Training camp is about to give the Washington Commanders their first real roster test, and the final 53-man picture still has a few shaky spots at the edges. Most of the roster looks easy enough to sketch out at this point, but the bottom end is where the real decisions live.
At quarterback, Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota are obvious keeps. The real question is whether Washington carries a third arm, and if it does, Athan Kaliakmanis looks like the name to watch after outperforming Sam Hartman in the offseason. The rookie also has the kind of profile that could matter if the team worries about losing him on waivers, especially with Daniels and Mariota both carrying injury histories.
The backfield feels less settled. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White, and Kaytron Allen look like the safest bets, and if the Commanders go with four backs, Jeremy McNichols has the edge over Jerome Ford because of what he can bring on special teams or as a receiver.
Receiver is another spot where the depth chart still has some movement in it. Terry McLaurin, Antonio Williams, Dyami Brown, Luke McCaffrey, and Jaylin Lane all look secure, while Treylon Burks is the one holding onto the final spot in this projection. Van Jefferson made a strong impression this spring, but Burks gets the nod here because of his youth and upside.
Tight end has a cleaner shape to it. Chig Okonkwo is in line to be the new starter and should give Daniels a dependable target.
Ben Sinnott is expected to keep developing toward 2026, and John Bates remains one of the better blocking tight ends on the roster. Colson Yankoff could push for a spot, but this version leaves him out.
Up front, the offensive line looks close to locked in. Laremy Tunsil, Chris Paul, Nick Allegretti, Sam Cosmi, Josh Conerly Jr., Andrew Wylie, Brandon Coleman, Matt Gulbin, and Trent Scott make up the group here.
Allegretti is the favorite to win the center job over Gulbin, though Gulbin is still projected as the top backup as a rookie. Wylie and Coleman give the unit strong versatility, and Scott sticks around as a dependable reserve.
The defensive interior has a little more uncertainty. Daron Payne, Javon Kinlaw, Tim Settle Jr., and Johnny Newton are treated as locks, which leaves one opening.
D.J. Davidson gets that spot in this projection after arriving this offseason following four years with the New York Giants.
The thinking here is simple: keeping only one backup on the interior feels thin.
On the edge, the Commanders have added real juice. Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson are the new headline names, Dorance Armstrong Jr. should return to a major role after a serious injury, and Charles Omenihu brings veteran reliability. Joshua Josephs rounds out the group as an intriguing rookie.
Linebacker might be the strongest-looking unit on the roster. Frankie Luvu, Sonny Styles, and Leo Chenal are expected to handle major roles, Jordan Magee provides depth, and Nick Bellore is there for special teams. That group looks set.
The secondary also comes into focus pretty cleanly. Trey Amos and Mike Sainristil are projected as the boundary corners, with Amik Robertson working the nickel. Ahkello Witherspoon and Rasul Douglas give the group veteran insurance, though Darius Rush is a name to keep in mind if he puts together a strong camp and preseason.
At safety, Nick Cross and Will Harris are the starters in this projection, while Quan Martin and Tyler Owens add value because they can handle nickel duties. Jeremy Reaves is included as an elite special teamer and a locker room presence. The last safety spot is down to Tyler Owens and Percy Butler, with Owens getting the edge here because of his upside.
Special teams still has one real battle left. Tress Way and Tyler Ott are locked in, but the kicker job is open. Jake Moody gets the nod for now, though UDFA Drew Stevens has a real shot to win it.
In Other News...
Commanders Suddenly Have Something An NFC Team Might Desperately Want
The Panthers edge-rush depth took a major hit when Nic Scourton tore his ACL on the first day of training camp, and the timing makes the setback especially painful. Carolina is already weighing ways to patch the hole, and Washington has quietly become one of the teams worth watching because of how much edge-rush talent it brought in over an active offseason.
For the Commanders, the interesting part is not just the need elsewhere in the NFC, but the fact that they may have more options at the position than they can comfortably keep. No deal is in place, and nothing has moved beyond the exploratory stage, but Washingtons roster now has the kind of surplus that can draw calls when another team suddenly finds itself short on pass rush help. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Fans Just Got A Bizarre New Brandon Aiyuk Clue
A strange new wrinkle has pushed Brandon Aiyuk back into the Commanders conversation, and it has nothing to do with a highlight reel or a trade rumor. Reports say the 49ers receiver has bought property in Loudoun County, which is close enough to Washingtons training base to get fans talking about whether there is more to the move than a simple real-estate decision.
For now, it remains just that, talk. There has been no official confirmation tying the purchase to any football plans, and Washington has not made a move at receiver as the front office continues to sort through its options. Still, the timing is enough to keep the speculation alive, especially with Aiyuks status in San Francisco still unsettled and the Commanders need for clarity at the position not going away anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Fans Finally Got Some Good News About Northwest Stadium
Northwest Stadium got a notable off-field boost this week when the Department of Homeland Security gave it SAFETY Act Designation for its security and emergency preparedness measures. For a venue that has seen plenty of scrutiny over the years, the recognition is a reminder that Washington has poured real resources into making the building safer, including a major round of upgrades in recent seasons.
The organization says it has invested $150 million in that effort, with improvements ranging from updated camera systems and screening technology to other security layers designed to help with modern threats. Even as the Commanders continue preparing for a future beyond their current home, this is the kind of news that matters to fans who still have to walk through those gates now and want to know the stadium is keeping pace. [Read more 🡒]