Washington Redskins Unheralded Players: CB Tharold Simon

Simon is similar to Montae Nicholson, one of the Redskins’ fourth-round picks this year. He’s a traits prospect in every sense of the word.

At 6-foot-3, Simon has outstanding height and length for a cornerback. He ran a 4.51 at the NFL Combine. This tells us that he has exceptional speed to couple with his long range. Most corners with above average height have a relative lack of smoothness and mobility, but as NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote back in 2013, Simon is a more well-rounded specimen than most:

"Simon is sure to draw a lot of interest based on his length and play-making ability, along with the fact that his hips are much more fluid than most other tall corners. Some of Simon’s length is mitigated by the fact that he doesn’t press very well, and he’ll need to clean up his footwork and technique at the next level."

Contrary to most traits prospects, Simon showed in college that he can use his impressive physical gifts to amass steady production. His lack of fluidity, although relatively mild, was enough to relegate him to the 5th round. Since then, his career has gone awry due to injuries and inconsistent play. The Redskins could very well be Simon’s last chance in the NFL.