Sometimes a team’s next move is so obvious you can see it coming from the cheap seats. Fourth-year wide receiver Montrell Washington made sure of that with an electric showing in the New York Giants’ first preseason game against the Buffalo Bills.
Related: 4 telling observations from Jaxson Dart's preseason showing vs the Bills
In a relatively shocking outcome, the G-Men left Orchard Park with a meaningless win and a better idea of who’s starting to separate themselves in some of the tightest roster battles. Big Blue's 34-25 victory over the Bills was the perfect platform for some of the roster bubble guys to prove they deserve a shot. Just look at what Dante "Turbo" Miller did.
Luckily for Big Blue, Turbo wasn't the only one who had himself an afternoon. Training camp darling Montrell Washington joined in on the fun, having himself a day, and instantly putting pressure on Brian Daboll and the coaching staff to Sharpie his name on the 53-man roster.
Montrell Washington just forced Brian Daboll to rethink Giants' WR room
Washington didn't have the most impressive stat sheet — he ended the contest with three receptions for 60 yards. However, when he had the ball in his hands, it never looked like the defense stood a chance at stopping him. His 29-yard catch-and-run from Jaxson Dart showed off the elusiveness and tackle-breaking that'll catch the team's attention.
One additional ability that's working in his favor is his value on the special teams unit. Washington impressed with an eight-yard punt return and a 25-yard kick return. His overall impressive day will have Dabs doing a double-take. And it comes at the perfect time.
New York has a wide receiver problem... and not a good one. Malik Nabers is the team's biggest and brightest star, but behind him is a bunch of question marks.
Darius Slayton re-signed this offseason on a multi-year deal, but the seventh-year pro has yet to eclipse 800 receiving yards in a season. Wan'Dale Robinson is coming off a career-high 93-reception campaign, but his 699 yards left a lot to be desired. After those two, it's an adventure. Jalin Hyatt enters Year 3 with more questions than answers, and then it's a hodgepodge of Lil'Jordan Humphrey, Zach Paschal, Beaux Collins, Washington, and a couple of other undrafted free agents.
That’s why Washington’s continued breakout matters. The Giants aren’t exactly spoiled for choice when it comes to dependable depth behind Nabers. A receiver who can contribute on offense and flip field position on special teams is exactly the kind of player they should look to keep around, especially when he’s making plays literally every time the ball finds him.
Big Blue will likely carry six receivers. Nabers, Slayton, Robinson, Hyatt, and special teams ace Ihmir Smith-Marsette will occupy five of those spots. That leaves one for the taking. And it's Washington's to lose.
The preseason can be the ultimate tease, and one good game doesn’t guarantee a thing. But if Washington keeps stacking performances like this over the next couple of weeks, the only question left will be how soon can Dart put the ball in his hands.
After Saturday, Daboll doesn’t need the cheap seats to tell him what comes next.