A former first-round pick (18th overall) out of the University of Wisconsin in 2005, Erasmus James appeared in 23 career games with 12 starts for the Minnesota Vikings from 2005-07. He totaled 51 career tackles with five sacks in his three NFL seasons. His best season occurred in his rookie campaign (2005), when he set a career high in tackles (34), sacks (four), games played (15) and games started (nine). Acquired by the Redskins in a trade with the Vikings on May 27, 2008, James is reunited with his defensive line coach John Palermo, who tutored him at the University of Wisconsin. James earned All-American honors and was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year as a senior at Wisconsin.
NFL Acquisition: Selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round (18th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft
How Acquired: Traded to the Washington Redskins from the Minnesota Vikings for a 2009 conditional seventh-round draft pick on May 27, 2008
Pro:
Recorded 51 career-tackles with five sacks in 23 games (12 starts)
Set a career high in tackles (34), sacks (four), games played (15) and games started (nine) in his rookie season (2005)
Ranked fifth among all NFL rookies and second among linemen with four sacks during his rookie season in 2005
Battled knee injuries during the 2006 and 2007 seasons
Became the first Wisconsin defender taken in the first round of the NFL Draft since Arizona selected Wendell Bryant in 2002
Reunited with Redskins defensive line coach John Palermo, who tutored him at the University of Wisconsin
2007 Season (MIN):
Fought his way back onto the field in mid-2007, but suffered a season-ending knee injury (vs. Detroit 12/2). Placed on injured reserve (12/7), missing the final four games of the season
Recorded 12 tackles, one sack and two tackles for a loss in six games played
Made his lone start of the season vs. Detroit (12/2)
Brought down Daunte Culpepper for a sack vs. Oakland (11/18)
Played his first game of season at Chicago (10/14) after being inactive for the opening four contests
2006 Season (MIN):
Started first two games of the season before being sidelined by knee injury
Led team with four quarterback hurries in season opener at Washington (9/11)
Was placed on injured reserve (9/19)
2005 Season (MIN):
Earned starting job for the final nine games of his rookie campaign while appearing in 15 contests
Finished with 34 tackles (21 solo), four sacks and three pass deflections
Ranked fifth among all NFL rookies and second among linemen with four sacks
Tied for second on the team with four sacks and tied a team-high with a two-sack performance against eventual Super Bowl XL champion Pittsburgh Steelers and Pro Bowl QB Ben Roethlisberger (12/18)
Had his most productive game of season at New York Giants (11/13) with six QB hurries, four tackles and two passes defensed
Started first career game vs. Detroit (11/6)
Recorded his first career sack when he caught Pro Bowler Jake Delhomme at Carolina (10/30)
Played in his first career game at Cincinnati (9/18)
Earned All-America honors from Associated Press, Walter Camp, American Football Coaches Association and Football Writers Association as a senior at Wisconsin
Also earned Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Year and Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year honors as a senior
Missed time as a senior with an ankle injury suffered vs. Purdue
Named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week three times in his career, twice as a senior and once in his college football debut against Virginia as a freshman in 2001
Recorded 18 career sacks
Missed 2003 season due to hip injury sustained in preseason training in August, redshirted for the season
Played in Alamo Bowl as a sophomore and Outback Bowl as a senior
Named Academic All-Big Ten in 2001
Majored in criminal justice and sociology
Did not play football until his senior year at McArthur High in Hollywood, FL; prior to playing football, was a standout basketball player
Named 3rd-Team All-State following lone season of football as a senior
Born on the island of St. Kitt's in the Caribbean and moved to Bronx, NY, as a child and then moved to Florida as he entered high school
Father is the press secretary to the Prime Minister of St. Kitt's, an island in the West Indies
