Former NFL GM congratulates Sammis Reyes on making Washington’s roster
Scott Pioli is one of the most respected personnel evaluators in the NFL over the last 20 years. Before accepting the general manager position with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2009, Pioli was instrumental in helping build New England’s dynasty in the 2000s.
Now an analyst with CBS and the NFL Network, Pioli most recently spent five years as an assistant general manager with the Atlanta Falcons before moving to the media in 2019.
Pioli also does some work with the International Player Pathway program, from which the Washington Football Team signed tight end Sammis Reyes in the spring. A former college basketball player, Reyes had never played a down of football but impressed many NFL scouts in a spring workout.
Reyes was a long shot to make Washington’s roster in the spring, according to some. But in his NFL debut against the New England Patriots, Reyes caught two passes and looked like one of the most physical players on the field.
Head coach Ron Rivera heaped praise on Reyes this summer, saying he “might be” the team’s most physical player.
On Wednesday, Reyes officially made Washington’s 53-man roster in one of the best NFL stories of the summer.
Pioli was on the NFL Network this week and praised Reyes.
“The guy I’m most excited about this year is Sammis Reyes. We talked about Sammis earlier this spring, because he was brought from Chile, came to the United States, played Division I basketball. Again, similar to Jordan, he has never played football prior to coming to America. What he’s done in such a short time is amazing.
Pioli then went into detail about when he first saw Reyes.
“They (International Player Pathway program) brought me film of Sammis back last fall,” Pioli said. “We looked at him, brought him into the IMG Academy, worked him out. What he has done for himself is incredible. He’s on the 53-man roster.”
Reyes was one of four tight ends to make Washington’s roster and is listed as the No. 3 tight end on the first depth chart.
