How Carlos Fields Can Make an Impact on the 2016 Redskins

Carlos Fields, LB

School: Winston-Salem State

Conference: Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)

Years Pro: 2

Age: 25

Height/Weight: 6’1”, 248 lbs.

College Statistics

2013: 12 G, 93 tackles (43 solo), 2 INTs, 1 FF, 8.5 TFLs, 10 PDs

2012: 15 G, 116 tackles (67 solo), 1.5 sacks, 9 TFLs, 2 INTs, 7 PDs, 1 FF

2011: 11 G, 81 tackles (51 solo), 12 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, 2 INTs, 11 PDs, 2 FFs, 3 FRs

2010: 9 G, 31 tackles (21 solo), 5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 PD

2009: Redshirt

Player Overview

Carlos has already been in the league for a couple of years. He’s a versatile LB who has already bounced around the NFL quite a bit. The Redskins are his fifth team since going undrafted in 2014. Last year, he was promoted from the Redskins PS to an active 53 for the first time in his career on December 5th. He appeared in five games for the 'Skins and made one solo tackle. He primarily played STs.

At Winston-Salem State, Carlos appeared in 47 games and was a 2x CIAA Defensive Player of the Year. In HS (also in NC), Carlos was a two-sport star receiving All-Conference honors in both football and basketball. Growing up, Carlos was a Cowboys fan.

Carlos has excellent speed and showed that by running a 4.4 at his Pro Day. That kind of speed at LB has a place in the league. He was a four-year starter and led his college to a 45-6 record during his time there, including leading the top D-II defense in the nation in '13. Most thought Fields would get drafted.

The Redskins surely like his incredible speed and athleticism. He has a 38" vertical and a 10’8" broad jump. He absolutely dominated the D-II world in college as both an excellent pass rusher and a very good coverage LB. He’s a tackling machine who's intelligent, instinctual, and tough on the field. He’s quick and excels against the run. The only real knock on the guy is he can be too aggressive for his own good at times. He provides a great deal of versatility that many LBs simply can't.

Strengths

• Special teams experience/ability
• Incredible speed and athleticism
• Versatility
• Production

Weaknesses

• Needs to play a little more patient
• Hasn’t proven himself against pro or upper-level collegiate competition

How He Can Impact the Redskins

Carlos Fields is the exact kind of guy you want out of an UDFA. He’ll have a tough time making the roster thanks to the depth the Redskins currently have at LB, but there are a few other guys (Spaight and Daniels) who haven’t really proven themselves and secured their spots yet, either. As with a lot of these end-of-the-roster guys, Fields’ best chance at making the roster will be from being a STs demon. It appears Fields is worthy of being in the NFL, but he may find himself moving on to his sixth team before long.