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With the 200th overall pick, the 30th of the sixth round, of the 2012 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Miami offensive lineman Brandon Washington. An All-ACC selection as a sophomore in 2010, Washington had the frame and makeup of a competitive NFL offensive lineman.
It didn't come together. As part of a flood of prospects coming out of Miami in 2012 (Washington was the fifth of six Hurricanes taken in the 2012 NFL Draft), Washington was a late sixth-rounder on a Philadelphia team running out of steam under Head Coach Andy Reid. Sitting on the hot seat, Reid was in no position to take a long-term flier on Washington as part of his second string line. Jeff Fisher, though, was enjoying his first year with the St. Louis Rams.
Ever since, Washington, who was cut as part of the final round to get down to 53 in Philly, has been a Ram straddling the line between the active roster, the weekly inactives and the practice squad.
Is 2015 the year he established himself as part of the Rams' week-to-week line or finds himself another employer?
Roster Battle
Since we last looked at the offensive line in the roster preview series, the Rams added Clemson OT Isaiah Battle through the Supplemental Draft. The Rams went with nine offensive linemen on the 53-man last year; they've now got 16 to work with going into camp, half of them being first-year Rams in 2015 (alphabetical): Steven Baker (roster preview), Battle*, Tim Barnes, Travis Bond, Jamon Brown*, Andrew Donnal*, Rob Havenstein*, Barrett Jones, Garrett Reynolds*, Demetrius Rhaney, Greg Robinson, Rodger Saffold, David Wang* (roster preview), Washington, Darrell Williams* (roster preview) and Cody Wichmann* (roster preview).
This is what training camps are built for.
Expectations
Perhaps a bit higher due to his experience and natural skill set? Perhaps a bit lower due to not being able to crack the nut the first three seasons?
Chances of Making Roster (3/10)
He'll have a shot. Hell, just about everyone in the 16-deep lineman pool has a real shot. His versatility certainly helps, being able to slide out to tackle in a pinch.
The statement, though, delivered through the 2015 offseason is that the Rams are building their offensive line of the future of tomorrow on the backs of the youths of today. I wonder if Washington has already been edged out by a crop of new NFLers and the necessary veterans to support them.