Washington Football Team: 3 under-the-radar players for 2021
By Jonathan Eig
Saahdiq Charles, Offensive Line
The Washington Football Team officially traded left tackle Trent Williams to the San Francisco 49ers on Day 3 of the 2020 NFL draft. When the team selected Charles, starting left tackle for the national champion LSU Tigers with their first of two picks in round four, many assumed he would step into the hole created by Williams’ departure.
That was always unlikely. Charles was just 20 years old when he was drafted. He had played in a lot of games in college, and he obviously had the raw size to line up on a professional field. But he had some maturing to do, both physically and emotionally.
Charles had been suspended for several games during his final year at LSU, and there were some concerns about whether his arms were too short to be an NFL tackle.
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After some nagging injuries early in training camp. Charles got his first start in Week 6 against the Giants. He replaced the ineffective Wes Martin at left guard. It appeared for a moment that perhaps he would follow in the footsteps of Brandon Scherff, who also converted from college tackle to pro guard.
Alas, Charles suffered a knee injury after just two plays and his debut, as well as his entire season, was over.
I would not wish a dislocated kneecap on anyone, but the fact that Charles got what amounted to a redshirt season may turn out to be a good thing. He could observe and learn the game. He could grow physically stronger. And he will enter 2021 as just another guy on the line – not as the savior at left tackle.
Indeed, whether he lines up at guard or at tackle, Charles may be looking at three players ahead of him on the depth chart. Scherff, Schweitzer and Flowers at guard. Leno, Lucas and Cosmi at tackle.
And I think that is a perfect position for Charles. This is a very gifted athlete who has performed at the highest level in college. He just needed some time to grow. Three of those players – Leno, Lucas, and Scherff – will be free agents in 2022. To me, it does not seem a stretch to see Charles outplaying Flowers.
If the line stays healthy in 2021, Charles may not get his chance. But if there is an injury to any position other than center – and the odds of that are pretty good – I would not be at all surprised to see Saahdiq Charles carve out an important spot for himself somewhere on the offensive line.
And if he does, it should be a spot he holds onto for many years to come.