By Evan Redmon
July 19, 2018
Redskins UDFA: Playing With House Money
There is something so incredibly satisfying when a Redskins UDFA makes the final 53-man roster.
The team didn’t have to do ANYTHING to get him, other than scout him and call him, of course. But no draft capital was expended, and the player makes the lowest salary possible in the NFL. And the player is over the moon happy, because his dream of playing in the NFL has, against all odds, come true.
This is what the synergy types in corporate high rises call a “win-win”.
For a full list of the Redskins UDFA, click here to see the fine work those folks do over at the local NBC sports outfit.
Most of those 14 players are camp fodder: bodies to provide practice for the guys who’ll be playing on Sundays…and Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays…
However, a few have a very real chance of at least making the practice squad, and perhaps even the final big boy squad.
Let’s take a look at the top three candidates.
READ: Redskins Select Adonis Alexander in the Supplemental Draft
WHY HE COULD MAKE THE TEAM
⇒ Extreme lateral quickness
⇒ Could play more of a Chris Thompson role
⇒ Excellent return man at Grambling
WHY HE MIGHT NOT
⇒ Lack of size could be a problem
⇒ Not great straight line speed
⇒ Crowded backfield at Redskins camp
Martez Carter, RB/KR, Grambling
This 5′ 7″, 197-lb whirling dervish has drawn comparisons to Darren Sproles and our very own Brian Mitchell.
Doug Williams, being both a former QB and coach at Grambling, must have gotten a heads up about the lightening-fast quickness that gave Carter the nickname “Mister Excitement”.
Martez Carter Highlight Video
Simmie Cobbs Jr., WR, Indiana
Apparently for the Redskins, size matters. That’s certainly has to be the appeal for Cobbs, a 6′ 3″, 220-lb Hoosier wideout.
This dude looks a lot like Josh Doctson on film. Not the fastest guy on the planet, but boy can he leap right off the field with ease. His vertical was a bit surprising, therefore, at the combine: “only” 30 inches. You’d never know it when you watch him sky over the 4th overall pick in ’18, Denzel Ward from OSU.
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Simmie Cobbs Highlight Video
WHY HE COULD MAKE THE TEAM
⇒ Extra juicy red zone target
⇒ A natural backup to Josh Doctson
⇒ Showed nicely against top college competition
WHY HE MIGHT NOT
⇒ Ran only a 4.64 at combine
⇒ Didn’t show great ability to beat press coverage
⇒ Can get the dropsies at the worst possible moment
WHY HE COULD MAKE THE TEAM
⇒ Passes the eye test with flying colors for an NFL safety
⇒ Very durable – 4 year starter who never missed a game
⇒ Superior, intelligent run-stuffer and very sure tackler
Quin Blanding, S, Virginia
The player with perhaps the best chance out of all the Redskins UDFAs to make the squad is Quin Blanding. It’s actually a bit surprising that he wasn’t drafted.
He’s got all the tools, the size, the speed, and the pedigree to make an NFL roster. The 6′ 2″, 207-lb safety from just down the I-95 corridor was a first-team all-ACC player in 2016 and 2017. Throw in a rookie of the year award in 2014 and you can clearly see why he was on the Redskins radar.
It doesn’t hurt that Blanding was also one of the best – maybe the best – tacklers on the Cavaliers over the past couple of seasons. In fact, he’s one of the best tacklers Virginia has ever had. Washington has been hurt with poor tackling in the secondary over the years, and Blanding has good speed (4.6) for a safety to help him close gaps in the open field.
The secondary is perhaps the Redskins’ weakest position group going into camp, so Blanding should have a legit shot at making the final 53-man roster.
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Quin Blanding Highlight Video
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WHY HE MIGHT NOT
⇒ Not nearly as adept against the pass
⇒ Doesn’t really deliver the wood like you’d expect
⇒ Lacks good fluidity, not quick to laterally adjust