Tag: kamren curl

WATCH: Kam Curl with an impressive interception

Kam Curl remains focused on “getting picks,” and delivered again Monday.

After a much-needed day off, the Washington Commanders were back on the field for Day 5 of training camp.

It was another good day for Washington’s defense Monday, highlighted by safety Kamren Curl. The fourth-year safety jumped a route intended for wide receiver Jahan Dotson and picked it off.

Just an excellent play by Curl and his second interception of camp thus far. Last week, Curl was asked after one practice if he thinks about his contract situation, and he had the perfect answer.

“I think about getting picks like I did today,” Curl said. 

When pressed, Curl followed up with even more detail.

“I’m focused on football. I’m here damn near 12 hours a day, so that’s what I’m focused on. Honestly, I don’t have time to think of nothing else.”

It’s looking like 2023 could be a huge year for Curl.

Flashback: Arkansas Football’s Class of 2017

Looking back on the 2017 recruiting class is tough. It’s easy to see why this would be Bret Bielema’s final one at Arkansas.

The worst stretch in [autotag]Arkansas football[/autotag]’s history began in 2017.

[autotag]Bret Bielema[/autotag] was let go following an extremely disappointing 2017 season where he went 4-8 overall. Before the season, everyone knew it was a make-or-break year and the pressure was on.

Looking back at the recruiting class from that time, and it’s very easy to see where things went wrong. Across the board, Arkansas was struggling to recruit quality depth to replace production from the previous year. They also didn’t have enough depth to account for injuries at key positions – a recipe for disaster.

The 2017 recruiting class is a prime example, as only three of the 24 enrollees from this cycle would go on to have success while in Fayetteville. Let’s take a look back at the top contributors from Bielema’s final recruiting haul as Arkansas head coach.

Ranking Commanders 25 most important players for 2023: No. 7

Kamren Curl enters a contract season.

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As we look toward the 2023 regular season, we count down the most important players for the Washington Commanders ahead of training camp. On Monday, No. 8 was wide receiver Jahan Dotson.

We continue our countdown today with No. 7, safety Kamren Curl.

Curl is entering his fourth NFL season in 2023 and is eligible for a contract extension. If not for Washington’s ownership situation this offseason, Curl may have already received that extension. The good news for Curl is that new ownership will be in place this week.

As for Curl’s importance to the Commanders, look no further than four of the five games he missed in 2022. Curl missed the first two games of the season due to having wrist surgery. In those two games, Washington allowed five touchdown passes with one interception.

When Curl returned in Week 3, Washington’s passing defense slowly improved. Curl was outstanding last season, and his fellow defensive backs played much better when he was in the lineup. Unfortunately, Curl missed the season’s final three games, and the pass defense felt his absence in two of those games.

The Commanders had no answer for Brock Purdy in George Kittle in Week 16. While Week 17 will be remembered for quarterback Carson Wentz’s meltdown, Washington’s pass defense allowed Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson to have his best performance, with three touchdown passes.

Head coach Ron Rivera knows Curl’s value. While Washington does have Darrick Forrest — a breakout player last season — Percy Butler and Jeremy Reaves, Curl is productive and brings great leadership. Forrest emerged as Curl’s partner at safety, and the duo was terrific at times.

The Commanders have good depth at safety. But Curl has proven his value. While some in the NFL may not view Curl as a top-10 safety, no one knows his value like Washington. If defensive ends Chase Young and Montez Sweat can get to the quarterback more frequently in 2023, it only makes Curl and the secondary’s jobs that much easier.

The 2023 season is huge for Curl. Don’t be surprised if Washington agrees to a deal with Curl long before next offseason.

3 Commanders set for performance raises in 2023

Kam Curl among those scheduled for a raise in 2023.

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The Washington Commanders have done a good job of finding good players in the third round or later over the last several years. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin is the shining example of Washington’s drafting success after the first round.

The 2020 NFL draft will forever be known as the draft that brought defensive end Chase Young to Washington. Whether you consider that good or bad, we likely will not have a firm answer to that until the end of the 2023 NFL season.

However, that draft did bring Washington some unheralded talent. Washington selected running back Antonio Gibson in the third round, safety Kamren Curl and defensive end James Smith-Williams each in the seventh round.

Gibson rushed for 795 yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie. He followed that up with a 1,000-yard season in 2021. Curl established himself as a starter at safety as a rookie, quickly becoming one of Washington’s most important players. Curl is set to get paid. Finally, Smith-Williams was almost an afterthought because he was in the same draft as Young. However, due to Young’s injury, Smith-Williams has played in 42 games with 20 starts in three seasons.

Thanks to the NFL’s Proven Performance Escalator, a fourth-year salary escalator for players on drafted rookie contracts not drafted in the first round, Gibson, Curl and Smith-Williams are all due for raises in 2023.

Gibson’s original base salary for 2023 was $1.28 million. He will now earn just over $3 million in 2023, per Over the Cap. Curl’s initial base salary was $1.01 million, but he is now scheduled to earn just over $3 million. Smith-Williams’ initial base salary was just over $1 million for 2023, and he will also receive a raise.

When Josh Harris takes over as Washington’s new owner later this month, don’t be surprised if an extension for Curl isn’t one of the first things on their agenda.

PFF ranks Commanders secondary just outside of the top 10

The Commanders could have one of the NFL’s best secondaries in 2023. They are deep and talented.

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The Washington Commanders have slowly built one of the NFC’s most promising secondaries. After spending many resources on the defensive line, Washington has spent early-round picks, mid-round picks and late-round picks in building a formidable group.

The Commanders entered the offseason needing to add another starting-caliber cornerback. Washington chose to address that in the 2023 NFL draft, which was deep at the position. The Commanders used the No. 16 overall selection on Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes.

In the second round, Washington chose Illinois defensive back Quan Martin. Martin can play all over the secondary and figures to play in the slot for the Commanders in 2023.

Now, Washington has three starting cornerbacks in Forbes, Kendall Fuller and Benjamin St-Juste. The safeties are also impressive. Kamren Curl, Darrick Forrest, Percy Butler and Jeremy Reaves. Then, you add in Martin, who can play cornerback or safety. This is an impressive group.

Pro Football Focus recently ranked every unit in the NFL and ranked Washington’s secondary No. 11.

This group ranked fifth among teams in coverage grade last season at 82.5. Curl finished second among his peers in overall grade last season, while Fuller ranked top-20 in coverage once again. Washington also targeted the secondary with its first two picks in the 2023 NFL draft, so expect improved play from an already sound group.

When you consider how outstanding Washington’s defensive line is, you realize how special the secondary could be. If things go as planned, the Commanders will apply plenty of pressure on opposing quarterbacks, giving the secondary multiple opportunities to make game-changing plays. That’s why the Commanders were all-in on Forbes.

This group was once questionable but is now an unquestioned team strength.

6 Commanders taken in the 2023 mock draft of current NFL players

Terry McLaurin leads the way.

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If the NFL held an actual draft of current NFL players which Washington Commanders players would go early in the draft?

Well, Chad Reuter, draft analyst for NFL Network, has produced the second annual NFL mock draft of current NFL players.

There is no trading up or back, no thinking long-term drafting for the future. This fun exercise is to simply draft players to help you win right now in 2023. It’s a way to see how someone else might value the current players in the NFL in terms of what they could do for your team right away in 2023.

Which Washington Commanders players were chosen, and how high were they selected?

But first, who were the top ten players selected in this current players’ mock draft?

  •  1. Patrick Mahomes
  • 2.  Joe Burrow
  • 3.  Josh Allen
  • 4.  Jalen Hurts
  • 5.  Aaron Rodgers
  • 6.  Trevor Lawrence
  • 7.  Justin Herbert
  • 8.  Lamar Jackson
  • 9.  Dak Prescott
  • 10. Aaron Donald

Is it just me, or is there one player that is really out of place with the other nine in this top ten? Yes, that is the player to whom I am speaking.

Oh, I must not overlook that two former Washington players were also taken in the first round as Trent Williams was chosen at No.17 and Kirk Cousins at No. 19. I know that won’t make any of you happy. However, it does reveal further just how much these two continue to be valued in the NFL.

Ok, here is where the Washington players were drafted.

  • No. 69  Terry McLaurin
  • No. 91  Montez Sweat
  • No. 123 Jonathan Allen
  • No. 171 Daron Payne
  • No. 197 Kamren Curl
  • No. 210 Kendall Fuller

Chase Young, the 2020 second overall player in the “actual” NFL draft and is a $10,997,509 cap hit for 2023, was not selected.

Curtis Samuel, who is a $13,000,000 2023 cap hit, also went unselected in the seven rounds. Also of note, Jahan Dotson (2022) and Jamin Davis (2021) were Washington’s first-round selections, who, in this seven-round mock, went unselected.

Allen and Payne were first-round choices in the 2017 and 2018 drafts, respectively, and are still valued highly in the NFL.

Ranking Commanders 25 most important players for 2023: No. 23

Darrick Forrest is the latest Day 3 draft pick to become a standout for the Commanders.

As we look toward the 2023 regular season, we count down the most important players for the Washington Commanders ahead of training camp. On Monday, No. 24 was running back Antonio Gibson.

We continue our countdown with No. 23, safety Darrick Forrest.

Entering the 2022 NFL season, Forrest was a backup safety and key special teamer. As a rookie fifth-round pick in 2021, Forrest played only eight games. In those eight games, he mainly played on special teams. He played 26 defensive snaps, 20 of which were in Week 18.

In 2022, Forrest stood out in training camp, and it was clear he would impact the defensive depth chart at some point during the season. That came in Week 1. With starting safety Kamren Curl out with a wrist injury, Forrest moved into the starting lineup and played so well that he earned himself a promotion for the remainder of the season.

In the Week 1 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, Forrest played 96% of the Commanders’ defensive snaps, recorded five tackles, defended two passes, forced a fumble and had a game-changing interception.

It was truly a breakout performance from Forrest. He played 100% of the snaps in Week 2. Curl returned in Week 3, and while Forrest remained a part of Washington’s rotation in the secondary, he didn’t become a permanent starter until Week 10. From that point forward, he played 100% of Washington’s defensive snaps for the final eight games.

Now, Forrest is an integral part of Washington’s defense. The Commanders released veteran Bobby McCain in the offseason and spent a first-round pick on cornerback Emmanuel Forbes and a second-round pick on Quan Martin. Forbes will be one of Washington’s top three corners, while Martin can play the slot, outside cornerback, or safety. Martin is expected to cover the slot for the Commanders, but much of that will be determined in training camp.

Everyone knew Forrest was a physical presence who could impact the running game. However, Forrest proved he could handle playing deep safety, too. That type of versatility makes him a critical piece to Washington’s secondary.

Fred Smoot predicts a big year for Chase Young in 2023

He thinks Young will reach double digits in sacks.

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Chase Young looked to be on the verge of superstardom in 2020. The Washington Commanders defensive end finished his rookie season with 7.5 sacks and was named NFL defensive rookie of the year.

Young regressed in 2021, recording only 1.5 sacks through nine games before suffering a devastating knee injury in Week 10. Young would miss the remainder of the 2021 season and all but three games of the 2022 season.

Young’s injury and lack of production over the last two years led the Commanders to decline to pick up Young’s fifth-year option for 2024.

Declining the option made good business sense. However, it comes with risks. Young will be a free agent after the 2023 season, along with Montez Sweat. Had Washington picked up the option on Young, and he and Sweat both had big 2023 seasons, you could control both for 2024.

That’s no longer an option. Washington is very likely choosing between Sweat and Young. While some are skeptical that Young can finally reach double-digit sack numbers, former Washington cornerback Fred Smoot isn’t among them.

On a recent episode of “Logan Lives in the Comments,” starring former Washington players Logan Paulsen, Smoot and Santana Moss, Paulsen asks Smoot which defensive players have stood out thus far. Smoot names two: Young and safety Kamren Curl.

While Smoot didn’t necessarily cite their performance in OTAs or minicamp, he went a step further, predicting a big season for both players in 2023. He believes Young will have a huge season in 2023.

Smoot thinks Young could reach “15-to-10 sacks” in 2023.

If Young reaches those numbers, you can probably expect the Commanders to apply the franchise tag on him in 2024.

Commanders land 2 players on CBS Sports’ top 100 NFL players

Surprisingly, no Jonathan Allen.

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The Washington Commanders have done a solid job of building the roster over the last several seasons. What Washington has lacked has been stability at the quarterback position. In Ron Rivera’s three seasons as head coach, Washington has played 10 quarterbacks. The Commanders’ issues under center pre-date Rivera’s time in Washington.

The problem for the Commanders is when you lack consistent quarterback play, you have no shot at winning big in the NFL. That type of instability overshadows what has become a solid roster.

Pete Prisco of CBS Sports recently named his top 100 NFL players for 2023. He included two Commanders on the list, but surprisingly, neither were Jonathan Allen or Daron Payne.

The first Washington player on Prisco’s top 100 is wide receiver Terry McLaurin:

Can you imagine how good his numbers would be if he played with good quarterbacks the past four seasons? All he does is produce for an offense that has been greatly limited by its quarterback play.

This is 100% fact regarding McLaurin. Imagine if he played a consistent quarterback. He’d be an All-Pro.

The next Commanders on Prisco’s top 100 was safety Kamren Curl at No. 85.

Who? Pay attention. This kid has developed into one of the best young safeties in the game. He’s good in both the run and against the pass.

It’s good to see Curl finally receive some respect. Curl is entering a contract season and is a player the Commanders want to retain but must wait on new ownership to take over. Curl’s impact was felt in four of the five games he missed in 2022.

McLaurin and Curl belong on this list. But it doesn’t feel right that neither Allen nor Payne made the list. Allen is often ranked in every top 100 list. Both players did receive honorable mention.

How much cap space do the Commanders have?

They still need to sign their top two draft picks.

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The Washington Commanders completed their offseason after Tuesday’s final OTA. Head coach Ron Rivera chose not to have a traditional OTA practice, instead going for a light workout with team meetings ahead of breaking for training camp.

The Commanders now have six weeks off before returning to Ashburn for training camp, which begins on July 27.

What’s next for Washington?

There are several things on the agenda, No. 1 of which would be the team sale. The NFL reportedly gave owners two dates this summer to vote on the sale from Daniel Snyder to Josh Harris. If the sale is approved, as expected, Washington will have a new owner ahead of Week 1, giving the Commanders a chance to take care of some business.

Outside of the sale, Washington must sign its first two draft picks from the 2023 NFL draft, Emmanuel Forbes and Quan Martin. Forbes’ contract should count around $2.8 million against the cap in 2023.

How much cap space do the Commanders have? According to Over the Cap, Washington has $11.57 million in salary-cap space. So when the Commanders sign Forbes and Martin, they should have over $7 million in space remaining and have other ways to create additional space, if needed.

Will Washington look to sign safety Kamren Curl or defensive end Montez Sweat to an extension before the season? Those are items to watch once Harris and his ownership group take over.

As far as veteran additions, don’t be surprised if the Commanders sign a free agent, but it would be more about depth than signing a starter at this point.