Paul Richardson - Pro Football Rumors

Seahawks Release WR Paul Richardson

September 5th, 2020 at 1:40pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Paul Richardson‘s reunion with the Seahawks turned out to be brief. Just about a week after inking a deal with Seattle Richardson has been released, a source told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link).

The Seahawks’ re-signing of Josh Gordon a couple of days ago must’ve made Richardson expendable. Seattle originally drafted the Colorado product in the second round back in 2014. Injuries and vets ahead of him on the depth chart limited his effectiveness his first few years, but he broke out in 2017.

That season he showed great promise as a deep threat, catching 44 passes for 703 yards and six touchdowns. The career year came right as he was hitting free agency, and inspired Washington to give him a five-year, $40MM contract.

That was a disaster nearly immediately, as injuries limited him to just 17 games over two years with the team and he failed to top 262 yards in either campaign. Washington released him earlier this year and he was hoping to jumpstart his career back where it started. Now it appears his comeback will have to begin elsewhere.

Seahawks, Paul Richardson Agree To Deal

August 29th, 2020 at 2:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Paul Richardson‘s Seahawks visit indeed produced a contract offer. The former Seahawks second-round pick agreed to rejoin the team on Saturday, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.

The six-year veteran wide receiver resurfaced on the free agency radar by trekking to Seattle, where he played from 2014-17. The recent Washington cap casualty will attempt to reignite his career in a familiar place.

Richardson enjoyed his best season (44 catches, 703 yards, six touchdown receptions) in his 2017 contract year and parlayed it into a five-year, $40MM deal with Washington. However, injuries plagued the ex-Colorado prospect in the nation’s capital. Washington released him in February, taking on some dead money to do so.

Connected to higher-profile veteran receivers for months now, the Seahawks are adding Richardson to a stable that includes Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf and Phillip Dorsett. The latter, however, is currently sidelined with a foot injury. John Ursua, a 2019 draftee, is dealing with a hamstring injury.

Richardson, 28, probably cannot be considered a lock to make the Seahawks’ roster — given his inconsistent career that includes just one 300-plus-yard season in six tries. The Seahawks have also changed offensive coordinators since his previous run with the team. But if the now-two-time Seahawk is healthy, he will bolster the team’s depth for the time being. The Seahawks have been the team most closely connected to Antonio Brown and Josh Gordon. Those suspended talents will likely remain on the team’s radar, though no resolutions are in sight for either player.

Seahawks Meeting With Paul Richardson

August 26th, 2020 at 2:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Seahawks are looking at one of their former draft choices to potentially help out at wide receiver. Paul Richardson is at the team’s facility Wednesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.

A former four-year Seahawks contributor, Richardson may be on track to sign. He is taking a COVID-19 test with the team and could be back with Seattle soon, Garafolo adds. Richardson spent the past two seasons with Washington.

Washington gave Richardson a lucrative deal — five years, $40MM — to join its receiving corps in 2018, but that partnership did not last. The team released the veteran deep threat two seasons into that deal. Richardson, 28, did not eclipse 300 yards in either of his two injury-shortened Washington seasons. Excepting his promising contract-year showing in 2017 (703 receiving yards, six TDs), Richardson has never exceeded 300 yards in a season.

Richardson was Seattle’s top pick in the 2014 draft, being selected 45th overall out of Colorado. He mostly served as a depth cog with the Seahawks, but they used him as a starter in 13 games during his breakout 2017 slate.

Seattle added a depth piece already this offseason, signing former first-round pick Phillip Dorsett. However, the former Colts and Patriots target is currently dealing with a foot injury. The team has also been the primary suitor connected to Antonio Brown, but the mercurial superstar is set to serve an eight-game suspension.

Redskins Release Paul Richardson

February 14th, 2020 at 11:06am CST by Zachary Links

The Redskins could be on the verge of a Valentine’s Day massacre. Shortly after cutting Josh Norman, they released wide receiver Paul Richardson, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter).

The Redskins gave Richardson a five-year, $40MM contract in 2018 with the expectation that he would take off in his prime years. Things, unfortunately, did not work out. Injuries have limited the former second-round pick to just 17 combined games over the last two seasons. resulting in a combined stat line of 48 catches, 507 yards, and four touchdowns. He also averaged just 10.6 yards per grab; the Redskins expected him to be a deep threat.

By releasing Richardson, the Redskins will save $2.5MM and incur $6MM in dead money. It’s a steep price to pay, but the Redskins’ new regime did not see much value in keeping him on the roster.

Richardson was something of a one-year wonder. He made noise in 2016 with the Seahawks as a supporting target, but he took a giant leap forward in 2017 as he caught 44 passes for 703 yards and six touchdowns. That averaged out to 16 yards per grab and positioned him as one of the best available receivers in the forthcoming free agent class.

The Colorado product’s natural ability has never been in question; his ability to stay on the field has been the main issue. Thanks to an ACL in Seattle’s divisional playoff win against the Panthers, he missed Super Bowl XLIX and all but one game in 2015. In six seasons as a pro, Richardson has only been healthy for about half of them.

Redskins Place Paul Richardson On IR

December 14th, 2019 at 3:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

Having only played one game since November 3, Paul Richardson will not return to action until 2020. The Redskins placed the sixth-year wide receiver on IR Saturday.

Washington promoted tackle Timon Parris to take Richardson’s roster spot. The former Seahawks contract-year standout has been battling a hamstring injury. After getting in two limited practices this week, Richardson did not practice Friday. The Redskins had previously declared both Richardson and fellow wideout Trey Quinn out for Week 15.

A 2018 free agent signing, Richardson has not worked out like the franchise hoped. He will fail to exceed 300 receiving yards for the fifth time in six NFL seasons, having done so only during his 2017 Seattle contract year. This season, the deep threat averaged a career-low 8.8 yards per catch, hauling in 28 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns. Richardson’s first two seasons with Washington will have included 15 missed games by year’s end.

The Redskins gave Richardson a five-year, $40MM contract last March. Should Washington opt to move on from the 27-year-old target, the franchise would only save $2.5MM while incurring $6MM in dead money. Richardson is due a non-guaranteed $6MM base salary in 2020.

NFC East Notes: Elliott, Eagles, Redskins

July 17th, 2019 at 7:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys‘ strategy of prioritizing extension for Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper over Ezekiel Elliott have seemingly influenced the two-time rushing champion to consider a holdout. While Elliott is signed through the 2020 season and can be controlled on a 2021 franchise tag, a path the Cowboys appear to be pondering, Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap tweets the team’s best move would be to extend Elliott now in order to have the remaining $12.9MM on his contract become part of the extension’s guarantee structure. The Cowboys should structure a deal that would enable them to cut bait after the first year of the extension, which if done now would be 2021, Fitzgerald adds (on Twitter). That would be unlikely to happen if Elliott heads into 2020 without an extension. Having not yet met the service-time requirements for free agency, Elliott must report to the Cowboys by Aug. 6. This gives the team considerable leverage against a 2019 holdout. A 2020 holdout would become more complicated.

With the NFC East teams wrapping up their offseasons, here is the latest out of this division:

Several Redskins players missed out on some cash this offseason. By either not showing up, in Trent Williams‘ case, to the offseason program (or failing to be there for 90% of it), Williams, Josh Norman, Landon Collins, Paul Richardson, Quinton Dunbar and Vernon Davis missed out on some bonus cash, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Norman led the way on this front, seeing $200K docked from his 2019 salary. Collins was docked $175K, with Williams and Richardson down $150K.
Staying with Washington, their free safety job still figures to be Montae Nicholson‘s to lose, J.P. Finlay of NBC Sports Washington notes. This comes despite the Redskins suspending him in December, for an off-field arrest that resulted in dropped charges, and Jay Gruden expressing annoyance Nicholson missed the early portion of Redskins OTAs. Washington did not draft a safety, and Pro Football Focus graded Nicholson as its fifth-worst back-line defender last season. Still, Finlay expects the third-year player to have a major say in who starts alongside Collins.
Jordan Howard, Miles Sanders and Corey Clement will be on the Eagles‘ 53-man roster, leaving recent draft picks Wendell Smallwood, Josh Adams and Donnel Pumphrey in danger of the waiver wire. Despite the Eagles investing in each of these players out of college, Saints 2018 sixth-round pick Boston Scott looks like the early favorite to be the Eagles’ fourth running back, Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia writes. Possessing a Darren Sproles-type physique at 5-foot-6 and 203 pounds, Scott has yet to take a regular-season handoff. But his experience as a punt returner may give him the edge, per Zangaro. Adams (511 yards) and Smallwood (364) were Philadelphia’s two leading rushers last season.
The Giants will join the Eagles in having a project offensive lineman in camp. After Philly drafted tackle Jordan Mailata in last year’s seventh round, the Giants signed college shot putter Austin Droogsma. The Giants signed Droogsma, who last played football as a high-schooler 2012, in May and will try the 6-4, 345-pound track convert as a guard, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com notes. While at Florida State, Droogsma won the 2018 ACC indoor and outdoor titles and finished both seasons as an All-American. Mailata, a rugby standout, spent most of last season on the Eagles’ practice squad; the Giants’ P-squad would seem like the best-case scenario for Droogsma in 2019.

Redskins Lose Scherff, Lauvao, Richardson

November 5th, 2018 at 2:36pm CST by Zachary Links

The Redskins suffered a major blow this week. In addition to losing 38-14 to the Falcons, the Redskins are also down three key players. Guard Brandon Scherff (torn pectoral), guard Shawn Lauvao (torn ACL), and WR Paul Richardson Jr. (AC joint) will all undergo surgery, ruling them out for the remainder of the season.

Losing Scherff and Lauvao is particularly tough as the club is already without tackle Trent Williams as he rehabs from a thumb injury. As they fight to keep their place atop the NFC East, the Redskins will have to move forward without 60% of their starting line.

Scherff, the former No. 5 overall pick in the 2015 draft, earned Pro Bowl nods in each of the last two seasons. He’s continued his strong play into 2018 and is a big reason for Adrian Peterson‘s surprising resurgence in D.C. Behind the Redskins’ offensive line, Peterson has averaged 4.4 yards per game, topped 100 yards in two games, and flirted with the century mark a couple of other times. But, behind a depleted front five on Sunday, Peterson had just 17 yards off of nine carries.

At the midway point of the season, Scherff ranks as Pro Football Focus’ No. 11 ranked guard in the NFL. Lauvao, who mans the opposite side, is near the back of the Top 60.

The Redskins gave Richardson a five-year, $40MM deal in the offseason to defect from the Seahawks, but shoulder trouble has dogged him as of late. The 26-year-old receiver flashed early in the year, but has been held to just four catches over the past two games. His first year in D.C. will end with just 20 catches for 262 yards and two touchdowns in seven games.

Injury Updates: Patriots, Colts, Lions, Redskins

October 19th, 2018 at 9:36pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The final injury reports for Week 7 came out earlier today, and there was a lot of news. Lots of key players will be missing their team’s games, while others will be returning after extended absence. One notable rule-out was the Patriots declaring that starting right tackle Marcus Cannon would miss their game against the Bears. It’s a big loss for New England, especially in a week where they have to go up against Khalil Mack. Mack will now be lining up across from a backup tackle, and could end up making life miserable for Tom Brady.

Here are more injury updates from around the league:

The Colts have been the most injured team in recent memory the past few weeks, but are finally getting some good news. Star receiver T.Y. Hilton has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury, but is ready to make his return this week. Unfortunately for Indianapolis, they’ll still be without tight end Jack Doyle and receiver Ryan Grant as well as several key contributors on defense like safety Clayton Geathers and defensive tackle Denico Autry.
The Lions will be without running back Theo Riddick, who went down during the team’s win over the Packers. Riddick has been operating as the Lions’ third down back, and rookie Kerryon Johnson should get more run with him out of the way. On the bright side, the team looks like it could be getting back pass-rusher Ezekiel Ansah, who hasn’t played since Detroit’s Week 1 loss. Ansah is listed as questionable but practiced all three days this week.
The Redskins will be thin on pass-catchers, as Jamison Crowder has been ruled out for the team’s game against the Cowboys while Paul Richardson is listed as doubtful. Washington promoted Jehu Chesson from the practice squad yesterday, signaling they weren’t expecting Richardson to play. Tight end Jordan Reed should see a ton of looks as the Redskins’ receiving corp is completely depleted.

For a rundown of every team’s injury situation, you can view all 32 injury reports over at ProFootballTalk.com.

Redskins To Sign WR Paul Richardson

March 13th, 2018 at 12:11pm CST by Zachary Links

The Redskins are expected to sign wide receiver Paul Richardson to a five-year, $40MM deal, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). The deal includes $20MM in guarantees. Adam Caplan of SiriusXM (on Twitter) first reported that a deal could be on the horizon.

Richardson has reportedly been on the Redskins’ radar for a while. The Redskins were also targeting Allen Robinson, but this year’s top free agent wide receiver has agreed to terms with the Bears. There aren’t a ton of quality WRs available in this year’s crop, but Richardson is among the best.

Richardson stepped into a larger role last year after the Seahawks shipped Jermaine Kearse to the Jets. Richardson, who doesn’t turn 26 until April, averaged 16 yards per grab for Seattle.

The Redskins have been looking for a speedy complement to Josh Doctson and Richardson would fit the bill. With Richardson in the fold, it seems unlikely that they will roll the dice on Terrelle Pryor for another season.

Free agency doesn’t technically begin until Wednesday, but things are already off to a rollicking start for this year’s available wide receivers.

Sammy Watkins has agreed to a three-year, $48MM deal with the Chiefs, and the Bears have agreed to a three-year, $42MM deal with Allen Robinson. Richardson, who was ranked as our sixth-best wide receiver heading into free agency, has matched the $8MM average annual value of Kenny Britt‘s free agent deal from last offseason while adding another year and nearly doubling his guarantees.

This is a nice haul for Richardson, who had not put together much of relevance until his contract year. Having torn an ACL in the playoffs as a rookie, Richardson then played in just one game in 2015. After serving as a lower-level supporting-cast cog in 2016, the former second-round pick broke out last year in averaging 16.0 yards per catch and gaining 703 air yards. He scored six touchdowns in what turned out to be a critical year in his career.

Richardson will be a key piece of a revamped Redskins offense, joining Alex Smith. Jamison Crowder and Jordan Reed will again be expected to play big roles, with Chris Thompson doing so as well, assuming he returns from his season-ending injury.

West Notes: 49ers, Raiders, Richardson

March 10th, 2018 at 3:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

Richard Sherman‘s 49ers tour began with a dinner with Kyle Shanahan on Friday night, and the sides took more formal steps on Saturday. Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reports Sherman took a physical with the 49ers today and met with more team officials. After undergoing Achilles surgery in November, Sherman underwent a procedure to remove a bone spur in his other heel last month. Barrows notes the soon-to-be 30-year-old cornerback plans to be running at full speed again at some point in April. Sherman plans to be ready to participate in training camp. Sherman may or may not have a Lions visit scheduled.

Here’s the latest from the West divisions as the legal tampering period looms in less than 48 hours.

Despite the 49ers pursuing Sherman, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com does not expect the team to go after Trumaine Johnson. He doesn’t expect the 28-year-old defender, and one who will command big money next week, to fit into the 49ers’ model of aiming for sustained success. San Francisco, though, has more than $70MM in cap space and has a need at corner. Maiocco, though, notes the 49ers are “extremely excited” about 2017 third-rounder Ahkello Witherspoon‘s development. Witherspoon graded as a top-50 Pro Football Focus corner last season in 660 snaps. It looks like he could be one of San Francisco’s starters next season opposite a UFA acquisition.
One player Witherspoon may not be guarding twice next year is Paul Richardson. The UFA wide receiver sent out a tweet that certainly makes it look like he won’t be playing for the Seahawks next season. A 2014 second-round pick who didn’t impress much until his contract year, Richardson caught 44 passes for 703 yards and six touchdowns last season and is expected to have a competitive market. And the Seahawks still have Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett under contract. However, this wouldn’t be the first time a Seahawks wideout indicated he was likely headed out the door only to return to Seattle. Jermaine Kearse was more declarative about departing the Pacific Northwest in 2016 before re-signing to stay in his home state shortly after.
Tom Cable would prefer the Raiders retain Marshawn Lynch for a second season, Scott Bair of CSN Bay Area reports. Oakland’s new offensive line coach, of course, worked with the running back during his peak years. Nothing has been decided on Lynch yet. The soon-to-be 32-year-old back is due a $4MM base salary in 2018 if he remains on the Raiders’ roster. He’s due a $1MM roster bonus on March 18.