The Commanders have spent the offseason trying to reshape their defense, but the real swing piece might already be in the building.
Trey Amos, the cornerback Washington landed after he slid late into the second round last year, is the name that could change the whole outlook. General manager Adam Peters reportedly had Amos in the mix at No. 29 before taking offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr., and the Commanders ended up with a player who flashed enough as a rookie to make the future look a lot brighter - even if injury cut that season short.
The biggest thing now is simple: get Amos healthy and keep him that way. If he can do that, the former Ole Miss standout has a path to becoming a franchise-level piece in short order.
That’s not just wishful thinking, either. Kristopher Know of The Bleacher Report named Amos Washington’s most important building block going forward, and it’s easy to see why. While a case could be made for quarterback Jayden Daniels, the defense is the side of the ball that could be transformed if Amos develops into a true shutdown corner on the outside.
The traits are already there. Amos is big, long, physical, and smooth enough to stay with receivers. He can jam routes in press coverage, process what’s happening in front of him quickly, and he brings enough aggression to matter against the run, too.
Daronte Jones is a big part of the equation. Washington’s new coordinator has a scheme that should fit Amos well, and his track record with defensive backs is a major reason there’s so much optimism here. The setup looks strong for the 6-foot-1 corner, and it would come as a surprise if he didn’t take a real step forward.
The front seven should help as well. Amos didn’t have much support there last season, but that’s expected to look different now. Mike Sainristil, Amik Robertson, and maybe even Rasul Douglas are all part of the picture, though this defense may ultimately go as far as the No. 61 pick in 2025 can carry it.
That’s a heavy burden for a player with just 10 career appearances and eight starts. Still, if Amos is fully healthy, he looks capable of handling it.
And if he breaks out the way Washington believes he can, the Commanders’ defense could make a major jump.
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