It’s not even training camp but Wes Welker's impact is already being felt in DC

Wes Welker's arrival at the Washington Commanders brought significant intrigue. And make no mistake, the team's new personnel analyst wasted no time in making his presence felt.

Welker comes highly recommended. He was a standout wide receiver during his playing days. He was a respected coach and strong talent evaluator once he hung up his cleats for good. The Commanders believe his traits can become an asset to what's already an incredibly strong coaching staff.

It's so far, so good on that front.

The Commanders must be thrilled with Welker's early influence. He spent considerable time with the wide receivers over Washington's offseason program. This played a leading role in rookie fourth-rounder Jaylin Lane hitting the ground running and Luke McCaffrey making considerable strides in his second offseason with the squad.

Wes Welker is having an extremely positive impact on the Commanders so far

Welker also made expectations before camp abundantly clear to every player before they went their separate ways. Team writer Zach Selby lifted the lid on the message, which was clear and resonated well.

Prior to the players breaking for the end of practice, linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. and personnel analyst Wes Welker gave them some advice for how to approach the dead period. Welker talked about "winning time moments," saying they were why it is so important to train at this time of year. He told them to always be ready for those moments because they can make a significant difference in games.Zach Selby via Commanders.com

If that wasn't enough, Welker's primary objective is also off to a good start.

His previous connection to Deebo Samuel Sr. was a big reason why he took off with the San Francisco 49ers. Welker picked up where he left off, getting the wide receiver refocused and in the right frame of mind to silence his doubters. The results are positive so far despite the unfair criticism coming his way.

This is exactly what the Commanders had in mind when they hired Welker. If the same trend continues at training camp and beyond, Washington will be well-placed to make another deep playoff run in 2025.

These appointments typically go under the radar and, in some cases, are deemed inconsequential. Welker doesn't fit into that category, and his importance to the Commanders cannot be overstated.

It's early days, but this looks like another outstanding piece of business by the Commanders. Welker is here to help, and he's off to an exceptional start.

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