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Washington Commanders wide receiver Luke McCaffrey (11) Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Commanders' Veterans in Danger of Losing Their Jobs to Rookies

Originally posted on Washington Commanders on SI
By Caleb Skinner | Last updated Apr 1, 2026 12:00 PM ET

Plenty has unfolded since the kickoff of the new league year, and the Washington Commanders have done their due diligence in getting more speed and versatility into their roster through free agency.

GM Adam Peters has once again done a fantastic job at reshaping the roster on the open market, but with things now dying down in that realm of the NFL world, he and his staff are turning their attention to the next class of rookies with the NFL Draft now just weeks away.

As is the case every year, rookies will come in and take the place of veterans for a franchise, and that is no different when it comes to the Commanders. Here are the veterans who should be worried about their spot being taken by rookies in 2026 for Washington.

Jerome Ford or Rachaad White

Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Jerome Ford and Rachaad White both just signed one-year deals with the Commanders, but both could find themselves on the outside looking in at touches following the draft.

Washington has continually been linked to perennial RB1 Jeremiyah Love out of Notre Dame with their seventh overall pick. If the Commanders and Peters indeed decide to go with the NFL-ready Love at seven if he isn't already off the board, both White and Ford could see a decrease in snaps.

It would be interesting to see whose snaps Love would cut into more, but with Ford being more of a "power back", White could end up being the guy who gets buried.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt is currently viewed as the leader of the room with how high the staff is on the former seventh-round pick, but even if the Commanders were to take Love, they would figure to split time in the backfield.

Ahkello Witherspoon

Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon is another recent signee who could be in trouble of seeing his job taken by a rookie.

Witherspoon brings length and physicality to the boundary corner position as a depth piece for the Commanders, but he only played six games a season ago due to injury and is clearly looked at as a "stop-gap" option.

Witherspoon is up there in age and on an inexpensive deal, so if the Commanders end up taking Mansoor Delane early in the first round or another corner or two later in the draft, he could be one of those players who end up as a surprise final cut casualty to save a roster spot for a younger, developmental piece.

Dyami Brown/Van Jefferson/Luke McCaffrey

Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Two out of the three players listed here were signed this offseason, but the case stands for Dyami Brown, Van Jefferson, and the holdover from last season, Luke McCaffrey.

All three players are destined to see playing time currently as depth or rotational wideouts as the Commanders continue to search for a second legit option opposite of Terry McLaurin, but if Peters and company decide to make a pick or two at the position, then the room would suddenly become crowded.

With such a crowded room from the additions, at least one of these players could find themselves on the cut line, but a given would be that all three would see decreased playing time within David Blough's offense.

This article first appeared on Washington Commanders on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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