4 emerging alphas on the Washington Commanders in 2023
By Dean Jones
Kamren Curl - Commanders S
For all the draft picks made by Ron Rivera throughout his tenure with the Washington Commanders, there's little argument about which one stands out above all else. This, of course, is Kamren Curl.
The former Arkansas standout was Washington's seventh-round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. Just why Curl had to wait so long before hearing his name called is anyone's guess, but he immediately set about making 31 other teams regret their decision to look elsewhere.
Curl instantly became an important member of the defensive rotation. The hard-hitting safety wasn't overawed and put the enormous chip on his shoulder to good use, which has steadily risen him to indispensable status heading into the final year of his rookie deal.
Had the ownership saga not been in such flux, there's a high chance Curl would already have a long-term extension in place. Once the Josh Harris group's bid officially gets rubber-stamped, this should be among the team's biggest pressing priorities.
There's every chance Curl can get even better, which is a scary proposition for the rest of the NFL. His partnership on the backend with Darrick Forrest is among the league's best already and once the big dollars come his way, his status as a team alpha is all but assured.
This obviously comes with increased expectations. But for someone who wasn't given much of a chance before joining the Commanders, it's a refreshing change of pace.