Canadian defensive back Benjamin St-Juste is equipped with rare traits which drew the Washington Football team in to selecting him during the 2021 NFL Draft.
The six-foot-three, 205-pound St-Juste can use his length, speed, and quickness to produce a successful rookie season in the NFL. He laid down elite three-cone (6.63) and shuttle (3.96) times at his University of Minnesota pro day and caught the attention of defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio.
“He’s got exceptional quickness. He’s a physical player, he’ll show up on the edge of your defence — this guy will show up and strike you, we like that about him,” Del Rio said.
“With St-Juste we think we’ve added a guy that brings talent, toughness, quickness, and certainly gives us the ability to do the same thing on both sides of the defence. We see him as a corner. That’s where he’s going to start, that’s where we think he’ll be.”
Del Rio and fellow defensive guru, head coach Ron Rivera had their first look at St-Juste in Washington colours and schemes during the team’s rookie mini-camp on May 14-15. Both men came away impressed with the investment Washington made using a third round pick, 74th overall to secure the Montreal native.
“I’m finally back to football. I don’t have to go through all 32 NFL team meetings, combine training and all that draft stuff. This is what I like, to be on the field with my teammates and get better every day,” St-Juste said.
Rivera thought St-Juste “looked good” and “can come in and compete right away.” The 59-year-old NFL lifer likes his skill set and film from his NCAA career. The most important factor for St-Juste to earn playing time is to prove to Rivera that he can “play fast” in the pros.
“I think I was brought into this team because of my versatility, what I showed at the Senior Bowl and what I showed on tape at Minnesota,” St-Juste said.
“Playing corner that makes it easier, that’s where I’m comfortable, it’s where I played in college, I’ll start out there and if I have to move then I’m open to it. I just want to have an instant impact and play in my rookie year.”
St-Juste is the tallest cover man on Washington’s roster and brings unique tools to the franchise to help give 2020 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Chase Young extra time to takedown the opposing quarterback.
