Wide Receiver Trey Quinn is known as Mr. Irrelevant to the rest of the NFL world after being the final pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
To the Washington Redskins, however, Quinn could be an immediate contributor in his first season in the professional ranks.
In the first week of OTAs at the Inova Sports Performance Center at Redskins Park in Loudoun County, Va., the wide receiver from SMU held his own against veteran defensive backs while making athletic catches in a game-like atmosphere.
"It's a lot of learning in a short amount of time, but this is all we do now," Quinn said. "There's no school involved so they expect you to get in your books and learn the system. I'm having fun. I'm learning well."
After starting seven of 13 games for LSU as a freshman, the Lake Charles, La., native elected to transfer after just two starts in 12 games as a sophomore in 2015.
Having a fresh start in his college football career, Quinn led SMU in receiving with 114 receptions for 1,236 yards and 13 touchdowns during the 2017 season and showed how fundamentally sound he is against high-level competition.
Although Quinn was second on the team in receiving yards during the Mustangs' game against American Athletic Conference champion UCF on Nov. 4, Quinn showed NFL scouts how well he can do the little details. Quinn often created space and opened himself up against Mike Hughes, who was selected in the first round of this year's draft.
With all the attributes that Quinn possesses, head coach Jay Gruden believes he can use him in different offensive situations.
"Trey Quinn is a very exciting prospect," Gruden said last month. "At SMU, he caught a lot of balls, did some punt return. He's a great option route runner, great feel in zones, strong hands, good physical blocker, good after the catch."
Quinn's focus is making a solid impression on Gruden and the rest of the Redskins' coaching staff, knowing that Gruden wanted Washington to use a pick on him. His attention to the littlest details during position work in practice has allowed him to be thrown in with a veteran offense and to be used in various offensive situations.
While Quinn has proven he can make catches against veteran defensive backs, he along with the rest of the rookies are still attempting to get used to the faster speed in the NFL.
"Right now, they're just trying to get used to everything, used to the speed," safety D.J. Swearinger said. "It's a lot of the first day things that they're going through right now. As repetition goes and experience comes, they'll get better."
The spotlight is no stranger to Quinn throughout his athletic career regardless of the sport.
He threw a no-hitter in the 2008 Little League World Series while pitching for South Lake Charles and caught a state-record of 357 passes for 6,566 yards and 70 touchdowns during his All-American career at Barbe High School.
Even though being the Mr. Irrelevant of the 2018 NFL Draft "still puts a chip on his shoulder," Quinn is ready to contribute to the Redskins on the field in any way possible.
"I made it apparent to everybody I can that I'm willing to do everything for the team," Quinn said. "Any spot they have open, I want to contribute to the team quick. Whatever they ask me to do I can do it."
