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One unexpected undrafted rookie may be a gem on the Commanders' defense after earning a spot on the 53-man roster

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Josh Taylor | Last updated Aug 27, 2025 10:05 AM ET

Roster cuts are the hardest parts of the offseason, but there's always a couple of feel-good stories around the league, and the Washington Commanders have one of their own.

It's hard for an undrafted rookie to fight for a roster spot with the odds against them, but one defender made the most of every day and earned a spot on the 53-man roster. The Commanders may have gotten lucky and found a future piece of the defense in LB Ale Kaho.

Diamond in the rough

It's hard to find quality players that go undrafted, because each player has their own reasons for going undrafted, but now and then a gem while shine through for a team. Ale Kaho showed up to Commanders Park this offseason, put his head down, and went to work. He was a quiet name throughout training camp, but he let his presence be felt on gameday.

Kaho led the defense in tackles for the entire preseason with 15, and he really popped out on tape against the Ravens. The game was pretty ugly as a preseason finale at home, but Kaho had seven tackles and one tackle for a loss, and flew around the field to make plays.

Football player https://t.co/5hpChVeWPJ pic.twitter.com/FOqqOINcBn
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) August 23, 2025

Commanders HC Dan Quinn was also really impressed with what he's seen from the undrafted rookie, and he may have hinted at Kaho's fate after the preseason game on Saturday.

"One thing about playing linebacker and behind the line of scrimmage," Quinn told the media. "You want to see guys who can play square and tackle, and that is one thing from him [Kaho], really instinctual. I like how he can do that, and he's had a good run here on the special team side of things. So yeah, he is really just improving as it's going. He's worked really hard from the time the minicamp ended to going into the training camp. He's really somebody that's absolutely going for it.”

Aug 6, 2025; Foxborough, MA, USA; Washington Commanders linebacker Ale Kaho (51) works with a training aid at training camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images© Eric Canha-Imagn Images

This is no surprise, as Kaho was a five-star recruit and started his college career with the Alabama Crimson Tide before transferring to UCLA after injuries, dropping him down the depth chart. At UCLA, Kaho was coached by current Commanders' LB coach Ken Norton, so you know that connection has carried over to the NFL.

Kaho had all of the tools to be a big-time LB if he could stay healthy. His measurements and athletic profile are exactly what the Commanders go for with their prospects as well. The Commanders could use all the help they can get with the depth at LB with Jordan Magee going through injuries, and they may have found a gem to help solidify the LB room for the future.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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