Redskins agree to terms with a local product out of the AAF

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Photo credit Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

The American Alliance of Football is officially dead, but some of the talent discovered and displayed by the league is still very much alive.

Take Andrew Ankrah, who went to Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, Md., then James Madison University where he collected 26.5 sacks.

After graduating, he went undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft and then unsigned with any NFL team. In year's past, that's the end of the road for most pro football aspirations, as no developmental league existed.

Thanks to the AAF, Ankrah gets another chance with the Washington Redskins, who have agreed to terms with him:

Was told he had agreed to a deal but nothing signed yet. From JMU. Played at Quince Orchard in MoCo..Went undrafted in ‘18. https://t.co/YMOxft9wp9

— John Keim (@john_keim) April 5, 2019

It's worth noting that Ankrah got his first chance in pro football from former Redskins coach Steve Spurrier, who was the coach and general manager of the Orlando Apollos. After the league ceased operation last week, the Apollos were named the league champions, finishing with a 7-1 regular season record.

Ankrah represents a non-risk for the Redskins, as he is likely signed for no guaranteed money and only a chance at a job through OTA and Training Camp competition. According to Pro Football Talk, Ankrah is one of 12 AAF players to have signed with NFL teams.

At worst, he doesn't make the team but gets to find out how he stacks up against NFL competition.

At best, he could be a Cameron Wake type of long-shot, who lit up the Canadian Football League before landing with the Miami Dolphins. He has since become a five-time Pro Bowler and upper-echelon pass rusher.

Again, that's a best-case scenario.

Either way, the Redskins need help at the edge rusher position, with Preston Smith and Trent Murphy leaving in the last two offseason. That leaves Ryan Kerrigan as a bona fide starter and Ryan Anderson penciled in across from him.

This seems like a likely position to target in the draft, but Ankrah certainly has a chance with the hometown team.

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