Cup Full Of Juste:

Washington’s New Top Corner

By: Michael A. Chase Jr.

11/15/2022

The Washington Commanders came into the year with major questions about their secondary and how they would perform this season. While things started poorly for the Washington secondary, they have seemed to hit their stride as a unit over the last seven games. One of the key figures in the evolution of this secondary is the maturation of 2nd-year corner Benjamin St. Juste. Let’s analyze the early career of Benjamin St. Juste and how he’s emerging as the new top corner on an ever-improving Washington defense.

At 25 years old Benjamin St. Juste was drafted in the 3rd round, 74th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. Coming out of college St. Juste was a defensive back who displayed a lot of talent at the position but missed a lot of time due to injury during his collegiate career. He played both at Michigan and Minnesota, with his freshman year taking place at Michigan and his final three years at Minnesota. His one full year came in his sophomore year at Minnesota when he recorded 45 tackles and 10 passes defended. The one interesting fact about St. Juste’s college career is that he never recorded an interception. But that did not deter Washington from seeing him as an intriguing talent and now this bet is paying off.

St. Juste presents a rangy 6’3” 200lbs. frame that provides substantial size at the corner position that he has used to his advantage at the NFL level thus far. In 18 career NFL games St. Juste has recorded 64 tackles, 9 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble, and 1 sack. This 2022 season has been the breakout campaign the Commanders could have hoped for. What makes his rise even more impressive is the role he began the season in and the growth of the team’s confidence in him.

Benjamin St. Juste came into the season as the projected starting slot corner for Washington’s defense. A position he had played little of during his collegiate career and the early NFL returns showcased his adjustment period. Not only did St. Juste give up several plays out of the slot, but he amassed penalties as he at times struggled to cover smaller quicker receivers. Since the team has moved on from struggling corner William Jackson III and put St. Juste back at outside corner the skillset that made him an intriguing talent in the 3rd round has surfaced. He has amassed a team-leading six passes defended thus far. While lowering the completion percentage he’s allowed from 64.8% his rookie season down to 54.9% so far during his sophomore campaign. Now has earned the trust of the staff to travel with the opposing team’s best receiver – seen the last two weeks with matchups with Justin Jefferson and A.J. Brown/DeVonta Smith. All this while having played 100% of the snaps each of the last three games. While fans and evaluators still await his first career interception, the fact he is getting his hands on more passes shows the tight coverage he is playing. Plus, his noticeable physicality in press and man coverage and as a tackler is a welcomed sight to a corner group in need of an injection of this.

Overall, Benjamin St. Juste is a young player starting to cement himself as a vital piece to Washington’s defensive puzzle. A player now being put into a position to succeed and is flourishing by the snap. There will still be growing pains with him as he will need to continue to cut back on penalties – which he has begun to do – while finding a way to make more plays on the ball to generate turnovers. If St. Juste continues this trajectory, it is clear the Commanders may have finally solved the question of finding a number one corner. Now we fans and observers will continue to follow this young man’s growth as Washington’s season continues.