While the Washington Redskins don't seem to have a glaring need at the wide receiver position, value and the needs of teams around them may align in such a way that the Skins and new GM Scot McLoughlan will be faced with several high-quality pass-catching options at the fifth spot in the first-round of next April's 2015 NFL Draft.
Were that scenario to unfold, the Redskins reportedly have their sights set on one wide receiver in particular: former Alabama standout Amari Cooper.
The Skins were the first team to speak with Cooper at the NFL rookie scouting combine last month, according to a report from Pete Schrager of FOX Sports.
Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports then reported that a poll of NFL sources revealed that league wide thinking is the Redskins will target either a wide receiver or defensive line addition with their first-round selection.
While adding another receiver to a stable of pass-catchers that already includes DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon and tight ends Jordan Reed and Niles Paul, would seem like more of a luxury than filling a need, good GMs plug their roster holes in NFL free agency, affording themselves the flexibility to take the highest-rated player on their board no matter whether it perfectly fits an organizational need or not.
Cooper won the Biletnikoff award as the nation's best receiver last year for a junior season that saw him grab a nation-leading 124 receptions and 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns.
"Won't dazzle with blazing speed or outrageous size, but is good in both categories," reads Lance Zierlein's NFL.com scouting report. "Complete receiver with game-changing ability to win downfield. Has the skill and twitch to be a consistent, high-volume target in the short and intermediate games with the ability to produce against any coverage. Cooper won't be able to run roughshod over NFL safeties like he did in college, but he should be able to help a passing game improve quickly."
Cooper is widely viewed as the most polished and pro-ready of the receivers in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Whether Robert Griffin III, Kirk Cousins or Colt McCoy ends up under center for the Skins on opening day next year, Cooper would add another electrifying element to the formerly flailing Washington offense.
