Commanders Rookie Sainristil: More Rave Reviews from OTAs

It should've probably been enough when Nick Saban gave it his personal stamp of approval. But now folks are seeing second-round rookie defensive back Mike Sainristil in action at OTAs ...

And the Washington Commanders are getting even more thumbs-up on the pick.

Sainristil, due to his work in rookie minicamp and now the start of OTAs, is according to NFL Network's Steve Wyche "getting a lot of favorable reviews playing that slot corner as someone with great ball skills."

Ball skills? That makes some sense because at Michigan, Sainristil began as a wide receiver and worked there extensively before switching over to defense. He was a corner, he was a nickel guy, whatever the eventual national champs needed.

Commanders Rookie Sainristil: More Rave Reviews from OTAs

And now he might do that here.

Saban, the former Alabama head coach, considered Sainristil the best "pound-for-pound" player in the entire NFL Draft.

"I LOVE... there's a difference between love and LOVE... I LOVE this guy," Saban said about Michigan DB Mike Sainristil, raising his voice for the kid who went at No. 50 overall to Washington.

"This guy may be the best football player pound-for-pound in the draft."

Saban, working as an ESPN analyst, called Sainristil "instinctive and physical,'' saying, "He can make plays, he can tackle, he's tough, fast reactor. I just love the way this guy plays."

And so, it seems, do the Commanders.