2017 Mason/Brennan Hype! Awards: Final Edition

Every season, a new class of draft picks and undrafted free agents are signed during the preseason. The majority of these players will never be on the roster for a regular season game, but there are always a few diamond in the rough late round/UDFA players who do bring hope to players and fans. That racetrack betting slip that you find on the floor that someone didn't scout properly.

Redskins fans are very familiar with the hype that comes with the offseason, especially over the last two decades of dreary seasons. Between the overpriced free agent signings, and the overhyped preseason performances by rookies, we were the perennial offseason champions. Names like Marko Mitchell, Marcus Mason, Brandon Banks, and everyone's favorite Colt Brennan became legendary in training camp and preseason, only to be relegated to the practice squad or the bowels of the depth chart, never to be heard from again.

Hype is a very real, and a very exciting part of football in the preseason. We all read the daily training camp reports and get excited at the prospect of a late round pass rusher getting sack after sack on 3rd string offensive lineman, or a wide receiver catching everything thrown his way, or a running back who's not injured.

The Mason/Brennan award has been given out unofficially by the fans for years to each preseason's most hyped players, but now we're going to make it official, and bring it to a vote. This week's vote will cover the offseason, draft and OTAs/mini-camps. Place your vote for who you feel has been the most hyped player up to this point, whether the hype is deserved or not.

The Rules:

1. Player must have been drafted late or signed by the Redskins as an undrafted free agent. Players that have only been on other teams practice squads that are signed by the team are also eligible.

2. A player that has been on the team for several years is still eligible if most of that time has been spent on the practice squad, inactive, or with very limited productivity/time

3. The Pat White Rule: High draft picks (busts/out of the league) from other teams who have never completed an NFL pass, but can run the read option/wildcat are eligible.

The Candidates:

QB Nate Sudfeld

Sudfeld was a 6th round pick last year who didn’t play a snap. With the Kirk Cousins contract situation rolling into another year, the Sudfeld hype got a little bump from GM Senior Vice President of Player Personnel Doug Williams.

You know, he was one of the guys, when we drafted him, when we sat in the room [and] we talked about drafting a quarterback, I was a Sudfeld guy.

“And I’ll tell you what: Out of the quarterbacks that came out this year, if he was coming out this year and looked like he looked [at last Tuesday’s practice], he would be up there anywhere from the second to first round. The kid has improved.”

That’s some high quality, high level hype right there. Sudfeld got to showcase his talents in the final preseason game, and prove why he’s worthy of a roster spot. Fans were impressed with his work against America’s next wave of delivery drivers.

DT Joey Mbu

Joey Mbu was an undrafted free agent in 2015 who made the Falcons roster for the last two games of his rookie season. He was picked up by the Redskins, but hasn’t made the roster yet. Ladies and gentlemen, your potential new starting nose tackle after Phil Taylor went down for the year.

CB Joshua Holsey

Josh Holsey was a 7th round CB taken this year, and is fighting for a spot. He’s already got the DeAngelo Hall hype seal of approval.

“He’s a hell of a player,” Hall said. “There’s no doubt he can play in this league. Because we’re so deep, who knows what’s going to happen, but the kid is going to be a player in this league.”

Holsey could crack the 53, and has been get a late push on the hype meter from reporters, coaches and fans.

WR Zach Pascal

One of many WRs trying to finally knock Ryan Grant off the roster...

WR Matt Hazel

Flashed in the preseason, can you ask anything more from a 7th, 8th, 9th WR on the roster?

LB Nico Marley

He’s got the name recognition, and he’s been a hype! monster this year. His aggressive play, and small stature makes him easy to root for. He’s already made the team in some people’s minds.

OL Chase Roullier

Spencer Long had a knee scope and Chase had to step up in his place. Chase did enough good things to get people dreaming about a late round steal locking the center spot up. Roullier has the coach hype locked up.

OL Kyle Kalis

The desire to replace a player pushes hype out to every other option at their position. Redskins fans generally want Shawn Lauvao gone, and anyone who can replace him gets that sweet, sweet hype. Arie Kouandjio was supposed to be that guy, but it’s looking like he’s a backup at best. Enter Kyle Kalis, a mauler from Michigan who could get our hopes up this year.

shocked that he wasn’t drafted, because I think this kid has plug-and-play ability… I would say that if he can learn under Brandon Scherff, he’s got the ability to replace Shawn Lauvao in a year or two.

LB Josh Harvey-Clemons

A 7th round pick who has the measurables to be a player, but still has to prove he can actually, you know, play at this level. Hello pick 6 in the last preseason game from a 4th string QB who will be redoing his resume tomorrow afternoon. People have given him a roster spot from that play, defensive TDs bring the hype.

RB Mack Brown

The 4th preseason game is Touchdown Mack Brown’s Super Bowl, and the future grocery baggers of the Tampa Bay area don’t stand a chance against him. People have proclaimed him the best RB on the roster, and although I can’t see their faces, I do believe they believe the hype!