The Washington Commanders didn’t get to 5-12 by accident, and they won’t climb out of it unless the new guys start showing up fast. With rookies already in Ashburn and veterans set to report Tuesday before camp opens Wednesday, the spotlight is already shifting to the first-year players who can make this roster more than just deeper on paper.
The headliners are obvious enough. No. 7 overall pick Sonny Styles is expected to step in right away, and third-round receiver Antonio Williams should carve out a real role either outside opposite Terry McLaurin or in the slot. But the more interesting camp stories may come from the rookies and undrafted players who have a chance to force their way into the conversation.
One of the best bets is center Matt Gulbin. At 6-foot-4 and 312 pounds, he brings the kind of versatility coaches love, having started at guard at Wake Forest before moving to center at Michigan State in 2025.
He’s the only draft pick on this list, and for good reason: Washington’s depth chart gives him a real opening behind veteran Nick Allegretti. If Gulbin holds up through camp, he could lock down the primary backup center job and keep the Commanders from shopping for another veteran at the position.
His ability to handle both center and guard gives him a strong path to the 53-man roster.
Wide receiver Jaden Bradley is another name worth tracking. The 6-foot-3 undrafted rookie out of UNLV turned heads in OTAs and minicamp, and coaches noticed.
His size makes him stand out in a receiver room that has plenty of bodies but some uncertainty at the bottom. Bradley looks like an outside receiver on paper, but he can also work in the slot, which only helps his case.
The path to the 53 is steep, but Adam Peters and Dan Quinn have shown they’ll keep the best players. Bradley has a real shot, and his name could come up a lot this summer.
Running back Robert Henry Jr. is in a tougher spot, but not an impossible one. The UTSA rookie is fighting for what could be the final running back job if the Commanders keep four.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White look locked in, and Kaytron Allen, a draft pick who brings power, would seem to have the inside track too. That leaves one opening, with Jeremy McNichols the veteran who would ideally hold it.
Henry impressed in the spring, but with no tackling allowed then, preseason will matter a lot more. He’ll need to show he can run and catch the ball if he wants to make this thing interesting.
Then there’s kicker Drew Stevens, who may have the most straightforward path of any undrafted player on the roster. He’s in a straight-up battle with Jake Moody, and right now it sounds close to even.
Both were strong in the spring, and Stevens has the kind of big leg that keeps special teams coaches paying attention every day. He’s also accurate.
Moody, a former third-round pick just three years ago, still has the edge of pedigree and Washington’s belief after his short stint last year. But he didn’t do enough to win the job outright, which is why Stevens is here pushing him.
Unless one of them stumbles early, this one could last all the way through August.
In Other News...
Commanders Are Already Dealing With A Defensive Camp Nightmare
Washington is opening training camp with an early hit to the defense, as Dorance Armstrong Jr., Trey Amos and Deatrich Wise Jr. all begin on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Armstrong and Amos are coming off significant injuries from last season, and their absence immediately thins out a unit that was supposed to be a point of emphasis as the Commanders try to move past a disappointing 2025.
The bigger concern is not just who is missing now, but how much the team had been counting on these players to help steady the front and the back end. Armstrong was already facing a reduced role in Daronte Jones defense after the arrivals of Odafe Oweh and KLavon Chaisson, while Amos had been viewed as a possible Year 2 breakout candidate before his setback. Washington is still hoping the group can work its way back in time for the season, but camp has barely started and the defense is already trying to absorb another setback. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Camp Opens With One Roster Question Hanging Over Everything
Training camp opens this week with the full roster due Tuesday and the first practice set for Wednesday, giving the Commanders their first real chance to sort through a crowded 91-man group before the cutdown to 53. It is also the first extended look at how new offensive coordinator David Blough and defensive coordinator Daronte Jones want to shape the team, with joint practices, preseason games and a steady stream of reps all feeding into decisions that will ripple through the rest of August.
For Washington, the intrigue is not just about scheme changes but about who can seize a role quickly enough to matter. The staff will be watching rookies closely, along with any potential additions that could alter the depth chart, and there is still a sense that one more move could change the tone of camp before the roster picture starts to settle. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Face An Uncomfortable WR2 Question Around A Big Name
The Commanders are still sorting out what the passing game looks like behind Terry McLaurin, and the search for a reliable No. 2 has naturally pulled a big name into the conversation. Stefon Diggs is available, he has ties to the Washington area, and the idea of pairing him with Jayden Daniels is the kind of move that would at least make the front office think hard about how much proven receiver help it wants to add.
Diggs, though, would not be stepping into a tidy setup where the job is clearly defined for him. Washington already has several pass-catchers competing for touches and roles, which makes the fit more complicated than a simple name-value upgrade. For the Commanders, the question is not just whether Diggs is interested, but whether he would arrive as the answer to their WR2 issue or simply add another layer to it. [Read more 🡒]