5 Commanders walking a fine line after aggressive offseason overhaul

The Washington Commanders weren't going to sit on their hands this offseason. Reaching the NFC Championship game in Year 1 under the new regime was a magnificent achievement. But nobody is getting complacent or thinking that the job is done.

There was still work to do. Gaining back respect was the first objective. Ensuring this becomes one step on their quest for perennial contention is a different, and far more difficult, challenge.

Adam Peters saw the opportunity awaiting the Commanders. The general manager acted with conviction to get some blue-chip players into the franchise. Valuable contributors were given new deals. Letting Jeremy Chinn walk in free agency was arguably the only contentious issue, but the roster looks in better shape aside from a couple of potential problems.

That's increased competition for places. Anyone not fully buying in or still reveling in last season's success won't last long. Fortunately for the Commanders, head coach Dan Quinn and his accomplished staff, together with some supreme locker room leaders, should keep complications to a minimum.

The raised intensity and heightened expectations also make this a precarious situation for many. With this in mind, here are five Commanders players walking a fine line after Peters' aggressive offseason overhaul.

Commanders players walking a fine line after aggressive offseason overhaul

Noah Brown - Commanders WR

The last thing anybody associated with the Washington Commanders wanted to see was wide receiver Noah Brown getting carted off the practice field at mandatory minicamp. Reports suggest the undisclosed complication isn't serious, which would be a huge relief after the pass-catcher's health issue during the previous campaign.

Brown suffered a serious internal injury against the Tennessee Titans that required kidney surgery. The Commanders gave him a new one-year deal in the hope that these problems would go away. At the same time, they also made moves to provide better coping mechanisms if the same bad fortune arrived.

The Commanders traded for Deebo Samuel Sr. They drafted Jaylin Lane. Players like Luke McCaffrey and Chris Moore demonstrated immense improvements over Washington's offseason program. K.J. Osborn and Michael Gallup are looking to galvanize their careers. The options are plentiful in the wideout group, so Brown must leave no doubt when the regular season gets here.

There's no doubt Brown will make the roster, and he'll have an important role initially. However, the margin for error has decreased significantly.

The Commanders have more than enough options to cope if Brown struggles to find form or gets injured. That throws down the gauntlet to the former seventh-round pick and others heading into 2025.

Andrew Wylie - Commanders OL

The Washington Commanders moved swiftly and with conviction to improve the protection in front of quarterback Jayden Daniels this offseason. Adam Peters spared no expense, trading for five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil and using the No. 29 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft on Josh Conerly Jr.

This could be a prolific bookend tandem for Daniels to depend upon. Brandon Coleman is going inside to the left guard spot, with Nick Alegretti moving to the right-hand side until Sam Cosmi is ready to return. Tyler Biadasz is the mainstay at Washington's center position, which leaves Andrew Wylie as the odd man out.

Wylie spent the last two seasons as the team's starting right tackle with moderate success. He could still begin the season on the edge if Conerly needs extra time to develop. Looking at the former Oregon star's early integration, that seems unlikely.

That leaves Wylie with two options in pursuit of staying relevant. He could potentially unseat Allegretti at right guard and fill the void as Cosmi recovers from a torn ACL. He could also replace Cornelius Lucas as Washington's swing tackle option after he departed for the Cleveland Browns in free agency.

Either way, the 2025 campaign will probably be Wylie's last in Washington, regardless of how things go.

Jalyn Holmes - Commanders DL

The Commanders raised competition for places almost everywhere this offseason. There's no better example than the defensive front, which will be a fascinating dynamic for fans to monitor when training camp begins.

Washington released Pro Bowl lineman Jonathan Allen, which was the right thing to do. He was an undisputed alpha, so others will now get the chance to impose themselves as potential long-term leaders moving forward. Javon Kinlaw and Deatrich Wise Jr. bring experience, but they represent gambles that could go either way.

It's not much clearer further down the depth chart right now. Most of those who logged reps last season got new deals. Jalyn Holmes was one of them, but it didn't come with any guarantees about making the 53-man roster again.

Holmes flashed promise when called upon last season. He is versatile enough to play anywhere along the defensive front, and the scheme familiarity developed in 2024 should serve him well. However, his situation remains extremely precarious.

The Commanders will reward those who prove their worth. They've wiped the slate clean, and the best performers will go through. That keeps urgency high and should enhance overall standards. For Holmes, this is about showing enough growth to get another reprieve when the time comes.

Marshon Lattimore - Commanders CB

The early signs are immensely positive around Marshon Lattimore this offseason. Things didn't go the cornerback's way following his trade to the Washington Commanders. Even so, there's a growing sense he can make a much bigger impact in 2025 after finally recovering from a frustrating hamstring issue.

Lattimore never felt right. He tried valiantly to help the Commanders, but the once-prolific shutdown presence was a shell of his typical self. Speculation about his future quickly emerged once the campaign concluded. However, general manager Adam Peters wasn't going to throw in the towel.

The former first-round pick out of Ohio State turned up at Washington's mandatory minicamp looking like a different player. Lattimore was healthy, explosive, and agile. He wasn't any of those things over the second half of 2024 and into the playoffs.

There's also a steely determination within the player to repay the faith shown in him by the Commanders. Lattimore knows the stakes have been raised, and he's striving to make a bigger impact on proceedings. He's got the talent to achieve this objective, but Washington formed contingency plans in case he cannot return to his Pro Bowl-caliber production.

The Commanders re-signed Noah Igbinoghene. They acquired Jonathan Jones in free agency and spent the No. 61 overall pick on Trey Amos. Lattimore remains the top guy. That won't be for much longer if the performance levels don't improve.

Austin Ekeler - Commanders RB

The Commanders seem confident that the running backs can raise consistency with a more productive offensive line in front of them. Adam Peters added seventh-round pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt, but those who gained significant responsibilities last season are getting another shot this time around.

It's a big gamble, but one that could pay off handsomely.

Austin Ekeler is under more scrutiny than most. The veteran joined the Commanders last spring after a prolific stint with the Los Angeles Chargers. He was primarily deployed in pass-catching situations while also earning second-team All-Pro honors as a kick returner. Hopefully, the same trend will continue in the final year of his deal.

However, there are concerns. Ekeler suffered major concussion issues last season. He's also on the wrong side of 30 years old, which is ancient by running-back standards these days. The Commanders will monitor his production closely. If things start to tail off, don't be surprised if Croskey-Merritt starts eating into his reps.

Keeping Ekeler fresh is key. The Commanders could take him off kick return duties with Luke McCaffrey and rookie Jaylin Lane capable of carrying the burden. That'll allow the former Western Colorado standout to focus on his offensive duties and decrease the risk of more concussion issues arising.

That would be catastrophic.

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