With training camp opening and plenty of the roster still up for grabs, the Washington Commanders are heading into what should be the most competitive camp of the Dan Quinn era. A number of spots are unsettled, especially in the lower half of the roster, and that means several players will spend the summer trying to turn uncertainty into a job.
The most important fight may be the one on the offensive line. Chris Paul and Brandon Coleman are back in the mix for a starting role that Paul claimed from Coleman early last season. Paul ended up starting 15 games and built some chemistry next to Laremy Tunsil on the left side, enough for Washington to bring him back on a one-year deal after he briefly tested free agency.
The numbers tell two very different stories. Paul posted an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 49.5, but his pass-block grade was 77.5, while his run-block mark was a rough 38.2 across 960 snaps.
Coleman graded out better overall at 65.4, with a 62.9 pass-block grade and a 69.0 run-block grade in 390 snaps. Still, camp and preseason reps will matter more than any grading system.
Coleman brings more athleticism, while Paul has the edge in strength.
Most likely to be cut: No one
At receiver, Washington needs somebody to break away from the pack. Luke McCaffrey had started to show real progress before a broken collarbone ended his second season early.
Treylon Burks arrives with injury baggage of his own after the player Tennessee drafted to replace A.J. Brown.
Dyami Brown brings the vertical threat, Van Jefferson adds veteran steadiness, and Antonio Williams has spent a few years trying to prove he is more than a slot-only option.
Brown’s route tree is the key piece here. In the past, it was limited, though Washington found ways to use what he does best.
If he is going to make the 53-man roster and possibly become a real contributor, he has to show he can run a fuller route tree. Jefferson may be the safer choice, but the Commanders could still lean toward upside over experience at the back end of the room.
Most likely to be cut: Van Jefferson or Dyami Brown
The running back group already has some shape to it, even if the exact pecking order is still unclear. Washington has six backs on the roster, but Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White, and rookie Kaytron Allen look like the three safest bets unless something major changes. That leaves Jeremy McNichols, Jerome Ford, and Robert Henry Jr. battling for whatever room remains.
McNichols appears to have the early edge based on experience. He played in all 17 games in 2025 and finished with 221 yards on 44 carries.
Most likely to be cut: Jerome Ford and Robert Henry Jr.
Cornerback got more interesting when Washington signed Rasul Douglas. The veteran brings 93 starts and 21 career interceptions, and his arrival changes the picture for a room that had seemed headed toward Amik Robertson or Mike Sainristil starting outside.
Even with Douglas in the fold, the job is far from settled. Sainristil is still part of the competition, and Ahkello Witherspoon and Antonio Hamilton Sr. are also in the mix. Witherspoon has the length advantage, while Hamilton did enough late last season to earn another contract.
Most likely to be cut: Antonio Hamilton Sr.
The kicking job also deserves attention. Jake Moody finished last season on a high note, making 10 of 11 field goal attempts after joining Washington last season. To keep him sharp, the team added UDFA Drew Stevens out of Iowa.
Stevens set Iowa records with 76 total field goals and 12 from 50-plus yards. He also has a career long of 58 yards, though he has connected from farther out in practice. Neither kicker separated much during the offseason program, but this is one of those battles Washington needs resolved well before Week 1.
Most likely to be cut: Pick ’em
In Other News...
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Deebo Samuel is still on the market after Washington opted not to bring him back in free agency, and the longer this drags on, the more unusual his situation looks. What once felt like a straightforward search for his next landing spot has turned into a quiet standoff, with the Commanders having already moved on and the rest of the league apparently waiting to see how the market shakes out.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported there is no clear sign of outside interest right now, which only adds to the uncertainty around Samuels next move. The expectation is that his next contract will come in well below the kind of money he has commanded before, leaving open the possibility that his eventual destination could depend less on leverage and more on which team decides it still needs a proven playmaker. [Read more 🡒]
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Chenals recent comments only sharpened the intrigue around how Washington will line up once the games start. The expectation is a base 3-4 structure with multiple inside linebackers involved, but the exact combination could shift depending on the package and the opponent. With Daronte Jones having room to deploy Luvu, Styles and Chenal in different ways, the real question is how quickly the Commanders settle on the roles that make the most sense. [Read more 🡒]