-
John Keim, editor at ESPN
ASHBURN, Virginia – The Washington Commanders will open the 2024 NFL regular season on Sept. 8 at Raymond James Stadium against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Commanders’ new front office and coaching staff have swapped out their roster from last season, with about 55% of them — possibly more — being new additions. They’ve completely swapped out the quarterback and linebacker positions. But Washington will need to determine if it has two quality cornerbacks and has rebuilt the offensive line well enough as the season begins. The Commanders could look to trade some big-name draft picks from the previous roster, such as defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis.
By 4 p.m. ET Tuesday, the roster will be reduced to 53 players. Here’s a prediction for the Commanders:
QUARTERBACKS (3): Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota, Jeff Driskel
Washington has two quarterbacks who were selected second overall and won the Heisman Trophy. Daniels, who had a strong summer, is the 11th quarterback to start for the franchise since the start of 2019. With Mariota dealing with a groin issue and Driskel having a good summer, he is a strong candidate for the practice squad along with Sam Hartman.
RUNNING BACKS (3): Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols
Robinson will take on the brunt of the running game, while Ekeler will serve as a third-down back. But Robinson can also help as a pass catcher and Ekeler can help in the running game (he could also help as a kick returner). McNichols has been used a lot this preseason, in scrimmages and on special teams. Kazmeir Allen is one to keep an eye on – he’s only 5’8″ and 175 pounds, but coaches like his potential – especially if they think he can help as a kick returner.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Terry McLaurin, Dyami Brown, Luke McCaffrey, Olamide Zaccheaus, Jamison Crowder, Byron Pringle.
Washington lacks a strong second-stringer to McLaurin, so a team will fill that role. That was the case even before they traded Jahan Dotson to Philadelphia. Crowder and Pringle make it because of their return skills — punts and kickoffs, respectively. Martavis Bryant could still be tucked away on the practice squad to see if he develops; if nothing else, he’d be a great opponent to face in practice.
TIGHT ENDS (3): Zach Ertz, John Bates, Ben Sinnott
The roles are set: Ertz will be the primary pass catcher and Bates is an excellent blocker who can catch but isn’t a playmaker, while rookie Sinnott can hopefully do a little of both. They could keep a fourth, and if they do, undrafted free agent Colson Yankoff is the one to keep an eye on. Cole Turner has been too inconsistent at catching the ball this summer.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): Sam Cosmi, Andrew Wylie, Tyler Biadasz, Nick Allegretti, Brandon Coleman, Cornelius Lucas, Michael Deiter, Julian Good-Jones, Chris Paul
The Commanders will have new starters at center (Biadasz), left guard (Allegretti) and left tackle (whether it’s Lucas or Coleman, who was in the starting lineup before suffering a shoulder/pec injury in early August). Wylie needs a stronger year at right tackle. Washington’s line needs to protect Daniels.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (10): Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Dorance Armstrong, Clelin Ferrell, Dante Fowler Jr., Jer’Zhan Newton, John Ridgeway III, Jamin Davis, KJ Henry, Javontae Jean-Baptiste
Allen and Payne will start inside, with Armstrong and Ferrell on the outside. Coaches like how Davis, who played linebacker for his first three seasons, has developed at the end. Ridgeway narrowly gets the nod over Phidarian Mathis, who was drafted in the second round in 2022. Another player to keep an eye on: undrafted tackle Norell Pollard.
LINEBACKERS (5): Bobby Wagner, Frankie Luvu, Mykal Walker, Dominique Hampton, Jordan Magee
Wagner and Luvu should be a productive combination. Magee could miss the first game or two after undergoing meniscus surgery, so it’s possible they’ll keep another linebacker until he’s healthy — possibly the experienced Anthony Pittman. Hampton was drafted as a safety and can play both positions.
CORNERBACKS (6): Emmanuel Forbes Jr., Benjamin St-Juste, Mike Sainristil, Noah Igbinoghene, Mike Davis, Tariq Castro-Fields
Forbes and St-Juste will likely start on the outside, but both are coming off a rough season and have something to prove. Sainristil, a second-round rookie, will start on the inside. Another name to keep an eye on is undrafted rookie Chigozie Anusiem.
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS (5): Quan Martin, Jeremy Chinn, Percy Butler, Jeremy Reaves, Tyler Owens
If they take only five, they lose someone who can help another team. If they keep a sixth, Darrick Forrest would be added to the roster. If he’s one of the five to make it, Reaves could be in danger. Martin and Chinn will be the top safeties, with Butler the third. Owens, an undrafted rookie, has been a standout player in training camp.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3): Tress Way (P), Tyler Ott (LS), Cade York (K)
Washington just signed York, so he has the job — for now. However, York will have to prove he’s more consistent than he was as a rookie fourth-round pick in 2022 with Cleveland, when he made 24 of 32 field goals. Otherwise, Washington has been looking for its fourth kicker since June. Way and Ott are well established.
