6 Washington players who proved their worth in 2021

4. Kamren Curl

If there was ever a cost-effective way to improve the outlook of a position, it’s hitting on late-round draft picks. Washington fans have witnessed this first-hand with selections like Tim Settle (fifth round) and Chase Roullier (sixth round).

After the 2021 season, Kamren Curl, the first of Washington’s two seventh-round picks in 2020, can be lumped into that category. Yes, Curl is the only every-down safety under contract for next season, but at least the team knows it has another piece of its secondary locked down.

With Kendall Fuller and William Jackson III as perimeter corners and Curl at safety, all Washington needs is another safety (Bobby McCain is a candidate to be re-signed) and a slot cornerback to have its starting unit signed.

Curl is just the definition of a baller. He finished second on the team in total tackles (99) third in solo tackles (62) and fifth in pass breakups (five). His 82.4 tackling grade from Pro Football Focus was the best among Washington’s full-time defensive players and he allowed just a 60.7% completion rate across 56 targets.

He’s a stud in every sense of the world and at 22 years old (he’ll turn 23 in March), there’s no telling how high his ceiling is.