Washington Football Team: Can Sammis Reyes make the final roster?

When Sammis Reyes was signed by the Washington Football Team, it caught the eye of many fans. A chiseled 6-foot-5, 260 pounds, converted college basketball player to tight end? Why not. There certainly is a track record of success for that in the NFL. From Antonio Gates to Mo Alie-Cox, there are multiple examples.

However, as rookie minicamp, OTAs and minicamp concluded it seemed that Reyes had a long way to go. He was the prime candidate to stash for a year on the practice squad. He was understandably raw.

Reyes looked stiff in his routes and his blocking technique was un-polished. He seemed very far off from ever playing in a regular-season game.

And then when the clear rawness to his game was added to the fact that his first action in any football game was going to be in the NFL, the odds he would provide anything in 2021 seemed even steeper.

But there was always one caveat to all of this. Washington did not sign Reyes through an international pathway program, which would allow them to keep an extra spot. Instead they signed him to a regular contract.

That means if Reyes was to be cut, then he would be subject to waivers, and Washington could lose him if another team signed him to the active roster. So, the idea of stashing him for a year may not go as clean as some would hope.

And with the way Reyes played in the team’s first preseason game, it could be very difficult to get him through waivers. The 25-year-old’s callowness was still clear, but he had a physicality to his game that some would covet.

Combine that with his work-ethic that every Football Team beat reporter, teammate and coach raves about, there definitely will be coaches who could see an untapped skillset

So with all that being said, does Reyes have a chance to make WFT’s final roster?

Is Sammis Reyes too enticing to cut for the Football Team?

In what was his first ever action in a football game on Thursday, the stage did not seem too bright for the former Chilean basketball. Reyes caught two passes. On both catches he double clutched them, which shows that he is still rather green to the game.

There were probably some potential nerves playing in his first game, as well. His hands should be expected to improve as he gets more live action.

However, where Reyes impressed the most was as a blocker. He was very physical at the point of attack, paving the way for the running back on a few carries.

At 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, Reyes has a massive build and he is not afraid to use his size. He’s also showed a willingness to improve his blocking technique, as he was seen working on the sleds 30 minutes (!) after Monday’s practice.

Tight ends who can block are a commodity all front offices are continually looking for. They can serve as almost a sixth offensive linemen at times. Tight ends who have the physical upside of Reyes, as well as the physicality to be a capable blocker are very valuable.

So, to answer the question can Reyes make the roster? Yes, he can. If he continues to be as physical as he’s been — Rivera noted that Reyes may be the most physical player on the roster —  then that skillset certainly has a spot on the 53-man roster.

Combine that with the fact that both Ricky Seals-Jones and Temarrick Hemingway have been unimpressive to date, it is clear there is a spot to be had.

The only guaranteed spot behind Logan Thomas is John Bates due to his draft positioning. There is a clear fight for that third spot, and it is not out of the realm of possibilities that Washington keeps four TEs.

Reyes has a clear path to the roster: continue to impress the coaches with his work-ethic and focus on being the best blocker he can be. The pass-catching will be left mostly to Thomas, so it would also be very beneficial if Reyes shows he can be an asset on special teams.

If Reyes proves to have the physicality in the run game that he did against New England, his skillset may, in fact, be too enticing to cut.

Don’t look now, but what was initially deemed a “feel good” story has quickly transitioned into something much more tangible and promising.

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