Commanders rookie on the rise closing in on NFL breakthrough

When he was setting out on his college journey four years ago, Ja’Corey Brooks appeared to be a can’t-miss future NFL star. It's been a rollercoaster ride since, but his dream of making the Washington Commanders' roster is now within touching distance.

Concerns about his slender frame and a worrisome number of drops meant Brooks did not hear his name called in the 2025 NFL Draft. He signed with the Commanders as an undrafted free agent and hasn't looked back.

At the time, the Commanders' wide receiver room appeared to be well stocked. Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel Sr. were at the top. Recent draftees Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane figured into the team’s plans. Several veterans — Noah Brown, K.J. Osborn, and Chris Moore — made for a crowded room.

Ja'Corey Brooks is in a strong position to make Commanders 53-man roster

Michael Gallup would soon join that group. It appeared as if the best-case scenario for Brooks would be snagging a spot on the Commanders’ practice Squad.

But Brooks began making plays over the summer, forcing himself up the depth chart. The things he did well — running crisp routes, tracking deep throws, and fighting for contested catches — were all apparent. And the things he needed to improve on, such as displaying enough speed to create separation and cutting down on the drops, also started to look very good.

Most importantly, he remained healthy.

With McLaurin’s holdout and Brown missing time through injury, th e receivers competing for backup roles got longer looks. Brooks made the most of it. He has essentially played a flawless preseason, looking like the Commanders' best receiver during the first two games.

While wideouts who once seemed ahead of him, like McCaffrey and Gallup, have underperformed, Brooks has done everything asked of him. As he heads into the Commanders' final preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, he could be one more strong showing away from securing a spot on Washington’s 53-man roster.

Brooks has to accomplish several things versus the Ravens to put himself in the best position. The wideout essentially needs to keep doing what he has in the first two contests. Get open and make catches.

One of the reasons he fell out of the draft was a relatively slow 4.65-second 40-yard dash time at Louisville’s Pro Day. That didn’t make sense to a lot of analysts. Brooks is not an elite burner, but he is fast. Certainly faster than 4.65.

He has looked fast on the field so far, and that is crucial. It helps that Brooks has mostly been running against lower-level defenders, but he can’t control that. If he is getting in and out of cuts quickly and creating separation, it bodes well for him. And obviously, he must continue to catch when targets arrive.

The other thing that he may need to show to punch his ticket is the ability to make plays on special teams. Kick coverage could be what ultimately distinguishes him from some of those older receivers who remain in contention for a spot. Seeing Brooks involved in a couple of special teams plays would help his cause.

Position battles are going on across the entire roster. Two veteran offensive linemen were just signed, which suggests those on the bubble have an awful lot at stake. Washington's defensive line and secondary also have hard-fought contests raging over a few final spots.

Brooks may have traveled farther up the depth chart at his position than any of those other contenders. Washington’s top three wide receivers are all 29 years old. Adam Peters knows he needs to add youth, and the unheralded rookie may be one more strong game away from realizing a dream.

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