Vernon Gholston Claims He Has Tryout with Washington Redskins

Former first-round pick Vernon Gholston is attempting an NFL comeback. The ex-Jets linebacker tweeted Tuesday that he will have a tryout with Washington at an unspecified date.

"

Got a tryout with the Redskins #HTTR

— Vernon Gholston (@VernonGholston) February 17, 2015"

Gholston, 28, has not appeared in an NFL game since 2010. The Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams signed him in 2011 and 2012, respectively, before cutting him in training camp. Selected by the Jets No. 6 overall in 2008, Gholston is viewed as one of the biggest busts in recent draft history. 

The Ohio State product recorded just 42 tackles and did not have a sack in 45 career games despite being billed as a pass-rushing specialist. As noted by Rich Cimini of ESPN.com at the time of his release, there were more than 600 NFL players who recorded a sack during Gholston's three seasons without one. 

Gholston has said then-Jets coach Rex Ryan never gave him a fair chance to make an impact.

"Being a first-round pick, you would have hoped for more [of a chance]," Gholston told reporters in 2011. "Rex made a comment to me when he first came in that he thought I wasn't liked by the guys on the team, then once he got there he saw that wasn't the case. Those perceptions kind of determine the outcome, and it's sad to say.

Gail Burton/Associated Press

Any tryout with Washington would, at most, result in a non-guaranteed contract that would earn him an invite to training camp. Washington needs pass-rushing help and linebacker depth with Brian Orakpo hitting free agency, but the likelihood of Gholston's tryout being any more than a curiosity is minimal. None of Washington's current coaching staff has ties to Ryan or the staff that drafted Gholston.

Should Gholston somehow sign and make an impact in the nation's capital, it'd be one of the most unlikely late success stories in history. While few ever doubted Gholston's physical bonafides, we'd have to dig deep into the coffers of NFL history to find a player who took four full seasons off and then made a comeback. Especially ones with Gholston's less-than-stellar professional resume.

For now, though, it's best to look at Gholston's tryout as one of hundreds NFL teams will have with players this offseason.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter