James Washington has requested a trade

Good talent always separates themselves from the pack. If he was better than the others it would show up in practice and on game film and in the stats. It hasn't.

That said you can't trade him. He has little to no value IMO unless he can somehow fill a hole by doing so. I dont see that happening so we are better off keeping him. Injuries will happen and he will have opportunities to help the team. I suspect this has more to do with the new OC and the system they want to play. It probably means he has little to no hope of being a stand out WR.

 

No I'm saying if you have chemistry with Ben then you are getting the ball. Jericho Cotchery had chemistry he got the ball, Lance Moore did not and he didn't get the ball. Washington tried diving to make a catch and missed it. Ben felt he needed to run through the catch and called him out. Washington worked harder but they just weren't using him and Ben moved on to the next guy he has chemistry with namely Claypool.

 

In addition to having good hands, being a good combat catcher, and running hard after the catch, Washington is a very good blocking WR. They should use him more.

 

I honestly don't know why they didn't use Washington and Claypool on the outside just running go routes and forcing the CB's to cover and safeties to play honestly. They just kept putting DJ out there when his better route running is tailor made to work the slot and middle of the field. Then change it up and have DJ run and out and up from the slot and Washington a slant and force teams to choose.

 

Don't blame him. Just another broken feather in Tomlin's cap. Tomlin and company work really hard at wasting talent.

 

I might be wrong, but after that dive play he seemed to be in Ben’s doghouse. Ben may speak glowingly about him in interviews, but it does not translate to the field. When Ben was out, we saw what JW can do when given a chance. I do wish he gets his wish. This kid may turn out to be Emanuel Sanders 2.0

 

Contract year, he needs to play, and he is good enough to be a WR 2/3 on most teams. I completely get this from his side.

Personally I would not have brought Juju back, I would have given that role to JW and see what he can do. He was very good there in 2019 when juju was injured.

Hard to gauge his trade value. Maybe they could get a fourth rounder for him? I don’t see the point in trading him away for less than that.

 

I agree. He must be sick of seeing the coaches stick with DJ as he keeps on dropping passes as well.

 

He just doesn't seem to create a lot of separation, but I was certainly comfortable with him as the third receiver if they had let Smith-Schuster go.

 

Johnson is a much better player. He creates separation from defenders consistently, something Washington has never been able to do at this level.

I agree with thorn. It isn't just that he is behind Claypool, Smith-Schuster, and Johnson. He is getting fewer opportunities than McLoud, too.

That said, unless they get some real value in return, they shouldn't give in to his request.

I am curious who leaked this. Maybe Washington's agent to try to put pressure on the team? If so, that's just stupid. It only hurts Washington's trade value.

 

Don't blame him..... He is criminally underutilized, and just steps up when called on.....his talents are totally wasted here, plus he's a fee agent after the season... better to get a good pick for him rather than letting him walk for free

 

And yet he was the guy we went to, to ice a game last year. This guy is a talent.

We ain't using him right.

 

I get where JW is coming from. But given his numbers and that he’s only got this yr left on his contract. What are you gonna get for the guy? Probably not even a 4th round pick. If the Steelers are really all-in this yr - #7 for #7!! - you might as well keep him.

Next yr, they look to lose Juju and JW, they’ll probably need to draft a WR in the 3rd or 4th round next yr - again.

 

We're watching different games, or different players with the same name then. DJ doesn't get separation like you're saying. It just isn't there. Not sure what you're watching. Is he more elusive? Yes. Is he more dynamic? Sure. But he's not always dependable. And other than DJ, who doesn't get separation either, show me any other WR who is consistently creating separation. It isn't there. Maybe you're watching the Iowa Hawkeyes. I don't know.

JW is a better WR. Better hands. Better at the point of attack. Stronger. Makes more routine catches. (Do the routine things routinely -Mike Tomlin) Available. (DJ has lost far more playing time to injuries)

He's just a better all-around WR. I'd take him over DJ in a heartbeat.

 

They really do it's bizarre. Who was the lineman a couple years back who started for the KC Super Bowl team that we signed and Tomlin was like nah we don't need him? Or why is it such a hard concept for him to use multiple running backs? Like people who play Madden even understand the value of that.

 

I've been vocal on here for a while regarding their lack of use of James Washington so I can't blame him. James was a second round pick. I doubt anyone gives anything near that.

If I was on his position I'd be pissed. He's been pretty chill about it though. Will hate to see him go but I can't blame him.

I was hoping to get him a second contract assuming JuJu was moving on.

 

For one simple reason, the gasps when Chase did not get up right away last night. JW is not Chase (or the others), but at this time you have no one with his experience and talent to take over if one of the other 3 go down. There may be some preseason sweetness emerge, but how many times have we seen that and the player is never seen again, here or anywhere.

If/when he leaves in FA you have a chance at a compensation pick (likely lower round), but unless you get some stupid desperate GM giving you a 2nd or 3rd, and you have complete confidence in some younger guy he stays put.

 

JW is a one trick deep shot pony, not even close to DJ. DJ is the real deal, even if he had the dropsies last year. TO had the dropsies once.

 

They traded next year's 4th for Loudermilk. Get that back and I'm on board with a trade. Not gonna be a whole lot of 4 WR sets with new targets Freiermuth and Harris.

 

We canot trade him, our depth all but evaporates without our top 4. He definitely needs more opportunities, though.

 

I am all for a player for player deal, that could bring in an OT, or ILB.

 

With all your observations, that are usually pretty spot on, I don't know how you whiffed on this one so badly. One trick, deep shot pony? C'mon man. Not even close.

 

Has Tomlins wife been seen in the ICU recently?

 

Yes. The Saints are very thin at WR, trade him for an OT to compete with Chuks, who we haven't even seen play LT yet.