6 Commanders breakout stars the NFL isn’t ready for in 2025

We have finally arrived at a regular-season game week. And there is a lot at stake for the Washington Commanders as they look to build on their phenomenal 2024 campaign.

Reaching the NFC Championship game in Year 1 of head coach Dan Quinn's tenure was a remarkable accomplishment. It was a genuine Cinderella story that captivated the imagination of fans and also made the league sit up and take notice of this perennial struggler once again.

The Commanders had positive national headlines for the first time in years. There was a fresh injection of energy across the franchise, and it left fans hoping this was just the start of a prosperous new era for the club.

Maintaining or enhancing these new standards is the difficult part. The Commanders have made some aggressive moves this offseason. But if Quinn wants his squad to go on another deep postseason run in 2025, he needs some younger players to enhance their contributions.

With this in mind, here are six Commanders breakout stars that the league isn't ready for in 2025.

Commanders breakout stars the NFL isn’t ready for in 2025

Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Chris Rodriguez Jr.

We'll put Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Chris Rodriguez Jr. together, as the running back duo has the same opportunity in front of them this season. With the Washington Commanders trading former starting running back Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers, one can expect to see this pairing come to the fore alongside veteran Austin Ekeler.

This will probably be a committee approach. The Commanders will rely heavily on Ekeler's experience over the early stages of the campaign. Rodriguez will be the short-yardage and red-zone back, based on Quinn's comments over the preseason. Croskey-Merritt could be the change-of-pace option after the seventh-round rookie gained significant momentum over the summer.

It's a testament to Rodriguez and Croskey-Merritt's development that the Commanders felt comfortable enough trading Robinson, who'd accumulated 365 carries over the last two seasons. His inability to create explosive plays was the deciding factor, which is something Kliff Kingsbury wants to improve in pursuit of becoming a more balanced offensive unit.

Tempering expectations is becoming difficult. There might be some rough times, especially for Croskey-Merritt, during his transition to a regular-season setting. But the Commanders have placed a substantial amount of faith in the backfield tandem to potentially become a long-term punch for the team to depend upon.

If they can meet loftier goals, that's going to help considerably.

Brandon Coleman - Commanders OL

When the Washington Commanders sealed a bombshell trade for five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil, it represented a major statement of intent. Adam Peters meant business, and the general manager was going to do everything in his power to surround quarterback sensation Jayden Daniels with the pieces needed to excel further.

This meant a position switch for Brandon Coleman. The No. 67 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft manned the blindside as a rookie. He performed well but experienced some growing pains as expected. There is no doubt that Tunsil represents a huge upgrade, leaving the TCU product switching to the interior.

Coleman is the starter at left guard. He's transitioned smoothly this offseason, although an injury over training camp wasn't ideal. Thankfully for the Commanders, he returned to practice recently. The fact that he wanted to gain game-day reps in Washington's final preseason contest against the Baltimore Ravens spoke volumes.

All signs are pointing up for Coleman. His impressive physical attributes look much better suited to the guard spot. Having the benefit of Tunsil alongside him on the edge is a massive security blanket to call upon. If he gets a clear run of luck on the health front, a potential Pro Bowl-caliber campaign might be in the offing.

Trey Amos - Commanders CB

The Commanders believed immediately that they had a steal on their hands with Trey Amos. Adam Peters considered taking the cornerback at No. 29 overall before offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. was available. When he was still sitting there at No. 61 overall, it represented a no-brainer.

Amos imposed himself immediately. He felt slighted after a reported back issue during his pre-draft medical testing caused his stock to tumble. That's provided the motivation needed to hit the ground running and quickly establish himself as an important part of the team's plans in 2025.

It didn't take long for Amos to secure a starting spot on the boundary opposite four-time Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore. He's a physical presence in press coverage. He's a willing contributor against the run, and he slotted into Joe Whitt Jr.'s schematic concepts instantly. There are very few flaws to his game, so hopes are high that the Ole Miss product can bring this through into a competitive setting.

Rookie cornerbacks tend to experience some growing pains. The Commanders have seen that first-hand with the likes of Emmanuel Forbes Jr. and Benjamin St-Juste in recent seasons. Even so, Amos looks more than capable of asserting his dominance early on.

Quan Martin - Commanders S

The Washington Commanders' secondary could become a real strength if everyone stays healthy in 2025. But for this scenario to become a reality, standout safety Quan Martin must take another leap forward into breakout territory.

Martin brought his game on encouragingly in the second year of his professional career. Moving him to the safety spot where he starred in college was a masterstroke by head coach Dan Quinn. The results were immediate, and his backend partnership with Jeremy Chinn provided a level of dynamism that was sorely lacking.

Chinn is no longer around after the Commanders let him walk in favor of the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. This propelled Martin into the alpha role, and he'll have a new starting partner after Washington signed Will Harris.

There is an enormous amount at stake for Martin this season. Not many of Ron Rivera's draft picks have made it through their rookie deals. If the defensive back performs as expected, he could get a lucrative new deal well ahead of time next spring.

That is the incentive spurring Martin on. The Commanders want to get the likes of Jeremy Reaves and Tyler Owens more involved in the rotation, but the safety unit will only go as far as the Illinois product takes it.

Mike Sainristil - Commanders CB

One could argue that Mike Sainristil broke out as a rookie. But because quarterback Jayden Daniels got the lion's share of headlines, the cornerback's contribution went unnoticed around the league in comparison.

Everyone associated with the Commanders is aware of the pivotal role Sainristil plays in the team's plans. The 2024 second-round pick lived up to his billing and more, providing exceptional production from the nickel role early on before switching to the boundary when others started to underperform.

Many wondered if Sainristil would be able to cope with these responsibilities. The Michigan product excelled, never backing down from a challenge and always getting around the action.

The Commanders have Marshon Lattimore back at full health this offseason, which could be a game-changer. They also moved Trey Amos into the starting outside role, which leaves Sainristil switching back into the slot once again.

This is where his skills are best suited. Sainristil is fast, explosive, and instinctive. He might be a little undersized, but he punches well above his weight on every snap. He's got the scope to be Washington's next great defensive leader, which could happen as soon as this season if the required improvements arrive.

The sky is the limit for Sainristil, who's well on his way to becoming a franchise cornerstone.

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