With the NFL preseason ending tonight, teams are faced with tough decisions of who to keep on their 53-man roster. The final roster spots are important in the NFL because those players are expected to provide depth on a particular side of the ball and play special teams. A player must truly stand out and separate themselves if they aren’t a lock to make the roster. Front office personnel, coaches, and veterans take notice when a player is making plays, regardless of where he is picked. If a guy can play, people pay attention.
The fantastic play of Cam Sims has made him a player that the Washington Redskins must think long and hard about during final cut downs. Sims, who was not selected in the 2018 NFL Draft earlier in the year, has outperformed 2016 first-round pick Josh Doctson, leading the Redskins in receiving this preseason (5 catches, 131 yards), despite missing last week’s game with a minor injury.
Blessed with great size and athleticism, Sims beats defenders by boxing them out with his 6-5 frame and by running past them with elusive speed. Thankful for the opportunity, he fully understands he hasn’t arrived yet and that the mission is far from over.
“(I want to accomplish) A lot more” said Sims. “Just keep doing what I’ve been doing. Make more plays and make bigger plays. The only thing I can do is leave it all out on the field and hope for the best.”
Sims has most certainly done that, providing the Redskins with a target that can make contested catches in traffic. It’s clear that while at Alabama he was superbly coached, his opportunities were just limited, due to Calvin Ridley’s superstar presence.
Redskins quarterback Alex Smith is aware of Sims’s potential, saying, “Cam from day 1 has come in and made plays. He’s made the most of his opportunities when he’s been out there. Certainly, I think he’s a guy who I know in the quarterback room we feel comfortable about giving 50-50 balls to, giving him a chance to go make plays and more than not, he’s made us look good. I think he’s got a bright future.”
Given his undrafted status, he is no guarantee to make the team. However, his strong play in practices and games, has not only made him a strong candidate to be on the roster but also the chance to be a difference maker. Washington lacks a big-bodied receiver and Sims has shown he is capable of filling that role.
The rookie from Monroe, Louisiana couldn’t have asked for a better start to his young career. In the preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens, Sims will try to cement his role on the 2018 Washington Redskins roster. With a big game, Sims should definitely make the team. If not, another team will gladly add him to their roster, as he has shown to be too talented of a player to sit on the sidelines or practice squad.
Nick Saban emphasizes “The Process” to the players who play under him. The process to the NFL for Cam Sims has been filled with many challenges but he doesn’t regret it one bit, telling Washington reporters “He (Saban) ain’t never make no mistakes, you see it, I got two rings.” It’s also no mistake to see an Alabama wide receiver making plays in the NFL either. If he keeps turning heads, Cam Sims could become one of the biggest rookie surprises of the 2018 NFL regular season.
