Commanders 53-man roster projection after Dolphins loss: Key rookies snatch jobs as franchise enters new era
**Efe Obada is projected to start the year on PUP, which means he won't count toward the 53-man roster and will have to sit out the first four games of the year, at minimum. He will not be on this list, but is projected to make the team, so to speak.****Also, please note single asterisks […]
**Efe Obada is projected to start the year on PUP, which means he won't count toward the 53-man roster and will have to sit out the first four games of the year, at minimum. He will not be on this list, but is projected to make the team, so to speak.**
**Also, please note single asterisks (*) represent rookies and double asterisks (**) represent rookie undrafted free agents.**
Quarterback (3)
IN: Jayden Daniels*, Marcus Mariota, Jeff Driskel
OUT: Sam Hartman**, Trace McSorely
The skinny: There's typically not much reason to carry three quarterbacks on the active roster. Even the new emergency QB rule requires a team to carry a third QB on the 53, therefore, things aren't much different when building out the room. Regardless, Mariota's groin injury, along with Driskell's most recent performance against the Dolphins, is enough for the veteran signal-caller to make the team.
Running back (3)
IN: Austin Ekeler, Brian Robinson, Michael Wiley
OUT: Austin Jones, Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jeremy McNichols
The skinny: Brian Robinson has looked great during the preseason and Ekeler's role as primary third down back/change of pace back is already pretty clear, despite limited snaps. The battle for the RB3 job is coming down to Michael Wiley and veteran Jeremy McNichols. Wiley has a higher ceiling, but McNichols is battle-tested and has a lot more experience. In the end, I think the Commanders roll with the ceiling, especially since BRob and Ekeler will consume almost all of the carries.
Wide receiver (6)
IN: Terry McLaurin (X), Jahan Dotson (slot/Z), Luke McCaffrey* (slot), Olamide Zaccheaus, Dyami Brown, Jamison Crowder
OUT: Brycen Tremayne, Byron Pringle, Kazmeir Allen, Davion Davis, Martavis Bryant, Mitchell Tinsley, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint**
The skinny: Brycen Tremayne just barely misses the cut, but the Commanders should be able to stash him on the practice squad, at the end of the day. This room still has question marks all over it, outside Terry McLaurin, so there won't be any surprise if they add a guy or two after final cuts.
Tight end (3)
IN: Zach Ertz, Ben Sinnott*, John Bates
OUT: Cole Turner, Colson Yankoff**
The skinny: This room is chalk. The main question is how many tight ends the Commanders carry. Three should be the number, with Turner included as TE4 if the team decides to go that route, but I don't think they do.
Offensive line (10)
IN: Andrew Wylie (RT), Sam Cosmi (RG), Tyler Biadasz (C), Nick Allegretti (LG), Cornelius Lucas (LT), Brandon Coleman*, Michael Dieter, Chris Paul, Braeden Daniels, Trent Scott
OUT: Julian Good-Jones, J.C. Hassenauer, Ricky Stromberg, David Nwaogwugwu**, Armani Taylor-Prioleau
The skinny:
Defensive line (10)
IN: Clelin Ferrell (DE), Jonathan Allen (DT), Daron Payne (DT), Dorance Armstrong (DE), Jer'Zhan Newton*, Dante Fowler Jr., Jamin Davis, John Ridgeway III, Phidarian Mathis, Javonte Jean-Baptiste*
OUT: Jalen Harris, Andre Jones Jr., Benning Potoa'e, Taylor Stallworth, Norell Pollard**, K.J. Henry, Haggai Ndubuisi (IPP)
The skinny: Jamin Davis makes the cut! His strip-sack against the Dolphins shows he's making progress in his transition from linebacker to defensive end. Javonte Jean-Baptiste also has the motor and tenacity Quinn and co. are looking for, which gets him on the team, as well. Phidarian Mathis lives to see another day in a Commanders uniform because of Johnny Newton's ramp-up process, but his future is very uncertain once Newton is healthy.
Linebacker (4)
IN: Bobby Wagner (MLB), Frankie Luvu (WILL), Anthony Pittman, Jordan Magee*
OUT: Bo Bauer, Mykal Walker, Keandre Jones
The skinny: Will Jordan Magee's knee injury land him on IR to start the season? That's really the only question, here. If so, I could defintely see the team keeping Walker after a strong performance against the Dolphins. We still have time to see what happens with Magee, but it's interesting considering no updates have been provided. They may be waiting it out to see the severity before making a decision. It's not as serious an injury, but think of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Ryan Jensen situation a few years ago where they had to wait for swelling to subside before getting an exact evaluation on the injury. Something in that regard, could be what's happening, here.
Cornerback (6)
IN: Emmanuel Forbes (CB), Benjamin St-Juste (CB), Michael Davis (CB), Mike Sainristil* (NB), Noah Igbinoghene, Chigozie Anusiem**
OUT: Tariq Castro-Fields, Nick Whiteside II, James Pierre, Kyu Blu Kelly, A.J. Woods
The skinny: Man, wanna talk about a room that could look very different before the season starts? That's the Commanders' cornerbacks, who have looked very shaky, so far. Outside Mike Sainristil, of course. There is plenty of talent, but said talent is far from coming together, with no one on the perimeter standing out, so far. Washington is praying someone takes a big step during this final week.
Safety (5)
IN: Quan Martin (FS), Jeremy Chinn (SS), Jeremy Reaves, Dominique Hampton*, Tyler Owens**
OUT: Darrick Forrest, Percy Butler, Ben Nikkel**
The skinny: The safety room is in a very good spot, both starting- and depth-wise. Quan Martin and Jeremy Chinn should be an effective pairing and then both Dominique Hampton and Tyler Owens have flashed a ton of promise over the offseason. Lastly, it's veteran and All-Pro special-teamer Jeremy Reaves rounding out the group.
Specialists (3)
IN: Riley Patterson (K), Tress Way (P), Tyler Ott (LS)
PR: Jamison Crowder
KR: Noah Igbinoghene
OUT: N/A
The skinny: Patterson's name is the shakiest on here after a bad outing against the Dolphins. It sounds like the Commanders are going to ride it out with him over this last week, so who knows what happens come final cuts. But, right now, he's on the roster simply because Washington needs a placekicker.
Final Word
Right now, every single position group, except running back and the specialists, have at least one rookie either winning a starting job or earning some kind of substantial depth role. While that's the ultimate sign of a rebuild (even if Quinn calls it a "recalibration"), it's also really exciting entering the season. There's a lot of promise and everyone is entering on ground zero, meaning, they're starting at the same level and growing together.
Granted, that is going to lead to quite a few growing pains over the course of the season, but this coaching staff is experienced and varied enough to where they should be able to develop guys and keep the arrow pointing up, throughout.
Either way, this last game should give us a lot of the answers we need as the Commanders make their final tweaks ahead of the 2024 season.
