National Football League

Redskins Prediction: Niles Paul sightings will occur, but not often

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:48 p.m. ET

Fansided, R.C. Allen Jr./FanSided via Riggo's Rag

Washington Redskins Tight End Niles Paul may be the luckiest man on the roster.

For the past two seasons he’s been a story of injuries. He tore his labrum in overtime against the Cincinnati Bengals, and that put him on Injured Reserve last season. He sat out the 2015 season with a broke and dislocated his ankle in a preseason game against the Browns. This was the first preseason game of the season. With Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis on the roster, where does this guy fit? I’m guessing he’ll be a fill in. Reed has been prone to concussions for the past two seasons. In 2015 he suffered from a concussion. Last season, it was a concussion and shoulder issues. Davis finished the season with 44 catches for 583 yards. Serving as a fill in would suit him well.

“I’ve had bad luck the past two years but I’m trying to refocus with a different mindset to get ready to go,” Paul said in a recent episode of Redskins Nation. “My progression is crazy and I’m in the weight room doing things I’m not supposed to be doing. I was doing pushups two months out and they couldn’t believe that. I’m just trying to get right and to be mentally healthy for next season.”

Niles Paul contract details (via SportTrac):

Niles Paul signed a 3 year, $6,000,000 contract with the Washington Redskins, including a $1,000,000 signing bonus, $2,250,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $2,000,000. In 2017, Paul will earn a base salary of $1,750,000 and a roster bonus of $125,000. Paul has a cap hit of $2,208,334 while his dead money value is $333,334.

Niles Paul prediction: Slow 2017 Season, moves on afterwards

Niles Paul is done after the 2017 season. This season is just a chance for him to show other teams that “he’s still got it”. But then again, has he ever really “had it” ? His best season was 2014 out the six he’s played with the Redskins. Really? He’s two seasons displaced from the game. His situation, while unfortunate, has put him at the bottom of the conversation when it comes to effective Tight Ends for the Redskins.He should expect a long season on the sidelines, only getting snippets of play time. But hey, it might be a competition if he’s as healthy as he claims. And even if he does get some time on the field, don’t expect him to show out. His No.1 goal for this season should be just showing up.