4 winners (and 3 losers) from Commanders' difficult 53-man roster cut-down

It's always a stage of the NFL offseason that general managers, coaches, and players dread. The Washington Commanders were no different as they trimmed their roster from 90 to the required 53 before the deadline.

This came after a strenuous summer of OTAs, mandatory minicamp, training camp, and preseason contests. Adam Peters and Dan Quinn had some easy choices to make, but there were also some difficult conversations that no doubt left hopefuls feeling aggrieved.

The journey wasn't over for those who made the practice squad. That's one consolation at an uncertain time, but Peters did what he believed was right for the franchise as they look to put the pieces in place for another deep postseason run in 2025.

The Commanders brought a few surprises through, which was deserved for their exceptional commitment. Peters could make more changes if the right opportunities present themselves. However, there also seems to be a level of comfort with the current dynamic with Week 1 against the New York Giants on the immediate horizon.

It'll be interesting to see if the choices bear fruit. Until then, here are four winners and three losers from the Commanders' 53-man roster cut-down.

Winners and losers from Commanders' 53-man roster cut-down

Winner No. 1

Ale Kaho - Commanders LB

While the Washington Commanders spent a sixth-round selection on Kain Medrano, it was his teammate at UCLA who plays the same position that emerged as one of the summer's most heart-warming stories. And for Ale Kaho, a strong preseason was enough to find his name on the 53-man roster.

Kaho's physicality and energy immediately caught the eye. The athletic second-level presence looks like he belongs, adapting well to the schematic concepts and capitalizing on every opportunity that came his way to book his place on the squad.

Shining in training camp is one thing. Doing so in a typical game-day setting is far more telling. Kaho managed to accomplish this feat during Washington's warmup slate, displaying explosiveness on the defensive rotation and dynamic special-teams prowess for good measure.

Like Medrano, Kaho had the benefit of familiarity. He worked with linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. on the Bruins, which smoothed his transition. Whether this comes with any activations in the regular season remains to be seen, but forcing his way onto the team was the absolute ceiling before Washington's offseason program began.

Settling is not an option, but Kaho can look back on his accomplishments with pride.

Loser No. 1

Kazmeir Allen - RB/KR

Getting noticed in a crowded running back room was a difficult task for those further down the pecking order. For Kazmeir Allen, his fortunes were largely determined by whether he could stand out in the kick return game in pursuit of a surprising place on the squad.

Allen joined the Commanders as an undrafted free agent in 2023. Many thought his versatility and elusiveness could make an impact, but he's been nothing more than a practice squad piece over the last two seasons.

This represented the last chance saloon for the UCLA product in Washington. Allen flashed during training camp practices, but the consistency wasn't where it needed to be when opportunities arrived in the preseason. That ultimately sealed his fate.

The fact that Washington didn't even bring Allen back onto the practice squad was telling. It seems to be over for the player in Washington. Whether this is the end of his NFL journey entirely remains to be seen.

Winner No. 2

Colson Yankoff - Commanders TE

Colson Yankoff made the 53-man roster last summer, which was a remarkable accomplishment for the undrafted free agent out of UCLA. He wasn't activated many times on game days, so the tight end had to prove himself all over again this time around.

Some fans thought Yankoff would fall victim to the numbers game. The Commanders took four tight ends onto the roster last season, but the added wide receiver strength could have easily resulted in three options heading into the 2025 campaign.

Yankoff left no doubt regarding his status. He developed his route running and became a more dependable pass-catcher. His big gain in Washington's final preseason outing was enough to confirm his spot. And now, the second-year pro will have his sights set on unseating 2024 second-round pick Ben Sinnott from the No. 3 spot behind Zach Ertz and John Bates.

Looking at how the pendulum is swinging, there's a greater chance of that than ever before.

Loser No. 2

Clelin Ferrell - DE

It was an uneventful first season in Washington for defensive end Clelin Ferrell. The No. 4 overall selection got the chance to start after arriving from the San Francisco 49ers in free agency. Aside from a few moments of promise, his performance levels weren't up to the required standard.

Ferrell got a reprieve from the Commanders this offseason, signing another one-year deal. This came with no guarantees whatsoever, so a huge effort was needed from the Clemson product in his quest to turn the tide.

It didn't materialize. Ferrell got lost in the shuffle as others came to the fore. He was outperformed by the likes of Deatrich Wise Jr., Jacob Martin, and even seventh-round pick Javontae Jean-Baptiste. That left the Commanders with a relatively easy decision to cut him loose.

Ferrell didn't even make the practice squad, which was a damning indictment of how things unfolded for the veteran.

Winner No. 3

Chris Paul - Commanders OL

There aren't many draft picks made by Ron Rivera who have made it to the end of their rookie deals. One wouldn't have given Chris Paul much chance to turn the tide, but a rousing effort from the offensive lineman this summer saw his roster hopes become a reality once again.

Paul made the squad last season but was used sparingly. The Tulsa product wasn't cut this offseason, which was a big confidence boost at a time when hope was diminishing. This added urgency served him well, standing out as a core depth piece along the protection to comfortably secure his spot.

Whether Paul gets a run in the starting lineup at any stage is debatable. Sam Cosmi will miss the first four games, which is a smart move as he recovers from a torn ACL. All it'll take is another injury or underperformance from others to thrust him into the spotlight.

Paul deserves tremendous credit for fighting back in the face of adversity. That didn't go unnoticed by those in power when push came to shove.

Loser No. 3

Cole Turner - TE

As previously mentioned, the Commanders' competition for places was fierce in the tight end room. Very few (if any) places on the 53-man roster were available, which isn't a bad spot for general manager Adam Peters to be in before such a high-stakes campaign for all involved.

Zach Ertz and John Bates are firmly cemented as the team's starting options. One is a Pro Bowl pass-catcher, and the other is emerging as one of the league's most productive blocking specialists. The Commanders weren't going to give up on Ben Sinnott yet, and we've already discussed how Colson Yankoff left no doubt regarding his roster status.

That made it extremely difficult for others. The best Cole Tuner could probably hope for was a place on the practice squad. But the surprising emergence of Lawrence Cager quickly made him a much more viable option.

Ron Rivera thought he found a gem with Turner in the 2022 NFL Draft. Not for the first time, he was wrong.

Winner No. 4

Chris Rodriguez Jr. - Commanders RB

Washington's running back dynamic was easily the most fascinating. Most thought that the Commanders would move forward with Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler as their starting running back tandem. But a seismic shift occurred pretty quickly as training camp progressed.

All the hype centered on seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and rightfully so. The Commanders traded Robinson to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2026 sixth-round selection, which sent the first-year pro's stock through the roof. However, he might not be the biggest beneficiary when it's all said and done.

That could be Chris Rodriguez Jr. The sixth-round pick out of Kentucky forced the issue through purposeful running, improved contact balance, and more explosive plays than Robinson could provide. He remains a physical runner, but his progression when it comes to exploiting gaps and making big gains tipped the scales in his favor.

Dan Quinn stated that Rodriguez will be in line to fill the void left by Robinson initially. But getting complacent is not an option with Croskey-Merritt around.

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