Commanders sleeper poised to fill hidden roster hole with 2025 breakout

There is some significant momentum building around one overlooked Washington Commanders draft pick. An NFL analyst sped up this ongoing hype train by proclaiming he could break out within Kliff Kingsbury's offense right out of the gate in 2025.

Jaylin Lane was seen as a second-round pick by some draft analysts. The Commanders eventually got him at No. 128 overall in the fourth round. That has the makings of an absolute steal, and his progress since joining the club over early workouts only raised expectations further in Year 1 of his professional career.

The former Virginia Tech star is looking to help in any way possible. Whether that's on the offensive rotation, as a kick returner, or both, Lane will be ready. And there's a growing sense around the media that Adam Peters could have found yet another gem for his collection.

Jaylin Lane projected to solve Commanders No. 3 wideout weakness in 2025

Alex Ballentine from The Bleacher Report added his name to the ever-growing list of analysts who believe Lane could thrive immediately. But instead of focusing on the player's talent, he thought questions around others in Washington's wideout room should see him come to the fore quicker than anticipated.

The Commanders brought in Deebo Samuel Sr., but there's still room for another receiver to emerge as part of the offense this summer. Noah Brown is a fairly niche receiver as the third option behind Terry McLaurin and Samuel. That's where Jaylin Lane could wind up setting himself up for a successful rookie season. Lane is a burner who should at least capture the role of return man throughout preseason activities. But he also has the potential to become a part of the offense.Alex Ballentine

Opportunity knocks for Lane; there's no getting away from that. Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel Sr. are the established starting duo who could be among the league's best if everything comes together. After that, there's nothing that should strike fear into the rookie as he goes in search of prominent targets.

Noah Brown will play a part. It would be disappointing if Luke McCaffery didn't feature more, and Michael Gallup's decision to come out of retirement brings another fascinating dynamic into the equation. None of these options boasts Lane's explosiveness and elusiveness, so Kingsbury would be foolish not to get him involved if confidence increases over the summer.

Lane got overlooked until the Commanders ended his dramatic slide. He's put this added motivation to good use so far. If the same trend continues, the versatile weapon could be a surprise that most teams don't see coming.

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