Washington Football Team: 3 under-the-radar players for 2021

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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 20: James Smith-Williams #96, Tim Settle #97, Deshazor Everett #22 and James Smith-Williams #96 of the Washington Football Team attempt to block a 49 yard field goal kicked by kicker Zane Gonzalez #5 of the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on September 20, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Three under-the-radar impact players for the Washington Football Team.

Be honest. How many of you looked at the Washington Football Team last off-season and foresaw big roles for journeymen free agents Wes Schweitzer and Cornelius Lucas. How many of you had young vets Jeremy Reaves and Cam Sims penciled in as major contributors in a playoff run?

Every year, we expect the stars to carry the team. The bar was set high for Terry McLaurin and Chase Young, and they lived up to the hype.

But most weeks, in the NFL, you have a minimum of 30 guys playing important minutes. It’s the ultimate team game, and you better have an entire team. On successful teams, every year, a handful of players are flying under the radar as the season dawns, and they end up being important factors in a team’s success.

Here are three candidates for that under-the-radar role in 2021.

Note: I’m skipping rookies. As enticing as they may be, we just have no clue what they will do. I mean, even with the vets, it’s still just a guess. But with rookies, it’s a dart throw in the dark. In the 2020 draft, Chase Young went second. Jeff Okudah went third. Need I say more?

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