Redskins: Top standouts from 2019 training camp so far

Redskins training camp has been in full swing for a week and a half now. And at this point, there have been plenty of standouts for the squad.

When the Washington Redskins opened up training camp last Wednesday, they did so with a lot of questions about their team. They had a three-way quarterback battle, minimal help on the offensive line, and some unsettled position battles that the team needed to decide on to form the most competitive roster that they can.

Despite some bumps in the road, the Redskins are showing off something that will be important to their future. Promise. Their young players haven’t necessarily been consistent yet, but they have found some intriguing talents and are developing some players into potential contributors. So, that deserves some praise.

Camp is always a time for players to step up and stand out. Unsurprisingly, in a wide-open camp like the one the Redskins have, there have been plenty of standouts. But some have really upped their game and done a lot to either lock down roster spots or make a case for time in the starting lineup.

With the first preseason game approaching, it’s time to look at some of the top standouts from Redskins camp. Here’s a look at the top-three standouts and also the five Tier 2 players who just missed the top-three cut.

Tier 2 standouts

It’s training camp, so there are plenty of players that are going to get buzz, but not all can be considered for the top-three overall. Here are the guys that almost made the cut for this list but fit better into the Tier 2 category here.

QB Dwayne Haskins. Haskins has certainly made some strides during camp, and his fourth day of practice was easily his best. However, Haskins is still going through some rookie growing pains and is learning the offense. It’s clear that he has the talent to eventually emerge as the starter and he may do so after the preseason. But the inability to separate from Case Keenum or Colt McCoy yet makes Haskins a tough omission. He has looked good, but he’s still inconsistent.

WR Trey Quinn. Jay Gruden made some noise when he said that Quinn had the starting slot job “locked up”. However, Quinn didn’t take too kindly to that, as he wants to find a bigger role in the offense. Either way, it seems that targets are being funneled to him and he is making big catches. If it weren’t for another receiver playing well to open camp, he may have cracked the top three.

TE Jordan Reed. It’s been a very long time since Reed came into camp fully healthy, but that apparently happened this year. He has been a weapon during practices and he could end up being the team’s top receiving target if he stays healthy. His biggest buzz came earlier in the week and has cooled down a bit in recent days.

LB Jon Bostic. Bostic has been solid by all accounts since taking over from Mason Foster. Gruden seems impressed enough with him to make him the starter and give him a chance to call the defense. It looks like Bostic and Shaun Dion Hamilton will start on defense, as I predicted in my analysis of the Redskins’ linebacker depth chart before the team released Foster.

EDGE Montez Sweat. Sweat’s massive frame has stood out and he has made some plays in practice as well. However, he hasn’t quite generated as much buzz as the other top players on the list. He may be able to change that with a productive preseason, but he also may not be getting as much buzz because he may have already locked down a starting job.

3. LB Cole Holcomb

When the Redskins decided to part ways with Mason Foster ahead of training camp, it showed faith in their younger players at the linebacker position. And evidently, their investment is starting to pay off.

In the early stages of training camp, Holcomb has shown excellent dedication to his craft and a desire to get better. It’s not surprising that the athletic and productive prospect out of North Carolina is making a splash, but it’s more about how quickly he’s been able to do it.

Jay Gruden has praised Holcomb on a number of different occasions and as outlined by our own Russell Shavatt, Holcomb will have a chance to continue to prove himself in the preseason if he can do a few different things.

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"Per ESPN’s John Keim, Jay Gruden had nothing but positive things to say about the former University of North Carolina product.  The coach said that Holcomb has been “excellent,” and that he “wants to be great and has the tools to be great.”  Gruden specifically referred to Holcomb’s power, speed, and instincts in describing what his best traits are. The biggest items that Cole Holcomb will need to focus on throughout camp and the preseason are: his communication skills at the linebacker position, and the ability to adjust to opposing offenses regarding the variety of looks they might use in game against the defense."

If Holcomb can continue to show off these skills that he has displayed in camp while also showing his dedication, he will have a chance to quickly emerge as a role player in the defense. He may still be behind Bostic and Hamilton in the linebacker battle but as a rookie, he may have a chance to get more playing time on defense than some initially expected.

2. WR Cam Sims

Sims wasn’t a very productive receiver at Alabama. During his time with the team, he was stuck behind a lot of other talented players and slipped through the cracks as a result.

But since signing with the Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2018, he has shown the potential to be a starting receiver.

Sims’ rise started in 2018, but some of the luster was lost after he missed his rookie season with an injury. However, this offseason, Sims has continued to play very well, making numerous contested catches in practice, showing off a good catch radius, and demonstrating enough athletic ability needed to make a difference after the catch.

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Gruden has praised Sims and per Rick Snider of the Washington Post Express said that Sims has “the skillset coaches live for.” Safe to say, that is some high praise. And when looking at the 6-foot-5 receiver’s frame and athletic ability, it’s easy to see why the team likes him.

Sims is trending towards being on the 53-man roster but due to the wide-open nature of the receiver battle, nothing is set in stone. Still, if he can continue to make plays like this in practice and once the preseason starts, he should have a chance to make the roster.

Given that Sims was considered to be a back-end roster candidate coming into the offseason, this is certainly an encouraging development for him. It’s possible that he could eventually break into the starting lineup at some point during the season depending on how Josh Doctson and Paul Richardson play moving forward.

1. CB Jimmy Moreland

Moreland may have been a seventh-round pick by the Redskins, but he sure hasn’t looked like one early in camp.

Dubbed “The People’s Corner”, Moreland has made a number of interceptions during practice in training camp. He was always known as a ballhawk during his college days, but his skills have translated over very quickly to the NFL level.

I mean, just look at this spectacular interception that Moreland made in a recent practice (courtesy of Paul Conner).

There aren’t a lot of corners that can make those types of plays in the NFL. Moreland is proving to be one of them, at least in practice.

The thing is that Moreland isn’t just showing off as a ballhawk. He has also broken up several passes and performed well in one-on-ones. He could be a real playmaker at the next level and should have a chance to challenge for a nickel spot in the near future. He appears to be behind Fabian Moreau in the race to be a starter, but if Moreland continues to be this strong in practice, he could emerge as the top backup ahead of Greg Stroman.

The big test for Moreland will be doing this on the field in the preseason. If he can do that, then the Redskins will know that they have gotten a steal. But either way, he has almost certainly solidified a spot on the 53-man roster in training camp and his highlight plays easily make him the top standout of camp so far.