7 Commanders players who must generate early buzz at 2024 camp

Football is back. Veterans report today (Tuesday) for training camp. Rookies have been in the facility for a few days. Practices are imminent and Washington Commanders fans are expectant after one of the most dramatic offseasons in franchise history.

Adam Peters laid the foundations by turning over almost half the roster. Dan Quinn and his coaching staff must mold this unit into a cohesive, competitive outfit before their regular season opener. It's a tough challenge, but the initial signs couldn't be more positive.

Players have a lot to prove. They are fighting for every starting position, for every depth spot, and for every practice squad place. Getting off to a positive start can provide the springboard to better individual and collective fortunes when the season begins.

With this in mind, here are seven Commanders players who must generate early buzz at 2024 camp.

Cornelius Lucas - Commanders OT

The Washington Commanders seem content with what they have at the offensive tackle positions. That's not an opinion shared by most fans, so alleviating concerns over camp is the biggest priority above all else for the team's edge protectors.

Last year's veteran free-agent signing Andrew Wylie is locked in on the right-hand side. It seems like an open competition on the left with three players in with a shout at becoming the team's Week 1 starter at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Trent Scott is the outsider based on his previous performance levels. Third-round pick Brandon Coleman is the young upstart looking for immediate involvement. But it appears as if Cornelius Lucas might be the favorite heading into camp.

Lucas has been a swing tackle more often than not since joining the Commanders. He was one of a few to get extensions from general manager Adam Peters this offseason. That's a big confidence boost, but cementing his status early in camp is imperative.

This could be enough to see him earn a starting berth. However, this will also depend on Coleman's critical early development.

Phidarian Mathis - Commanders DL

The previous draft status of players means absolutely nothing under new general manager Adam Peters. He's got no emotional attachment to those brought in by the previous regime. Considering how little he thought of Ron Rivera's roster construction, it's enough to put almost everyone on edge.

Phidarian Mathis should be feeling the heat more than most. The interior defensive lineman endured a rough start to his NFL career thanks to a series of frustrating injuries. There wasn't much to shout about when he did get reps last season, so a monumental effort is needed when camp commences.

The Washington Commanders weren't going to hang around on the off chance Mathis put everything together. Peters got a stroke of good luck when Johnny Newton fell into their laps at No. 36 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. He's starting the season on the active/non-football injury list, but expect him to make a telling contribution once he receives medical clearance.

This might reduce Mathis' role further. He's got to start well at camp, especially given the former Alabama star could be in a fight with John Ridgeway III for the fourth defensive tackle spot.

Cole Turner - Commanders TE

There is no margin for error with those further down the tight end pecking order over camp. Zach Ertz and Ben Sinnott joined via free agency and the draft during the offseason. This makes life difficult for anyone else looking for extended involvement.

Much will depend on how many tight ends the Commanders take through onto their 53-man roster. It looks like a straight fight between four players for one or two spots. How they fare over camp and the preseason will go a long way to determining their fortunes.

If there was ever a time for Cole Turner to break out, it's now. Many thought this was possible following a superb summer in 2023. Ron Rivera didn't trust the former fifth-round selection enough and he became almost an innocent bystander as another season fell by the wayside.

Turner must make his presence felt early and often over camp. Unseating Sinnott and Ertz from their respective roles seems unlikely. But considering the Kansas State product's blocking ability, a situation could emerge where John Bates is deemed surplus to requirements in favor of another pass-catching option.

That would be a shock, but stranger things have happened.

Olamide Zaccheaus - Commanders WR

The wide receiver dynamic is a fascinating one heading into camp. A couple of new faces have freshened things up. Most who were around under the previous coaching regime are getting another opportunity to establish themselves. Everyone aside from Pro Bowl pass-catcher Terry McLaurin has questions to answer.

Chances are there for those who catch the eye. The Washington Commanders are making each player earn the right for prominent involvement. That places Olamide Zaccheaus firmly under the microscope.

Zaccheaus joined from the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency after failing to establish himself on Washington's fierce division rival. He's worked with Dan Quinn before from their time together on the Atlanta Falcons. The wideout carved out a decent role for himself without ever reaching lofty heights throughout his career. The Commanders will be looking for something similar from the player within Kliff Kingsbury's schematic concepts.

This could go either way for Zaccheaus. His elusiveness and ability to create separation quickly should help. A few noteworthy catches during the early exchanges of camp could provide the momentum needed for a decent role in 2024.

Benjamin St-Juste - Commanders CB

Benjamin St-Juste is heading into his last chance saloon with the Commanders. There were moments of quality from the athletic cornerback in 2023, but it was nowhere near the consistency expected. That leaves his long-term aspirations hanging in the balance entering the upcoming campaign.

St-Juste has the size, physical profile, and length head coach Dan Quinn normally looks for in his cornerbacks. The former third-round selection could benefit greatly from improved coaching, but imposing himself as the legitimate No. 1 option is imperative over Washington's upcoming training camp.

The Minnesota product got burned for too many big plays last time around. St-Juste conceded 63.2 percent of targets thrown in his direction for 769 receiving yards in 2023. Not having any consistent pressure was a tough challenge for the secondary to overcome. That doesn't detract from the need for these numbers to improve.

Washington is counting heavily on St-Juste next season. It's also a contract year for the defensive back, so the stakes couldn't be higher in Year 4 of his professional career.

Daron Payne - Commanders DT

Daron Payne reverted to type last season. The defensive tackle's exceptional campaign in 2022 was enough for those in power at the time to hand him a lucrative contract extension. This was swiftly followed by underwhelming production from a player capable of so much more.

Payne wasn't alone in failing to meet raised targets. The Commanders' defense looked devoid of inspiration. Very few emerged from the campaign with any credit. But the former first-round pick is held to a higher standard considering the money he received to prevent his departure in free agency.

The Alabama product looks in tremendous shape ahead of a potential bounce-back campaign under Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. Payne should thrive within more creative schematic concepts, but hitting the ground running in camp is critical.

If the Commanders want to become a force, they need their defensive tackle tandem of Payne and Jonathan Allen to light the spark. Both regressed last season with mitigating circumstances attached. Nothing but enhanced effort will do to kickstart this exciting new regime in the nation's capital.

Jayden Daniels - Commanders QB

Jayden Daniels couldn't have made a more positive impression over early offseason workouts. The No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft showcased his skills and high-end work ethic throughout. This won the respect of teammates, but it's only the first step on his road to potential superstardom.

The Commanders need much more from Daniels over Washington's training camp. They need him to maintain his consistency and lead from the front when intensity ramps up. Generating some early buzz will go a long way to achieving this objective.

Daniels has the expectations of an entire franchise on his shoulders. The Commanders have been crying out for stability at football's most important position since Kirk Cousins left for the Minnesota Vikings. Those in power genuinely believe the Heisman Trophy is that and more.

He won't have it all his way against Washington's improved defense during scrimmages. At the same time, this should provide Daniels with enough vital experience to ensure things slow down somewhat when the real action commences.

If Daniels displays the exceptional commitment, natural swagger, and outstanding playmaking that got him this far, optimism in his prospects is only going to surge.