The NFLPA released the top 50 players in merchandise sales for the last year, which spanned from March 1, 2019 to February 29, 2020.
There were no members of the Washington Redskins on the list.
That’s not incredibly surprising, as the Redskins aren’t very good just yet. If you were to think about who the best players on the team were last season, you might think Terry McLaurin, or Adrian Peterson, or Landon Collins, but they aren’t exactly players whose jerseys are flying off the shelf. McLaurin had a stellar year as a rookie, but even how he isn’t too well known outside of Redskins circles, or the fantasy football world.
Just because Washington didn’t crack to top 50 in 2019 doesn’t mean that it can’t earn some praise in the future. So of their numerous young stars on the roster, who will be the next player to make the list? Let’s rank our options.
Honorable Mentions:
- Montez Sweat
- Kendal Fuller
- Adrian Peterson
- Landon Collins
- Steven Sims
Let’s be honest, none of these guys are going to crack the top 100, let alone the top 50 any time soon. They may be fan favorites in Washington, but outside of the District, few people could tell you how their season is going.
No. 5 — Ryan Kerrigan
Ever since the fall of Trent Williams, Kerrigan probably stands as the reigning fan favorite in Washington, as his career-long run with the Redskins has embedded him deeply in the hearts of many. His iron-man streak of 139 consecutive games was impressive, to say the least, but the knock against Kerrigan is how underrated he has been his whole career. Far be it for an average NFL fan to tell you anything about him. On top of that, he is on the back-nine of his career, so jersey sales will likely start to fall as he ages out.
No. 4 — Derrius Guice
The fans in Washington so badly want to love Guice, but until he plays for an extended period of time without any injuries popping up, it will be nearly impossible to do so. They’ve been spurned by injury-riddled players before. Because of this, it’s unlikely that Guice will rise to the top of team jersey sales in 2020, but if he were to stay healthy and play up to his abilities? 2021 look out.
No. 3 — Dwayne Haskins
Much like Guice, there is likely going to be a waiting period before fans in Washington start to buy-in on Haskins and his abilities. He showed some nice glimpses in his rookie season, but it’s too early to name him the franchise QB and stock up on his No. 7 uniform. If Haskins proves that he is worthy of the love this season, though, expect that No. 7 to be a common sight at FedEx Field in the future.
No. 2 — Terry McLaurin
Is it safe to say that Terry McLaurin is the most popular player in Washington right now? There’s no other guy who was more impressive for the Redskins in 2019, and the fact that they got him as a steal in the draft is just icing on the cake. He is already being penciled in as one of the core players who will help lead the charge towards success in the future, and I expect fans will be stocking up on No. 17 gear going forward. So why is he not No. 1 on the list? Well…
No. 1 — Chase Young
You mean to tell me that Redskins fans aren’t going to stock up on Chase Young #2 jerseys as soon as they get the chance? I don’t believe it. Ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft, the buzz surrounding Young is already so palpable in Redskins circles, and the entire fanbase is just salivating at the chance to call him their own. There’s no question in my mind that by this time next year, Young will not only be the top-selling jersey in Washington, but he will likely crack the NFL top 50 as well.
