Washington Football Team: Five players that can transcend in 2021

Here are five relative unknowns to keep an eye on as the Washington Football Team begins training camp on July 27th. 

Depending on who you ask, the Washington Football Team is not only destined to win the NFC East but make a playoff run as well in 2021. On paper, the team has upgraded its roster since the 31-23 Wild Card playoff loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

On offense, the team made a slight upgrade at quarterback with the addition of Ryan Fitzpatrick. At wide receiver, veterans Curtis Samuel and Adam Humphries, along with stud Terry McLaurin, should alleviate some of the woes the offense had in 2020. Antonio Gibson has the potential to be the biggest beneficiary from Washington’s improvements at the skill positions and offensive line.

After finishing the 2020 season second in total yards allowed, fourth in points allowed, and seventh in turnovers, the defense added free agent acquisition William Jackson III and 2021 first-round pick Jamin Davis to play behind its vaunted defensive line.

There are also other players on the roster that may not be presumptive starters, but by the end of training camp, could find themselves in the starting lineup or vying for playing time. Here are five names to keep an eye on throughout training camp.

Benjamin St-Juste

Early on in the offseason, rookie cornerback Benjamin St-Juste immediately began to generate buzz with solid performances in minicamp and organized team activities. A press-man cornerback with intriguing length and size (6-3, 202) St-Juste has a skillset that defensive coordinators cherish.

Playing behind a defensive line that ranked third in the NFL with a pass-rush win rate of 50% in 2020, the shift to a man-heavy scheme could pay big dividends for defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and the secondary.

If St-Juste can translate his success from minicamp to training camp, it would allow for Kendall Fuller to play more in the slot. Paired on the outside with Jackson III, St-Juste can elevate Washington defensively this season and beyond.

Bobby McCain

A fifth-round pick in 2015, McCain blossomed into a team captain during his six-year tenure with the Miami Dolphins.  He signed a four-year, $27 million contract extension in June 2018, before becoming a cap casualty this past May. The front office signed McCain to a one-year deal two weeks after his release.

A definitive upgrade over the trio of Troy Apke, Deshazor Everett, and Jeremy Reaves, McCain should provide the Washington Football Team with competent play at free safety in 2021. Head coach Ron Rivera has preached versatility since his arrival, and McCain offers Washington just that.

He’s started 32 games in his career at cornerback, eight at free safety, and in 2020 started 15 games at strong safety.

Dyami Brown

The third round has been kind to this franchise in previous years, as Washington found gems in Terry McLaurin and Antonio Gibson. The team added wide receiver Dyami Brown this year with one of its third-round picks in the draft.

The former North Carolina product was one of the biggest threats in all of college football. In 2019 and 2020, Brown averaged 20 yards per catch while eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark in both seasons. Like St-Juste, Brown has raised some eyebrows in the nation’s capital.

With Fitzpatrick’s penchant for the deep ball, Dyami Brown could find a lot of success with the speed of Samuel and McLaurin on the perimeter.

Sam Cosmi

Washington decided to go younger at the right tackle position with the selection of Sam Cosmi. Three weeks later, the team released Morgan Moses, who started 96 consecutive games. Cosmi tested exceptionally well throughout the draft process and the Washington Football Team is hoping that it translates to the field.

A three-year starter at Texas, Cosmi likely won’t compete for starting time right away. Veteran Cornelius Lucas performed admirably in eight starts at left tackle. With the addition of left tackle Charles Leno, Lucas will shift to right tackle and get first dibs at the starting position.

The team allowed 50 sacks last season, which tied for second in the league, so the turnover is understandable. However, there are some that are high on Washington’s offensive line heading into this season. Fortunately for Cosmi, Washington’s coaches are also high on him and will give him every opportunity to challenge Lucas at right tackle in training camp.

Matt Ioannidis

Players are giddy about the return of Matt Ioannidis and rightfully so. A torn bicep caused him to miss 13 games in 2020, but in the season opener, Ioannidis logged 1.5 of Washington’s eight sacks versus the Philadelphia Eagles. Chase Young, Montez Sweat, Daron Payne, and Jonathan Allen all garner the attention, but the former fifth-round pick is just as good, if not better.

In 2019, Matt Ioannidis led the team with 8.5 sacks. He also had the third-most for an interior pass rusher behind Chris Jones and Aaron Donald. With a healthy Ioannidis in the fold, the Washington Football Team’s defensive line just might be the best in all of football.