NFL free agency headlines have quieted down a bit, but the Washington Commanders are still busy at work. For some players, general manager Adam Peters has even gotten ahead of himself by taking care of extensions for pending expiring contracts.
One of them is Jeremy Reaves. The hard-hitting safety has played mostly as a special teamer throughout his career, but saw an extended run on defense last season due to injuries and poor play from those ahead of him on the depth chart. Now, he's locked in through 2027.
It continues an improbable journey for a player who was never supposed to make it this far. And it's a journey that perfectly sums up what we all love about sports.
Jeremy Reaves extension cements his Commanders cult hero status that he's earned
Reaves went unselected in the 2018 NFL Draft and spent the bulk of that offseason with the Philadelphia Eagles, who released him during preseason cuts. He was then picked up by Washington, beginning a chapter of his life that's yet to end.
He appeared in games in each of his first four seasons, but it took until 2022 for Reaves to make the Commanders' opening day roster. That year, he qualified for the Pro Bowl and was named first-team All-Pro as a special teamer.
The South Alabama product has been on the active roster ever since, and he's become a steady presence on special teams who can plug in at safety when necessary. Reaves is now the longest-tenured player on the Commanders aside from punter Tress Way and defensive lineman Daron Payne.
Adding wide receiver Terry McLaurin, he's one of only four members of the team who have been in Washington uninterrupted since before the franchise's branding change. All three coaching staffs he's played for have spoken glowingly of his perseverance and leadership. It seems unlikely at this point that he'll ever suit up for a squad besides the Commanders.
Assuming he makes it to the end of his deal, Reaves will have been in Washington for 10 seasons. That's practically a full-length NFL career for anybody, let alone an undrafted free agent who was rejected time and time again.
Reaves' story embodies everything great about the human side of sports. For some players, it's not just about wins and losses. It's about their determination to chase their dream at all costs, and to keep it alive as long as possible.
For young men like Reaves, the privilege to play in the NFL will always mean more. His extension is as well-deserved as they come.