The offseason is an annual opportunity on the outside. But from the inside, it’s a final chance to follow a dream.
In the months of the offseason, the Washington Redskins, along with 31 other teams, will be tasked with trimming their roster down, from 90 of the world’s best football players, to 53.
It’s an arduous process, where long days will wear down coaches in the heat of summer, and where competition will blossom in unlikely places. Where the hardest decisions will be made, and where drastic implications may find roots.
The process won’t be challenging in its entirety. Upwards of 40 roster spots should be locks, or at least close to it. But the fringe spots remain up for grabs, and at positions of less clarity, those spots will be heavily fought over.
One such position is safety, where the Redskins are still searching for structure around high-priced free agent signing Landon Collins. There are players in the lead, and names to remember, but at the end of the day, it’s still anyone’s battle to win. Could Unheralded Player Jeremy Reaves factor into the equation?
Who is Jeremy Reaves?
Being overlooked is just part of the routine for Jeremy Reaves.
Reaves’ football journey began at Pensacola Catholic High School, where he joined the NCAA football recruiting class of 2014. Despite putting in work as a two-way prospect, Reaves only managed to earn himself a two-star status.
Reaves failed to crack the top 3,000 in the nation, and he was the No. 418 prospect in his own state of Florida. That didn’t stop him from producing at South Alabama, however. Reaves quickly found playing time, earning a full-time starting job in his sophomore season. In three seasons as a starter for the Jaguars all across the secondary, Reaves logged 301 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, eight interceptions, 22 pass deflections, and eight forced fumbles.
Reaves was a production machine in college, but against Sun Belt competition, it wasn’t enough. He earned an invite to the Senior Bowl in 2018, but ended up going undrafted. The 2017 Sun Belt Player of the Year signed with the Eagles as an undrafted free agent, and he spent the offseason with them, before being released on September 1, in final cuts.
Not long after the Eagles released Reaves, he was signed to the Redskins practice squad, and on December 19, due to injury, Reaves was promoted to the active roster. He played in the final two games of the season as a safety, and now, he remains on the roster, waiting patiently for preseason, so that he can get the chance to impress in game action again.
Player Breakdown
Reaves won’t win you over with the eye test. At 5-foot-11, 205, Reaves has decent size, but he’s lacking in terms of length, and his frame is slight, allowing him to be handled without issue by blockers. His first step isn’t anything to write home about, and while he has mirroring ability, he can be a step late in coverage.
A slightly above-average athlete, Reaves can compete with NFL athletes, but he won’t be able to win on athleticism alone. Reaves has to rely on his tenacity and his nose for the football, which is evidenced by his 38 plays on the ball and his 16 turnover-producing plays in college.
Reaves is physical as a tackler, and he could at least be a decent special teams contributor with the potential to provide solid depth. Another asset Reaves could bring is versatility, as the second-year player has experience all over the secondary, from boundary cornerback to slot cornerback to safety. If the Redskins want a player they can move around, Reaves has the potential to fit that job description.
Still just 22 years old, Reaves has some untapped potential left to strive for, and if Redskins defensive backs coach Ray Horton can hone Reaves’ ball skills, aggression, and modest athletic traits, then perhaps Reaves could surprise a few people, and give Deshazor Everett and Troy Apke a run for their penciled-in spots.
How Jeremy Reaves can make the Redskins roster
Reaves’ path to the Redskins 53-man roster looks a lot like his path to the NFL Draft. Reaves wouldn’t have even been in the draft conversation if it wasn’t for one thing on his resume: Production.
Reaves put himself on the map by transcending the competition in an albeit weak conference, and now, granted another offseason to prove himself, he needs to have the preseason circled on his calendar. He doesn’t stand out with any notable measurables, so for Reaves to win anything, he’ll need to first win on the field, and make a tangible impression on the game.
We don’t often see players win roster spots in preseason alone; there are often whispers over the course of an offseason. Reaves can put himself in good graces with hard work and dedication, but how he’ll truly separate himself is with his ability to simply make plays on the ball.
If Reaves can do that, then he can have a shot at holding a spot on the 53-man roster. If not, another practice squad stint could also be in his future.