Washington Football Team experimenting with Troy Apke at cornerback

Yes, Troy Apke is still on the Washington Football Team. But he’s got a new position, it seems. And this position may yield better results.

The Washington Football Team entered the 2020 season with a void at free safety, and at the time, they chose to roll the dice with Troy Apke. The hyper-athletic safety and former fourth-round pick had shown flashes during the offseason, but his outlook quickly soured once the regular season began.

At the end of it all, Apke was relegated to the bench once again, and he was passed over for special teams ace Deshazor Everett, who was eventually replaced by Jeremy Reaves due to injury.

The Washington Football Team kept Apke through the offseason’s initial cuts, but it’s unclear where he fits in on the roster. Washington has since added defensive backs Bobby McCain, Benjamin St-Juste, Darryl Roberts, and Darrick Forrest. Additionally, the team appears to be high on Reaves, who flashed as a starter last year, in spite of his middling athleticism.

It seems as though Apke is on the way out, but there is one potential saving grace for the Penn State product: A switch to cornerback.

It’s a long shot, I admit. But the team seems to see it as a worthwhile venture. Apke reportedly lined up at cornerback during minicamp and organized team activities. He played primarily against depth players, but according to Chris Russell, he flashed a bit, notching an end-zone deflection during June 9th’s session.

Apke has worn out his welcome for many fans, but his move to cornerback has undeniable upside. He already tested as a historic athlete at the safety position, but his Relative Athletic Score at cornerback is one of the best ever. Translating his numbers to the CB position, he comes away with a RAS of exactly 10. More simply put, Apke would test as the most athletic CB in history.

Apke’s 4.34 40-yard dash and 41.0-inch vertical aren’t unique to him alone, but having those numbers at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds makes him a special talent. Additionally, he also has a 6.56 three-cone on record, which alludes to otherworldly natural agility.

Of course, we’ve been down this road before. Apke’s athleticism helped drive the hype around him last year, and he reverted back to his special teams role. But at cornerback, he may translate better. He won’t have to play the whole field, and he won’t be playing as much of a reactive role. Having less ground to cover could be a good thing for the former Nittany Lion, and a more focused role could allow his athletic traits to shine through.

Even taking all this into account, however, Apke is still a long shot to make the roster. His standing is suspect after last season, and now, he’s behind at least five cornerbacks on the depth chart. His flashes this offseason have no doubt been accompanied by similar hiccups. And while athleticism is important for cornerbacks, one can’t survive on athleticism alone.

At this point, It’s an uphill battle for Apke. But his transition to cornerback deserves further attention, if nothing else.