Luke McCaffrey already showing Commanders what they never got from Jahan Dotson

Reports have been glowing around second-year wide receiver Luke McCaffrey throughout the Washington Commanders' offseason workout program. He's after a bigger role in 2025, and early indications suggest the former third-round pick can achieve this objective.

One NFL insider with close connections to the team echoed these sentiments. Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network, who also worked for the Commanders at one point, listed McCaffrey among the players who've generated a positive impression based on his conversations with people around the league. He's not alone in hearing the same.

Although McCaffrey's breakout game didn't arrive when most thought he was right on the cusp as a rookie, that doesn't mean he didn't benefit from being around the squad. He logged reps and got some targets. The Rice graduate also made an impact in the kick return aspect, but embracing the locker room culture and having scheme familiarity is serving him well.

Commanders testing Luke McCaffrey this offseason, and he's ddelivering the goods

The Commanders will demand more from McCaffrey in Year 2. He got to become a focal point over early workouts with Terry McLaurin, Noah Brown, and Michael Gallup all missing time at Washington's mandatory minicamp. The coaching staff gave the wideout all he could handle instead, and he coped extremely well with enhanced responsibilities according to those in attendance.

It'll be interesting to see if McCaffrey's dynamic changes when the entire wide receiver unit is available for training camp. Everyone will get a chance to showcase their talent, so the urgency is there to perform well. His place on the 53-man roster isn't in jeopardy, but he won't want to become an afterthought.

That was a distinction Jahan Dotson couldn't avoid under the new regime. He couldn't raise his performance levels and was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. McCaffrey is already showing more resolve.

Adam Peters saw something in McCaffrey that others didn't at No. 100 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. He was a development project coming into the franchise, especially considering he'd played receiver for just two seasons in college. Thankfully for the Commanders, he's picking things up quickly.

The work ethic, high character, and fierce inner drive are all traits that the Commanders loved during their comprehensive pre-draft assessments where McCaffrey is concerned. That doesn't always guarantee success, but it doesn't hurt. With the wideout starting to look more comfortable and like he belongs, anything is possible.

McCaffrey is an easy guy to root for. Hopefully, this positive opening to Washington's preparations provides the catalyst for more chances en route to becoming a potential franchise cornerstone.

And who knows, perhaps fans might not have to wait much longer for McCaffrey's takeover game.

More Commanders news and analysis