Redskins roster fringe stock report: Receivers rising in early stages

Other players to watch

It’s training camp, so naturally, more players are going to have their stock rising at any given point in time. At the end of the day, not every impressive player will be kept on the roster, and some players who underwhelmed may keep their spots, due to upside. Here are a few more fringe players to watch as camp progresses, for various reasons.

Redskins CB Deion Harris: Harris, an undrafted free agent this year, has 6-foot-3 length and good movement skills for his size. He’s shown promise in press coverage, and with his athletic ability, he could continue to elevate his stock into preseason. He’s on the outside looking in, and a practice squad spot looks like a likely destination for him, but he has the traits to exceed expectations.

Redskins WRs: Between Brian Quick, Darvin Kidsy, Jehu Chesson, Steven Sims, and T.J. Rahming, the Redskins reserve receivers constitute a large group, fighting for a sliver of real estate. None of these receivers have seen their stock rise too high or fall too low yet, but look for receivers to start getting more aggressive as their time runs short. In the end, it could very well be the case that none of the names above make the active roster.

Redskins TE Donald Parham: Parham’s 6-foot-8 frame has helped him become a natural standout in camp. If the Redskins decide to keep four tight ends, due to the uncertainty surrounding the long-term statuses of Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis, then Parham should be the front runner as of now. Matt Flanagan has had issues with drops, and J.P. Holtz, while intriguing, doesn’t offer the physical upside that Parham does. Parham has caught several touchdown passes from Dwayne Haskins. If that production transfers to preseason, he could seal the deal.

Redskins RBs Shaun Wilson and Craig Reynolds: Two undrafted free agents from 2018 and 2019, respectively, Wilson and Reynolds both have enticing profiles. They both show good quickness and agility as ball carriers, and both have some return man experience. Wilson, in particular, has shown off his speed and explosiveness in training camp. Running back shelf lives are short, so it’s very possible that one of these players could send Byron Marshall out of favor as August moves along.

Redskins OL Ereck Flowers: The Redskins might simply keep Flowers because of the investment they placed on him, but Flowers has not been consistently adequate in camp. He’s had a few good reps, but too often, his poor play has placed him under scrutiny. With Penn now in tow, the Redskins may move him to guard for good, but if his showing at tackle is any indication, he might not do very well there, either.

Redskins FS Troy Apke: Apke, more likely than not, isn’t on the roster fringe. He has the type of high-end physical speed that the Redskins value, and they won’t cut the cord on the experiment after just one year. But he hasn’t been great so far. He was humiliated on one rep by Terry McLaurin early on, and his mental game hasn’t shown enough growth from last year. His primary role could again be as a gunner, and that’s not good for the team’s depth at safety.

Redskins QBs Case Keenum and Colt McCoy: Dwayne Haskins has been progressing nicely, and if he ends up being ready to start from the get-go, either Case Keenum or Colt McCoy could become expendable. On one hand, Washington has a tendency to keep only two quarterbacks in recent years. But on the other hand, that didn’t help them last year, when they sifted through four starters for the first time in franchise history. It’s just something to watch; if Haskins is ready, and if Washington wants to keep a player somewhere else, one quarterback might be heading out the door.

The roster fringe is where championships are won. Teams that have the depth to withstand injury and conflict are the ones who travel the farthest in February. The Redskins aren’t there yet, but the offseason is a valuable opportunity to let competition glean the best out of unproven players. Perhaps in time, by choosing the right people, the Redskins can succeed in this arena.