5 Commanders players under pressure to shine early at training camp

We are just a few short days away from the Washington Commanders coming together once again for the most intense stage of preparations for the 2025 campaign. And there is immense pressure on everyone involved.

The Commanders went into last summer with quiet optimism. There was a new front office, a new coaching staff, and a roster that had been completely gutted for the better by general manager Adam Peters. What followed was a mesmerizing campaign beyond any fan's wildest dreams, but things are different this time around.

Head coach Dan Quinn's squad is in win-now mode with a superstar quarterback on a rookie deal. They are among the Super Bowl favorites after another aggressive offseason. They'll also have a bigger target on their back after reaching the NFC Championship game in 2024.

There's nothing to suggest the Commanders cannot go deep into the postseason again, but Quinn needs more from everybody. Revelling in last season's accomplishments is only going to end one way. Fortunately, this is a strong-willed group looking ahead at the next challenge and nothing more.

The foundations will be laid at training camp. And here are five Commanders players under pressure to shine early.

Commanders players under pressure to shine early at training camp

Will Harris - Commanders S

Adam Peters came out of his second recruitment period with enormous credit once again. However, there was one contentious decision that left Washington Commanders fans feeling perplexed.

The Commanders got some outstanding production from Jeremy Chinn last season. He was a revelation on the back end of Joe Whitt Jr.'s defense, impacting proceedings at all three levels en route to galvanizing his career after things fizzled out with the Carolina Panthers. This wasn't enough for a long-term commitment from Washington.

Peters didn't think Chinn was worth what the Las Vegas Raiders offered in free agency. The Commanders replaced the former second-round pick with Will Harris, who is dependable enough without boasting the same instinctive explosiveness.

Harris was solid for the New Orleans Saints last season. He showed weakness in coverage but flashed against the run. He missed four games through injury and was primarily a backup before that with the Detroit Lions, so fans are right to be a little skeptical.

The Boston College product will get the first chance to start opposite potential breakout star Quan Martin. But with the likes of Tyler Owens, Jeremy Reaves, and Percy Butler all shining over Washington's offseason program, the margin for error is razor-thin.

Dominique Hampton - Commanders S/LB

Adam Peters' first draft class was a big success. However, there was one rookie who became an innocent bystander as the Washington Commanders propelled themselves to levels not seen for decades.

Dominique Hampton was a fifth-round safety from the Washington Huskies who played a key role in their trip to the college football national championship game in 2023. His transition was difficult, which forced the Commanders to switch him from the back end to the linebacking corps to make better use of his physical attributes.

Hampton made the 53-man roster, but he was a healthy scratch for most of the campaign. That means the player remains an unknown quantity entering Year 2, so it'll be fascinating to see what the Commanders have planned for him at training camp.

Washington has high hopes for Jordan Magee. They also drafted Kain Medrano this year, who came highly recommended out of UCLA and has an already established relationship with linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. That makes establishing himself even more challenging for Hampton, who's entering a sink-or-swim scenario this summer.

Hampton must impose himself immediately. If he starts slow and gets left behind by Magee and Medrano, one couldn't dismiss the possibility of the versatile defender being among the surprising cut candidates before Week 1.

Michael Gallup - Commanders WR

The Commanders allowed Michael Gallup to get back into the NFL this offseason. He spent a year away from the game due to retirement, but the wide receiver seems refocused and motivated to remind the world why he was considered a highly productive pass-catcher once upon a time.

Gallup knows Dan Quinn well from their time together on the Dallas Cowboys. He made an impressive start to life in Washington over early workouts, but a hamstring strain prevented him from building on this momentum at mandatory minicamp.

This brought concern. Gallup's injury problems before retirement were well documented, and his 1,000-yard receiving season in 2019 is a distant memory. It also happens to be a crowded wide receiver room with very few open spots.

Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel Sr., Luke McCaffrey, Noah Brown, and rookie fourth-rounder Jaylin Lane will all make the squad. That leaves one spot, or two if the Commanders decide to take through seven receivers. With players like K.J. Osborn, Ja'Corey Brookes, and Chris Moore also fancying their chances, it raises the stakes for Gallup in no uncertain terms.

Avoiding any further injury complications is critical. If Gallup can do that and force the issue early at training camp, he'll have a shot to make it.

Jacob Martin - Commanders DE/OLB

You don't need to be a nuclear physicist to figure out the one stumbling block that could hold the Washington Commanders back in 2025. That, of course, is the perceived lack of explosive pass-rushers at the team's disposal.

Adam Peters seemed content enough with what he had, which bemused most fans. A couple of veterans came into the ranks in free agency. Still, the general manager ignored what was perceived as an exceptional group of edge rushers emerging from the college ranks this spring.

It's a make-or-break scenario that could legitimately go either way. Peters still has cash to find another experienced presence if the situation dictates. He's also willing to give those currently on the books a shot over the opening stages of training camp before taking further action.

Jacob Martin is one of the new arrivals under pressure to make an immediate impact. He can play at the defensive end spot or as a stand-up edge rusher, which makes him a potential replacement for Dante Fowler Jr. after he bolted in free agency for the Dallas Cowboys. However, that's asking a lot from someone who's gained just 21 career sacks in seven years.

In contrast, Fowler secured 10.5 last season alone. Martin has to make a good first impression to cement his status as a core rotational piece.

Ben Sinnott - Commanders TE

The Commanders rightfully held firm with their tight end options this offseason. However, the dynamic must alter slightly to improve the team's long-term outlook beyond 2025.

This all centers on second-year pro Ben Sinnott. Last year's No. 53 overall selection was brought along gradually initially. The Commanders had a rejuvenated Zach Ertz as the primary pass-catcher and John Bates as the blocking specialist, so the coaching staff had the luxury of making the rookie a development project in Year 1 of his professional career.

Sinnott flashed as a blocker and a pass-catcher when limited involvement came his way. There was nothing to suggest he could not become a bigger part of the team's offensive strategy, and the early signs this offseason suggest improvements have been made away from the franchise.

Head coach Dan Quinn singled out Sinnott for special praise, which is encouraging. He'll still be a rotational piece next season, but if he shows enough and takes advantage of opportunities when they arise, the former Kansas State star could start eating into Ertz's targets.

That represents the best-case scenario for the Commanders, especially considering this could be Ertz's final campaign before retirement. The ball is in Sinnott's court, so delivering early at training camp is crucial.

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