Washington Commanders Roster
Offense (25)
Quarterback (3)
Jayden Daniels
I’m thrilled! I think Daniels is the real deal and that no other potential quarterback could have been a better fit for this team at this time. I’m looking forward to many years of leadership and great play from our new starting QB.
Marcus Mariota
Dating back to when he was drafted, I’ve never been a Mariota fan. Now he’ll be wearing the burgundy & gold, so I’ll spend the next week in deep meditation to prepare myself to root for him. If things go well, he’ll never take a snap for this franchise, which would make rooting for him much simpler.
Jeff Driskel
When he was signed, I expected his stay in Washington to be brief. I was impressed with most of what I saw in the preseason. I’ll find him easy to root for, especially since he’s most likely going to be inactive for 17 weeks as long as Jayden Daniels stays healthy.
Wide Receiver (7)
Terry McLaurin
It’s important to understand that my fandom for this team dates back to when Vince Lombardi was the head coach. Terry McLaurin is my all-time favorite player for the Washington franchise. That’s damned impressive when you look at the torrent of great players that I watched from the mid-1970s to the early 1990s. I’m thinking of guys like Wilbur Marshall, John Riggins, Art Monk, and Darrell Green. Scary Terry is at the top of my list.
Dyami Brown
I’ve believed in Dyami before (in 2022 and again in 2023). His inability to put a season together with Sam Howell at QB shook what faith I had in Brown. I’m now in ‘prove it to me’ mode. Yes, he looked good in the preseason, but I’ve seen that movie before too.
Olamide Zaccheaus
I feel like the captain of the OZ fan club. I loved this signing when it took place and I’ve spent the past 5 months broadcasting my belief that Zaccheaus will be a great flexible receiver who will enhance the Commanders offense. I think he’ll get 40+ receptions and 500+ yards this season.
Noah Brown
I like this signing and I think that Noah is going to be another guy that will put up 500+ yards and contribute to the team. Jayden Daniels is not going to lack for targets, and I believe he will play ‘point guard’, distributing the pigskin very widely among his playmakers.
Luke McCaffrey
I have modest expectations for Luke McCaffrey this season. I see 2024 as a developmental year for a guy who has been a receiver for only 2 years. If he gets 150-200 yards this season, I won’t be surprised.
Byron Pringle
I liked him last year and I’m glad they brought him back. I think there’s still a chance he gets squeezed off the roster if the front office signs another player. I hope not. He’s a reliable receiver who made more big(gish) plays last season than most people realize.
Jamison Crowder
I love Crowder as a local(ish) college player and a former Redskins draft pick. I was underwhelmed with his punt return performance in 2023, though he was better than Dax “fair catch” Milne. His only reason for being on the roster at this point seems to be his returner role, and I feel like the team should have been able to upgrade from Crowder this offseason. Still, as I said, I like him and will be cheering for him to ‘break one’ every time he fields a punt.
Tight End (4)
Zach Ertz
I count myself among those who are optimistic about Ertz. I’m choosing to believe that the coaching staff will help him stay healthy. I think he can use his veteran wiles in Kingsbury’s offense. With Jayden Daniels’ running ability, teams will have a hard time playing man coverage; Zach Ertz should eat zone coverage alive and keep the chains moving. I’m drinking the Flavorade here.
John Bates
This guy has a role in the NFL. You know what it is and he knows what it is. He is a 4th-year draft pick who should be extended along with his draft classmate, Sam Cosmi.
Ben Sinnott
Outside of Jayden Daniels, of Washington’s draft picks on the offensive side of the ball, Sinnott is the one I am most excited to see on the field. He looked like a dump truck running with the ball in preseason. I think he can have an impact as a blocker and receiver from Week 1. I’m stoked to see him in a regular season game!
Colson Yankoff
I just don’t see it. Basically, it seems to me that the coaches figure that they need 4 tight ends to run as much 12 personnel as they want to, and they didn’t have anyone better than Yankoff. I’m gonna need some time here.
Running Back (3)
Brian Robinson
Robinson proved his toughness as a rookie when he took the field only weeks after being shot twice in the lower body. In his two seasons in Washington, he’s been a tough runner, but not a very efficient one. I’m hoping that, under the tutelage of Anthony Lynn, he takes his game to the next level this season.
Austin Ekeler
I thought immediately that Ekeler would be an upgrade to Antonio Gibson. I still think that. Ekeler should thrive in his role in Washington’s offense. I do think he has a lot of priorities beyond just his play on the field as he works to position himself for his post-playing career. I’m fine with that because he seems to be able to manage his responsibilities as a player even as he works hard to set up his future prospects. He hasn’t seen a video interview or podcast this offseason that he wasn’t willing to do.
Jeremy McNichols
I’m okay with McNichols as the 3rd back. I started the offseason thinking that he would compete for the role with Chris Rodriguez, and that Michael Wiley would be the #5 guy in the room. In the end, Wiley gave McNichols a run for his money, but ended up on the practice squad (along with CR). I wouldn’t be shocked to see both Wiley and McNichols get snaps on offense this season.
Offensive Line (9)
Brandon Coleman
I’m relying entirely on camp reports from local media here since Coleman wasn’t healthy enough to play in any preseason games. I have high hopes but no expectations for Coleman. I look forward to seeing him play.
Sam Cosmi
Beast. I hope he is the next player on the current roster to get an extension, though I know the size of the contract is going to be heart-stopping.
Cornelius Lucas
He’s been playing in burgundy & gold for three four seasons already. This will be his 4th 5th. Dunno how many of you remember Tom Compton, but that’s who I think of when I think of Lucas. I love seeing him come off the bench when he is needed. I’m less excited about seeing him start multiple games.
Andrew Wylie
Okay. I am nothing but a fan with a keyboard. I have no insight into the nuances of playing professional football. I saw Wylie look terrible in multiple games last season. That said, he was playing in Eric Bieniemy’s ill-conceived offense and protecting a QB who held the ball a long time and did not have a great feel for the pocket. I hope Wylie looks a lot better this season with some scheme help and a quick-release, mobile QB. I’ll be holding my breath — at least for the first few offensive series.
Nick Allegretti
This feels a lot like the Andrew Wylie story — a Chiefs backup lineman who came through for Kansas City when they needed him and helped win a super bowl, allowing him to be a clear starter on a team with less talent on the OL. I was really underwhelmed by this signing in March, so I’ll be relying on the fact that Adam Peters is a respected NFL personnel evaluator and I am not.
Tyler Biadasz
He’s a clear upgrade from Nick Gates and Tyler Larsen, but I think this Tyler gets bonus credit from fans just because of his badass surname. I think he is a competent center, but I think Chase Roullier was better.
Trent Scott
He’s actually been active for 71 NFL games, but has only about 1,800 offensive snaps in his 6 year career, with close to half of them played in 2019. He didn’t look good in preseason. I hope the players ahead of him stay healthy all season.
Chris Paul
500 snaps in 2 seasons. I don’t expect a lot from Chris Paul, though I’m more confident in him as a backup guard than I am in Trent Scott as a backup tackle.
Michael Deiter
Completing my nearly clean-sweep of dissatisfaction with Washington’s offensive line, I really disliked the Deiter signing from the day it was announced. I thought Stromberg could beat him out; I thought JC Hassenauer would beat him out. They’re both gone and Deiter is here. In Peters & Quinn we trust.
Defense(25)
Defensive End (4)
Dorance Armstrong
I’m less impressed with Armstrong than most seem to be. Hopefully, he’ll benefit from playing with better interior pass rushers than he had in Dallas.
Clelin Ferrell
I was not impressed with Ferrell as a rookie, and nothing has really changed. Ferrell makes me really miss Montez Sweat. I guess he’ll be okay for a year.
Jamin Davis
I’ve always been higher on Jamin than most Washington fans. I think he’s played some pretty good ball; he just hasn’t played like a first-round talent. His draft position is not his fault. According to all reports, he has aggressively attacked every challenge set before him this offseason. Hopefully, Joe Whitt and Dan Quinn have figured out the key to energizing Davis’ career. I’m looking forward to seeing what they have in store…and how well he rises to the challenge.
Javontae Jean-Baptiste
If he doesn’t outperform KJ Henry, there’ll be complaints from a lot of people for a long time to come. In the end, Quinn and Peters chose their 7th round pick over Rivera’s 5th round pick. I’m not losing any sleep over it.
Defensive Tackle (4)
Jonathan Allen
I’m starting to feel bad for Allen. With his attitude and work ethic, he should be rewarded with playoff wins and championships. He’s 29 years old and the clock is ticking. I hope the team can crystallize and compete before time runs out on Allen’s career.
Daron Payne
When Payne was drafted by the Redskins, I had been hoping for Vita Vea. Time has proven, I think, that Payne is the better player. I wish that Allen and Payne had been together for the kind of success that ‘boomers’ think of when they talk about Mann and Manley (bookend pass rushers from ‘back in the day’). The difference between Payne and Allen at this point is that Payne is 27 years old and may be able to last long enough to enjoy some team success in Washington.
Phidarian Mathis
I wanted the team to keep Ridgeway and move on from Mathis. I was dirty about it last week and it’s gonna take me a while to regain my composure. Hopefully, Big Phil, now in his 3rd season, is ready to start his career.
Johnny Newton
Am I troubled by the two foot surgeries? Not at all. Am I concerned about whether he’s healthy enough to play Week 1 in Tampa Bay? No, I’m not. I like the pick; I like the player; I expect him to have a great career in Washington and to be a key part of the Commanders rebuil…errr…re-calibration.
Linebacker (5)
Bobby Wagner
Slam dunk future Hall of Fame inductee. Leading tackler in the NFL in 2023. NFL fans from around the league think that Bobby Wagner is washed because he is 34 years old. Boy, are they in for a shock! I am absolutely freaking thrilled to have Bobby Wagner on this team. Shades of London Flecther…
Frankie Luvu
This guy plays like he’s shot out of a cannon. It seems he may have been misused in Carolina’s defense. I’m counting on Luvu to have a Pro Bowl year playing alongside Bobby Wagner in Joe Whitt’s attacking defensive scheme.
Dante Fowler Jr
Yeah. Okay. Situational pass rusher that the Commanders keep listing on the depth chart as a linebacker. This could be interesting.
Mykal Walker
He should be better than David Mayo and Scoota Harris.
Dominique Hampton
Great athleticism, size and length. Not sure if he’ll play safety, linebacker or both. I look forward to seeing the rookie on the field in the regular season.
Cornerback (5)
Mike Sainristil
I’ve never heard a bad word about this player. Apparently he is possessed of a championship mentality and the ball skills to overcome his height and weight limitations. He is often described as a prime mover on Michigan’s national championship team, and some training camp observers have suggested that he may already be the best cornerback on the roster. He is the defensive counterpart to Ben Sinnott in terms of my excitement for this season and expectations for a great career.
Benjamin St-Juste
He just always seems to be a penalty flag waiting to be thrown. I wish I had more confidence in him.
Emmanuel Forbes
I guess we’ll find out this season if coaching and scheme can make a difference.
Michael Davis
I think the front office saw Michael Davis as a one-for-one replacement for Kendall Fuller. I think he’s less than that. He didn’t do anything to impress me in the preseason. I hope that will change when the team starts game-planning. I’m still not clear if Davis is a starting CB or a backup.
Noah Igbinoghene
I think he made the roster because the team needs a backup nickel corner in case Sainristil gets nicked up. Igninoghene is a former first-round pick who has never really distinguished himself (in a good way) in the NFL. Here’s hoping that the light finally comes on for him.
Safety (6)
Quan Martin
Martin is looking like a very good draft pick — which isn’t something we get to say a lot about players selected by Ron Rivera. Back in March, I thought Martin was our starting nickel back. In May, I thought he was a backup nickel/safety. He now seems to have locked down the starting safety job opposite Jeremy Chinn. The role was his all along; it just took me a while to catch up.
Jeremy Chinn
This guy should have won defensive rookie of the year over Chase Young in 2020. He struggled in the three seasons that followed. Peters and Quinn preferred him to our “home grown” safety, Kamren Curl. I’m looking for a revitalized career here in Washington for Chinn.
Jeremy Reaves
Who can be a Washington fan and not love Jeremy Reaves?
Darrick Forrest
In March, I thought he would be a starting safety. By last week, I was wondering if he would make the roster. Forrest is a big hitter who should improve his skills under the coaching of Joe Whitt.
Percy Butler
I spent most of the offseason expecting Percy Butler to end up on the practice squad. I still think he’ll be primarily a special teams player, but it’s good to see a Rivera 4th round pick make the team. Again, I’m counting on Joe Whitt and the position coaches to develop the relatively young secondary.
Tyler Owens
There was a lot of buzz around Owens when he signed as an undrafted rookie in May. I largely dismissed it because there are always three or four undrafted rookies with a lot of buzz. Rarely do any of them amount to anything. In the case of Owens, the hype looks to be real. He impressed in camp and preseason, and, in my mind, earned his way to a spot on the depth chart ahead of Butler and Forrest.
Special Teams (3)
Kicker
Cade York
Yeah. He’s a kicker. I hope he brings an end to Washington’s seeming allergy to a committed relationship with the team’s placekicker.
Punter
Tress Way
The longest-tenured player on the team and one of its most popular. Outside of the charismatic Pat McAfee, I can’t remember a punter with such a strong connection to the fan base. He’s been our MVP for years. It seemed like Tress was struggling a bit last season, but I’m hoping that he returns to his “A” game this season and for many more to come.
Long Snapper
Tyler Ott
I haven’t heard anyone say a word about his long snapping abilities, which is as it should be. Last year’s Cheeseman drama is a thing of the past. Ott is a professional who should get the job done. With any luck, we’ll never think of him again.