When Anthony Lanier came to the Washington Redskins following the 2016 NFL Draft, not much was expected of him. The former Alabama A&M product had been an undrafted free agent, and he hadn’t done a lot as a player to warrant hope that he could turn into a contributor. However, what he did have was a 6-foot-6 frame and solid athleticism. That’s what got him his chance with the Redskins, and since that time, he has done well.
During his rookie year in 2016, Lanier earned a spot on the Redskins 53-man roster. He barely played, logging a lot of inactive statuses early on and playing only 4 percent of the defensive snaps, but he did show flashes of solid ability.