Riggo's Rag
FanSided

Washington Football Team: 5 dark horses that could make the team

By Jonathan Eig

May 25, 2021; Ashburn, Virginia, USA; Washington Football Team wide receiver Tony Brown (12) carries the ball during an OTA at Inova Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports
May 25, 2021; Ashburn, Virginia, USA; Washington Football Team wide receiver Tony Brown (12) carries the ball during an OTA at Inova Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
Jun 11, 2019; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive end Jalen Jelks (74) runs a drill during practice at the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 11, 2019; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive end Jalen Jelks (74) runs a drill during practice at the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

DE Jalen Jelks

Jelks has the size and length of fellow Washington Football Team edge rushers Chase Young and Montez Sweat. But he lacks their elite speed and explosiveness.

When you watch Jelks’ tape from Oregon, you see a tenacious, productive college player. Whether he ever finds a position in the NFL is an open question.

Some draft analysts thought Jelks projected best as an outside rusher in a 3-4 defense. I never saw that when I watched him. I think he’s in the right system as a 4-3 end. It is clear he needs to get physically stronger to be able to play early downs, and I don’t know that he ever will be able to do that.

But he could blossom into a situational pass rusher.

The biggest challenge Jelks faces in Washington is that three recent draftees – James Smith-Williams, William Bradley-King, and Shaka Toney, along with 2020 free-agent pickup Casey Toohill, are all ahead of him in trying to lock up a couple of backup positions behind Young and Sweat.

As such, Jelks may face the steepest climb of anyone on this list.

Home/Commanders Roster