The Commanders have spent the offseason tearing down and rebuilding the defense, and that puts a spotlight on the back end. With new starters at both outside linebacker spots, along the defensive line, at nickel corner and at strong safety, Washington is asking a lot from a unit that has to look different under Daronte Jones and his expected 3-4 scheme. After last season’s disastrous showing under Joe Whitt Jr., the secondary is going to be under the microscope from the jump.
That’s especially true at cornerback, where the Commanders were beaten up through the air a year ago. Washington allowed the fifth-most passing yards in the NFL and finished with only eight interceptions, so the pressure to stabilize that group is real. Mike Sainristil enters Year 3 carrying his own weight after a rocky sophomore season, but the bigger proving ground belongs to Trey Amos.
Amos arrived as a second-round pick in 2025 with plenty of buzz. During the lead-up to his rookie year, he was talked about as one of the steals of the draft. Once the games started, he showed enough to hint at what might be coming, but he never fully exploded onto the scene the way many expected.
In 10 games, the Ole Miss product had six pass breakups and no interceptions before a broken leg against the Detroit Lions ended his season. Now he gets a fresh start in Year 2, and the new system is expected to suit him much better.
The Commanders are treating him like their top corner after the release of veteran Marshon Lattimore, and that means the assignments are going to be brutal. Amos could see CeeDee Lamb and Malik Nabers twice, along with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Puka Nacua, Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson.
That’s a sink-or-swim job, plain and simple.
But that’s also how cornerbacks make their names. Amos has already shown enough flashes to make people believe there’s something real here. Now he has to turn that promise into production.
Washington clearly believes in him, and it’s easy to see why. His growth could shape the future of the secondary, and this season will tell the story of what he really is. If injuries strike again or the performance doesn’t come, there won’t be much room for excuses.
If he takes off and becomes a bona fide stud, though, nobody who has tracked his rise should be shocked.
In Other News...
Commanders May Have Finally Found A Veteran WR Answer
Washingtons receiver room still looks thin behind Terry McLaurin, and the front office has not yet done anything to fully answer that need. The depth chart has been leaning on a group of young or unproven options, which is why the search for a veteran addition has lingered into the stretch before training camp.
One name now in the mix is Brandin Cooks, who has made it clear he wants to land with a team before camp opens and has also said Buffalo is his preferred destination. For Washington, the appeal is obvious: Cooks just showed he can still help a contender in a late-season run, and his brief stint with the Bills gave him a reminder that he can fit into a passing game quickly if the opportunity is right. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders May Already Have Their Answer Opposite Terry McLaurin
The Commanders spent a premium draft pick on a receiver who could change the look of their passing game almost immediately, and Antonio Williams already has the kind of profile that makes people around the league take notice. With Terry McLaurin still the centerpiece, Washington needed someone who could help lighten the load on the other side, and Williams arrives with enough buzz to make that conversation feel real before training camp even starts.
What happens next will matter just as much as the draft-night decision. If Williams shows he can handle the speed and physicality of the pro game right away, Washington may not feel much urgency to keep shopping for another veteran wideout, but if the transition proves bumpy, the team could be back in the market sooner than expected. For now, the Commanders at least have a promising answer in-house, and the summer will tell them how firm that answer really is. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Front Office Shakeup Just Added A New Twist
The Commanders personnel department is getting another reset, with veteran NFL executive Scott Fitterer leaving after two seasons in Washington. The move comes as the franchise continues to shape the front office around general manager Adam Peters, and it adds another layer to a group that has already been busy trying to build a more stable operation behind the scenes.
In his place, Washington has brought in former Vikings assistant GM Demitrius Washington as a senior personnel executive, giving the organization another experienced evaluator to lean on. The hire also reconnects him with Peters from their time together in San Francisco, a familiar tie that could matter as the Commanders keep refining how they identify and stack talent. [Read more 🡒]