Kam Curl is entering his fourth NFL season; his experience is paying dividends.
Curl, a 7th-round draft choice in 2020 out of Arkansas, is glad the defense had a good 2022 season. Friday, he showed he knows there is more to be done.
Curl has high expectations but knows there can be improvement. He referred to “the turnover aspect of it and then starting fast, starting the season fast, and then starting every game fast.”
Curl is aware of the new ownership, but he also knows he has a job to do. “I am where my feet are; you know what I’m saying? So when I’m playing football, that’s what I’m focused on.”
This year’s secondary is a year older, returning several defensive backs from the 2022 team.
“It’s our fourth year in the system, so everybody feels more comfortable in the system knowing what our job is, knowing every role everybody has.”
The Commanders also used their top two 2023 draft choices on defensive backs, and Curl acknowledges the importance of helping the younger players.
Kam Curl was the steal of the 2020 draft:
Led all rookie DBs in Sacks+INTs
Percentage in the NFL(@PFF)
Who’s flying under the radar in the 2021 draft? pic.twitter.com/91Ua5n7A3p— Nathan Coleman (@CommandersStats) April 21, 2021
“(I’m) just being there when guys need a question or if I see something that they did, just going up to ’em and putting little stuff in their ear, you know, for the next time it comes up. Just trying to be that guy to motivate and teach.”
There was a buzz Friday about Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (a Commanders fan) being in attendance Friday. But not for Curl. He was tuned in, not even aware of Durant’s presence.
“Nah, I ain’t seen him. What’s up, though?”
Fan attendance and fan excitement are considerably higher than last year. So Curl certainly hasn’t missed it.
“It feels good, you know, you can feel the excitement, you know what I’m saying? Everybody coming out to practice, all this stuff on social media, like you feel the excitement.”
In the last year of his rookie contract, therefore, this is an important season for Curl if he is to gain a significantly better contract. How much does he think about his contract? “I think about getting picks like I did today.”
Curl knows if he spends too much time thinking about contract negotiations, his play will suffer.
“I’m focused on football. I’m here damn near 12 hours a day, so that’s what I’m focused on. Honestly, I don’t have time to think of nothing else.”