The Washington Commanders’ first unofficial depth chart arrived Monday morning, and Dan Quinn wasted no time putting it in perspective.
“I would say the unofficial depth chart was about as valuable as preseason rankings.”
That’s the right lens for it. The chart offers a snapshot, not a verdict, after eight days of training camp.
It is fluid, and in at least one obvious case, already outdated. It still shows Laremy Tunsil at left tackle and Brandon Coleman at left guard, even though Tunsil’s torn triceps has changed that picture dramatically.
Still, the chart does reveal a few things about where Washington’s competitions stand right now.
One of the clearest is Luke McCaffrey’s rise. He’s listed as the No. 3 receiver behind Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs, and Quinn didn’t hide why that placement makes sense.
“Yeah, I would say the unofficial depth chart was about as valuable as preseason rankings. But what I can comment on is the intentional work Luke in a number of areas.
He really kind of came on as a kick returner last year, so that kind of speaks to his competitive nature. He’s improved releases off the line of scrimmage the route techniques.
And so just seeing him, more time on task and Year 3 at the position, it’s easy to see his ascension going up.He’s versatile. He plays both in the slot and outside.
With the addition, obviously, of Stef coming here too, how do we maneuver and put guys in different spots? But him, and there’s a number of guys at the position that are really leveling up.
It’s nice to see Jaylin Lane going into Year 2 and just elevate the game, and so it’s a cool thing to see.”
That “it’s easy to see his ascension going up” line says plenty. McCaffrey’s work has clearly caught the staff’s eye, and Quinn also pointed to Jaylin Lane as another young receiver making a jump.
The kicking battle is less settled than the chart suggests. Jake Moody sits ahead of Drew Stevens, even though Stevens has been the more noticeable name in recent kicking sessions.
That’s exactly the kind of spot where Quinn’s preseason-rankings comparison fits. The chart gives you a clue, not the final answer.
Another notable placement comes on the edge, where K’Lavon Chaisson is listed as the starter ahead of Dorance Armstrong. Armstrong has only recently gotten back to practice after missing the first week-plus of camp, so the chart reflects both what Chaisson has shown and where Armstrong is physically right now. At minimum, it suggests Chaisson has done enough to be viewed as more than just a rotation piece.
“I think physicality is what this team embodies and embraces.”
Chaisson said that after practice, and his place on the chart lines up with that kind of profile.
The linebackers also offered a small but telling wrinkle. Sonny Styles has an “OR” next to his name, paired with Leo Chenal, which points to a first-team battle rather than a locked-in spot.
For the No. 7 pick from this spring’s draft, that matters. After just eight days of camp, Styles has already put himself into a position where Washington appears willing to give him a real role.
And from what’s been seen on the practice field, he doesn’t look interested in letting that opportunity slip.
Quinn is right that the depth chart itself doesn’t mean much on its own. The real test comes in game settings. But as a guide to where the staff sees things right now, it does its job.
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Commanders Camp Suddenly Has A New Opportunity Fans Need To Watch
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Dan Quinn also confirmed that center Nick Allegretti and tight end John Bates will be out for at least another week, which leaves the team juggling some familiar camp absences at positions where depth matters. The bigger ripple, though, is at left tackle, where Laremy Tunsils injury has created a sudden opening for someone to seize, and that kind of opportunity tends to change the temperature of a training camp fast. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Receiver Reshuffle Just Cost Washington A Speed Threat
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Green Bay moved quickly because injuries have thinned its receiver room, and Hilton is expected to join the Packers after passing a physical. For Washington, the move is another reminder of how little margin there is when a promising young wideout gets squeezed out, especially one whose biggest calling card is the kind of downfield speed teams are always looking to keep around. [Read more 🡒]