they could to add a dynamic offensive weapon to their roster with the No. 66 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. It wasn’t a TE or a WR, but a versatile running back that can line up in the slot and spread across the field, always keeping the defense on their toes.
Memphis’ Antonio Gibson is now a member of the Redskins, and if you were to ask anyone who has seen his game tape, it was a great pick for Washington.
While everyone is quick to throw out a comparison for players who were just drafted, one current NFL comp caused us to raise our eyebrows a bit, for several reasons. It wasn’t a scout or analyst who made the link, but rather the player himself and his newest coach.
The comparison? Carolina Panthers running back Christain McCaffrey.
New Redskins draft pick Antonio Gibson leans into the Christian McCaffrey comparison: "That's exactly what I want to do."
He'll play wherever the team needs him to because "I feel I can dominate wherever they put me."
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) April 25, 2020
Ron Rivera didn't shy away from comparing Antonio Gibson to Christian McCaffery. He thinks Gibson is a great fit for Scott Turner's scheme.
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) April 25, 2020
It may be his quick cuts out of the backfield or his ability to catch passes in the screen game and get upfield. It’s likely both. No matter what it is, the Redskins seem to feel confident that Gibson can be the next big thing in the NFL, and they’ll do what they can to turn him into their own version of McCaffrey.
The Redskins are in a unique position to do so as well, seeing as much of their coaching staff was a part of the group that introduced McCaffrey to the NFL. Ron Rivera was the head coach of the Redskins when McCaffrey was drafted, and Scott Turner helped oversee his production. Now that they have a player with a similar skill set, it’s not crazy to think that they could do so again.
If you’re scoffing at the comparison of a rookie to one of the best running backs in the NFL, I don’t blame you. But don’t dismiss the high ceiling just yet. Gibson has a chance to be something special for the Redskins.
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