Washington Football Team wants to keep these five players around, per report

The Washington Football Team cut numerous players as they trimmed the roster to 53, but they do want to remain some of them.

Cut days are always difficult for NFL players, coaches, and front office executives. Every year, so many players lose their jobs and organizational brain trusts are forced to cut players that they don’t want to. But to get to that magic number of 53, that has to happen.

Of course, players that are cut can still stick around the organization in practice squad roles on injury replacements. So, GMs and coaches do have mechanisms available for them to keep players around, provided that they clear waivers first.

This year, it appears that the Washington Football Team has its sights set on five specific players that they would like to keep around. According to ESPN’s John Keim, these are the five players.

Keim would later note that Bee will stick around Washington, as he is being placed on IR, but the rest of the players will have to clear waivers and avoid being claimed to join Washington’s practice squad.

All of the players that Washington is targeting make sense to bring back. They’re all players that we had joining the team’s practice squad in our practice squad predictions for 2020.

Cam Sims is a big-bodied 6-foot-5 receiver who has flashed in camp the past few years. He hasn’t broken out yet, but he is experienced and is a high-level call-up option.

Meanwhile, Jordan Brailford was impressive in camp as well, but he lost out on the fifth defensive end spot to James Smith-Williams. Still, Brailford has a ton of potential and could be a top option to add to the roster if an injury occurs. Additionally, he could help Smith-Williams to replace Ryan Anderson once the edge player (likely) departs the team in 2021 free agency.

Tony Brown and Jeremy Reaves make sense as depth pieces as well. Brown went undrafted in 2020 and was a late add to Washington’s camp, but he does have potential after a 700-yard, five-TD season with Colorado. And Reaves is entering his third year in Washington and has flashed good coverage skills in limited action.

All told, these players would be nice to keep around, so it makes sense that Washington would be interested in them. We’ll see if any get claimed off waivers, but if none are, expect them to stick around in practice squad roles.