Washington’s rookies are already in the building, and the veterans are set to join them early next week. That’s when the real sorting begins for a Commanders roster that looks deeper after another busy stretch for general manager Adam Peters.
The message from the front office is clear: no one is being handed anything. Previous reputation won’t carry much weight here, and that creates pressure all over the roster - for starting jobs, rotational snaps, and even a spot on the 53-man group. The offseason program offered a few hints, but training camp and the preseason are where those decisions start to harden.
One of the biggest questions sits right in the middle of the offensive line. Washington made a major move this offseason by releasing Tyler Biadasz, a decision that surprised plenty of people given his steady play and standing in the locker room.
Adam Peters believed it was the right call to push the offense forward, and now Nick Allegretti is the player most positioned to take over. He got an extension earlier this offseason and appears to have the edge over sixth-round rookie Matt Gulbin, even if Dan Quinn is treating it like a true competition.
Allegretti’s experience gives him a clear advantage, and it’s hard to imagine the Commanders putting such an important job in the hands of a Day 3 pick right away with so much riding on 2026.
The battle at second safety looks much less straightforward. Daronte Jones has made speed and versatility central to his defensive approach, especially in the secondary, and that means there’s plenty still unsettled behind free-agent addition Nick Cross.
Will Harris, Quan Martin, and Jeremy Reaves are the most likely names to line up next to Cross at the start. Tyler Owens has the athletic traits to get involved, but he still has to turn that into something more.
Percy Butler is viewed more as a special teams piece. If Martin ends up spending more time in the nickel, that only opens the door wider.
Cross is the one who has to set the tone there. He looks capable of making an impact, especially closer to the line of scrimmage, but Washington still needs reliable coverage behind him. Harris hasn’t exactly stood out in that area, though a healthy camp could put him in position to claim the job.
In Other News...
Trey Amos Just Put Washington's Biggest Secondary Fear Back In Play
Trey Amos rookie season never got off the ground the way Washington hoped, and the cornerbacks return remains one of the more delicate storylines hanging over the secondary. The Commanders 2025 second-round pick is still on the physically unable to perform list, and while he has been making progress in rehab, the team has kept a careful eye on his recovery as camp approaches.
Washington has other corners handling the work for now, which gives the staff some breathing room but not much certainty. Amos was drafted to be part of the long-term answer on the back end, and the only real question now is how soon the Commanders can count on him to join that group in a meaningful way. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Just Got An Early Tim Settle Jr. Boost
With training camp opening, Washingtons roster picture already has a few moving parts on the injury front, with three players on the physically unable to perform list and another on active non-football injury status. Those designations can be lifted at any time, but the more encouraging development for the Commanders is the shape of the defensive line, where Tim Settle Jr. has avoided that early camp limbo and is positioned to get back on the field soon after missing part of the offseason.
Settles timing matters because Washington is asking its front to adapt to Daronte Jones new 3-4 look, and the veteran lineman figures to be part of the solution if he stays healthy. His presence would give the Commanders another experienced body in the middle of the defense, and the early signs point to him having a real chance to carve out a meaningful role once practice ramps up. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Rookie QB Carries More Weight Than Fans Realize
Washington added rookie quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis in the seventh round to give the room some much-needed depth behind Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota, and there is a little more to that pick than a simple developmental flyer. Kaliakmanis arrives as a four-year college starter who already has a track record of handling a full workload, which matters for a team that wants steadier insurance at the position and a cleaner path through the season than it had a year ago.
The real question is where he fits once camp starts. Kaliakmanis is expected to compete for a backup role while learning the offense, but the more immediate battle may be for the third spot behind Mariota, with Sam Hartman also in the mix. His profile is a little different from the quarterbacks around him, which could make him a useful long-term piece if Washington finds a way to tailor his role within the system. [Read more 🡒]