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Washington Football Team training camp profiles: Edge rushers

By Ian Cummings

LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 17: Ryan Kerrigan #91 of the Washington Redskins warms up before the game against the New York Jets at FedExField on November 17, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 17: Ryan Kerrigan #91 of the Washington Redskins warms up before the game against the New York Jets at FedExField on November 17, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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JACKSONVILLE, FL – DECEMBER 31: James Smith-Williams #39 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack in action against the Texas A&M Aggies during the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field on December 31, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. Texas A&M won 52-13. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL – DECEMBER 31: James Smith-Williams #39 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack in action against the Texas A&M Aggies during the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field on December 31, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. Texas A&M won 52-13. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

James Smith-Williams

Experience: 1st season

Draft Status: 2020 seventh-round pick, 229th overall

2019 Stats (College): Six games, 20 total tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, 1.0 sack

2020 Outlook: James Smith-Williams came into training camp healthy and unencumbered by a PUP list designation, which is a good start to his NFL career. In college, he was frequently sidelined due to health, but if he can hit the ground running with his development, he could wind up stealing one of the final spots in the edge rushing unit.

Expected Role: Smith-Williams isn’t overly explosive like Young or Sweat, but he does have some good athletic traits to pair with a thick 6-foot-4, 265-pound frame. He’s not quite big enough yet to have versatility across the line, so that may hurt him in the short run. But he’s a tireless worker and a former captain, so whether he’s on the roster or the practice squad, he should be a cultural benefit to the team.

Status: The Washington football team actively invested in Smith-Williams with a draft pick back in April, so he has some security in that sense. But given that the practice squad will be bigger this season, he may be destined to start off there. He’s presumably healthy enough to play, but he might not be ready to take on a roster role in the NFL just yet.

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