Heading into the 2025 season, the Washington Commanders had every reason to believe they’d found a cornerstone in Mike Sainristil. The former Michigan standout had just wrapped up a promising rookie campaign, finishing in the top 10 for Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.
Despite being asked to play out of position, Sainristil held his own-and then some. With veterans Marshon Lattimore and Trey Amos expected to lock down the outside, the plan was simple: slide Sainristil back to his natural home in the slot and let him thrive.
But as often happens in the NFL, the plan didn’t survive contact with reality.
Instead of taking a step forward, both Sainristil and the Commanders’ defense took a noticeable step back in Year 2. Now, as he enters his third season, the question isn’t just whether Sainristil can bounce back-it’s where he fits best in this defense, and whether Washington can finally give him the stability he needs to grow into the player they drafted him to be.
Slot or perimeter? The Commanders need to decide-fast.
Physically, Sainristil checks all the boxes for a slot corner. He’s compact, quick, instinctive, and not afraid to stick his nose into the action.
His change-of-direction skills and football IQ make him a natural fit inside, where reading the quarterback and reacting quickly are essential traits. He doesn’t have the length or straight-line speed of a prototypical boundary corner, but that hasn’t stopped him from looking surprisingly comfortable on the outside.
And that’s the dilemma. While the measurables say "slot," the tape sometimes tells a different story. Over his first two seasons, Sainristil has looked more fluid and confident playing outside than inside-despite the conventional wisdom about his ideal role.
That’s why Washington’s next defensive coordinator hire is so crucial. Whoever takes over will need to quickly evaluate Sainristil’s skill set, settle on a position, and commit to it.
Because the back-and-forth-slot one week, perimeter the next-hasn’t helped his development. If anything, it’s stalled it.
The numbers don’t lie: Year 2 was a step back.
The regression wasn’t just noticeable on film-it showed up in the data, too. According to Pro Football Focus, Sainristil’s grade dropped by nearly 15 points from his rookie season. That’s a significant dip, and it was backed up by the stat sheet.
Despite logging more snaps, Sainristil posted fewer tackles and pass breakups. His yards allowed per target went up.
So did the opposing completion percentage and quarterback rating when throwing his way. Even though he was targeted less frequently, he gave up more catches.
That’s not the trend you want to see from a young corner expected to be a foundational piece.
But perhaps the most concerning part of his sophomore slump was the tackling. One of Sainristil’s calling cards coming out of Michigan was his physicality-he’s never been afraid to mix it up, and he’s consistently played bigger than his 5-foot-10, 182-pound frame.
That edge seemed dulled in Year 2. He missed more tackles, and at times, he looked physically overmatched.
That’s not who he was in college, and it’s not who he was as a rookie.
What now? The Commanders face a critical decision.
To be clear, Sainristil hasn’t lost his toughness. He’s been durable, he’s shown flashes of the player Washington hoped he’d become, and he’s still young.
But the Commanders can’t afford to keep him in limbo. They need to decide where he fits-slot or outside-and give him the time and coaching to master that role.
That decision becomes even more important when you look at the bigger picture. Outside of Sainristil and Trey Amos, the Commanders don’t have many long-term answers at cornerback.
They may need to overhaul their safety group. They definitely need to juice up the pass rush.
All of those moves will impact Sainristil’s ability to succeed. A better pass rush makes life easier on corners.
A more stable secondary lets players focus on their assignments instead of compensating for breakdowns.
But before any of that, it starts with clarity. Sainristil needs a defined role.
Let him settle in, learn the nuances, and grow. The talent is still there.
The toughness is still there. Now it’s about putting him in the best possible position to succeed-and then letting him go to work.
Because if the Commanders can do that, there’s still every reason to believe Mike Sainristil can be a key piece of this defense for years to come.