For whatever it's worth:
Bleacher Report lists the Washington Redskins' surprise starter
The Washington Redskins' quarterback competition is going to grab headlines all throughout training camp, but there are other interesting position battles that are worth noting as well. One of those is going on in the secondary.
While there are several cornerbacks who will be vying for snaps, there's a starting position open at safety and an opportunity to play alongside Landon Collins.
The favorite to win this job is Montae Nicholson, who held down the starting spot last season until the Redskins acquired Ha Ha Clinton-Dix at the trade deadline. There are several candidates who could end up overtaking him however, and Bleacher Report listed one when trying to predict which surprise starter could emerge for the Redskins in 2019:
"Going into the 2018 draft, Troy Apke garnered buzz because of his athleticism, and the Redskins selected him in the fourth round. During his rookie term, he only suited up for two games and didn't play a single defensive snap.
This offseason, Apke will battle Montae Nicholson and DeshazorEverett for a starting role alongside All-Pro safety Landon Collins.
In December, Nicholson was arrested and charged with assault and battery and public drunkenness, but the charges were dropped in May. [Gee, what a surprise!]
Nicholson started the first seven games of the last campaign. Then the Washington Redskins acquired Ha Ha Clinton-Dix via trade with the Packers, and he started the last nine contests at safety. Everett opened three outings with the first unit.
Clinton-Dix signed with the Bears, which explains the vacancy in the secondary.
Head coach Jay Gruden took note of Apke's strides during the spring, perJake Kring-Schreifels and Kyle Stackpole of Redskins.com. "Apke is doing well," he said. "It's been good to see him get a lot of these reps and work. Obviously last year he didn't get a whole lot with his hamstring, so he's progressing nicely."
Apke's healthy hamstring could become his springboard into a starting role over Nicholson and Everett."
While fans may have forgotten about him, Apke is a player the Redskins are excited about. With that being said however, if the Redskins weren't equally high on Nicholson, they would have released him after his arrest last year. Instead, they decided to stick with him, and were rewarded for their loyalty when all charges against him were dropped.
Still, Apke will have opportunities to prove his worth in training camp.
"I think he improved as the (2017) season went on, I think he's a very good safety,” coach Gruden said last April. “He's got great range. You've seen him fill in run support and I think he's going to get better and better. I think the sky's the limit for him as a player. ... He's still learning the position. He takes good angles to the football and he's not afraid."
https://247sports.com/nfl/washington-redskins/Article/Troy-Apke-Redskins-surprise-starter-133204624/