Washington Football Team: 3 players who could surprise in 2021

Dec 13, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Washington Football Team strong safety Kamren Curl (31) returns an interception as quarterback Steven Montez (6) blocks San Francisco 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens (4) during the second half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Washington Football Team strong safety Kamren Curl (31) returns an interception as quarterback Steven Montez (6) blocks San Francisco 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens (4) during the second half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
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Washington Football Team, Kamren Curl
LANDOVER, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 08: Kamren Curl #31 of the Washington Football Team reacts in the fourth quarter against the New York Giants at FedExField on November 08, 2020 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

The Washington Football Team was able to make the playoffs winning only 7 games in 2020. Which players can surprise in 2021 and help them make it in ’21?

Year one of the Ron Rivera era for the Washington Football Team went just about as everyone expected, right? The Washington Football Team went from worst to first but in one of the most unconventional ways possible.

Washington won the NFC East with a record of 7-9 in Rivera’s first season at the helm which came in a pandemic-impacted season and with plenty of issues at the quarterback position.

Despite dumping their 2019 first-round pick Dwayne Haskins last season, Washington’s arrow is pointing up, even if they don’t have certainty at the QB position for the future. There are plenty of other players who have and will continue to step up and step into prominent roles, but who will those players be in 2021?

Although Washington Football Team fans may not be surprised by all of these players, these are guys who could really jump out to football fans in general and players who may have bigger impacts in 2021 than anyone is really anticipating at this point.

Washington Football Team surprise players in 2021

1. Kamren Curl, S

Kamren Curl was a relatively standard seventh-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft as far as seventh-round picks go.

The former Arkansas Razorback had solid production in college, put together a decent workout at the NFL Scouting Combine, and was projected as a solid special teams and backup player at the NFL level.

He apparently had other plans.

Curl wound up becoming arguably the best rookie safety in the NFL last season with 88 total tackles, four tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, two sacks, four passes broken up, and three interceptions.

He filled out the stat sheet and even took one of his interceptions back for a touchdown.

With a healthy Landon Collins (who only played in 7 games in 2020), where Kamren Curl can really “surprise” everyone is by either repeating (or exceeding) his 2020 production and really establishing himself as a legitimate and high-end starting safety at the next level.

Not that he’s given everyone reasons to doubt, but you can’t help but wonder if the circumstances were just right last season or if this guy is truly a playmaker and here to stay.

If Curl can keep up this kind of production, the Washington defense is going to be terrifying.