A week or two ago, a commenter suggested doing a roundup of players the Commanders should keep and part ways with after the first season of the roster “recalibration”. I took the opportunity of having the bye week off to give it a crack. I didn’t keep track of who it was, so if it was you, put your hand up in the comments.
In this article I had a go at identifying the new and returning players who will be part of Adam Peters efforts over the next season and beyond to build a championship contender in Washington.
Commanders’ players were rated against other players at their positions around the league using a variety of metrics, with just one or two key stats shown in the summary tables. I also took into account players’ age and contract status to sort them into the following categories, reflecting how they might fit into the overall scheme of the Commanders’ roster makeover:
Building Blocks – young players showing promise to be key pieces of the rise to championship contention and beyond
Key Pieces – stars and key contributors of today who will help get the team to its first championship run
Bridge Players – good players for next season, who might not figure in the long term plan
Promising Depth – young players with upside. Rookies get a lot of leeway for inclusion in this category because, in most cases, it’s hard to know what you have after one season.
Replacement Level – a broad category including any player who is occupying a roster space that should be filled by someone better, younger, or cheaper. This can include sub-par starters, good players nearing the end of their productive careers, roster fringe players who have shown no sign of taking the next step, and even very good players who aren’t producing enough to justify top-of-the-market contracts.
Tables show age next season. 2024 Games Started (GS) and snap counts are shown in with annotations when players missed significant time on IR. Player ranks according to key productivity stats for their positions are shown in the table. Where a player did not meet the playing time requirement for ranking, their equivalent position rank is shown in parentheses. The tables show the year a player hits free agency, with annotations to indicate a fifth year option (+) or void years in their contract(v).
Washington Commanders v Philadelphia Eagles Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images
Roster Roundup - Offense
Jayden Daniels – Building Block: In a move to correct decades of bungling at the most important position in Washington, Adam Peters’ used the second overall pick in the draft to take a shot at a franchise QB with elite upside. Through 13 games, Daniels has cemented his status as the top player in the 2024 draft class. Daniels is currently the consensus favorite to win ORoY, with the only serious challenge coming from Denver QB Bo Nix.
At the bye, Daniels ranks 5th among NFL starting QBs in Total QBR, representing a 19 place improvement over last season’s starter, Sam Howell. While it is still too early to predict Daniels’ eventual ceiling, there is no reason yet to doubt that Daniels is the QB of the future that the franchise can build around in the offseason and beyond.
Marcus Mariota – Bridge Player: Mariota filled in for an injured Daniels against Carolina without the offense missing a beat. At age 31, he should have a few years left in the tank and represents good value on his current cap figure of $6M. He would be worth re-signing on a similar contract, if the Commanders don’t go younger at backup QB in the offseason.
QB Depth: The Commanders saw enough of Sam Hartman in the preseason to keep him on the PS. It is hard to know what they have there. Jeff Driskel is a 31 year old journeyman.
The Commanders’ fortunes this season have risen and fallen on the success of the running game. All four RBs who have got playing time have performed very well, relative to opportunities, which has a lot to do with the team being 8-5 at the bye.
Brian Robinson Jr – Bridge Player. Brob has been the workhorse on runs between the tackles, and has taken a beating as a result. In 9 starts, when healthy, he has 138 runs for 640 yds, 36 first downs and an average of 4.6 Y/A. His 52.2% rushing success rate ranks ranks 24th among RBs with 25 or more carries. He has also caught 12/16 passes for 105 yds, at an ADOT of -1.8 yds. He is a valuable cog in the offense, to move the chains and pick up first downs to extend drives in short yardage and red zone situations. He provides a quality starting option for next season, allowing the Commanders to consider succession plans at their leisure. The reason he is a bridge and not a building block is that extending running backs is usually a bad move due to short periods of peak production and low replacement value.
Austin Ekeler – Replacement Level. Ekeler has been an unexpectedly good player for the Commanders this season, rushing 74 times for 355 yds, 18 first downs and 4 TD (rush success rate 51.4%), and catching 33/39 targets for 346 yds and 13 first downs (rec. success rate 51.3%). However, at age 29+ the wear and tear is accumulating. He might have another season in the tank, but is not a player to invest in.
Jeremy McNichols – Bridge Player/Replacement Level: McNichols has also performed very well as the primary backup, actually exceeding the starters in Y/A and rushing success rate (60.0%, rank 4, min 25 att). He would be worth keeping around on a team friendly contract, but is no spring chicken.
RB Chris Rodriguez – Promising Depth: CRod has had limited playing opportunities thus far, but has flashed potential when given the chance. Rodriguez has averaged 5.16 Y/A over 77 rushing attempts as a Commander. In two seasons he has achieved a rushing success rate 58.4%, which would be a top-5 figure if sustained for a season. Rodriguez has excelled at bursting through running lanes between the tackles and running through contact to pick up extra yards. His career average of of 2.45 yards after contact/attempt (YAC/att) is a top-15 figure. This season, he is on pace to break 3 YAC/att.
If he can sustain his current level of productivity through a higher workload for the final four games, he would be worth keeping around.
Practice Squad Players: Michael Wiley flashed potential as a complementary back in the preseason. He is joined on the PS by KR/RB Kaz Allen and Mike Strachan who is listed as a RB, despite having played three seasons with the Colts and Panthers at WR.
Terry McLaurin – Key Piece: It had been debated whether Terry was a true WR1, held back by poor QB play, or really just a second tier player. In his first season playing with a top-tier QB, he has finally produced at elite level and settled the debate. Terry is currently third in the NFL in receiving yards (896), tied for second in receiving TDs (9), and first in contested catches (20, also 4th in contested catch rate at 74.1%, min 50 targets). Turning 29 next season, with at least two more seasons under contract, he will be a key offensive weapon for the Commanders’ first championship run.
Noah Brown, Olamide Zaccheaus, Dyami Brown – Replacement Level: There is probably value in keeping one or two of these guys around as WR4/5 if the price is right, while Adam Peters looks for younger players with more upside. But if the Commanders want to improve on offense next season, they need to find a better option at WR2 to play opposite Terry. Noah Brown has been a reliable third or fourth receiving option despite an overblown reputation for drops. Aside from one terrible game, Zaccheaus has provided good value at punt returner. Although it does seem as though his horror game against the Steelers has given him a case of the yips.
Luke McCaffrey – Promising Depth: McCaffrey seems to be doing everything right. He gets separation on his routes and has caught 80% of targets for 155 yards. He just doesn’t see the ball often enough. The Commanders have a few years to figure out how to get the best out of him.
Everyone Else: Crowder’s age and injury history do not bode well for the future. Brycen Tremayne was elevated from the practice squad for the Cleveland game and caught his only target for -2 yds. He added 1 assisted tackle on special teams. Tinsley has spent the season on the PS. Not much to see here.
Zach Ertz – Replacement Level: Ertz has provided good value for the Commanders as a reliable second target for Jayden Daniels on a one year, $3 million contract. He has caught 58.7% of targets for 501 yds, 29 first downs and 4 TDs. But at 34 years old in 2025, he is playing on borrowed time. In 2024, he was the 29th most productive receiving TE, as judged by Y/RR, among 45 TEs with a minimum of 25 targets. The Commanders need another playmaker on offense, and TE is a position worth focussing on.
John Bates – Replacement Level/Bridge: Bates primarily adds value as an extra lineman. He is a key piece of the offense, but his skillset is easily replaceable. He would be worth keeping around on a team-friendly contract.
Ben Sinnott – Promising Depth: Sinnott has primarily contributed as a blocker in his rookie season, and has only caught 4/4 targets for 21 yds. Is that his fault, Kliff Kingsbury’s or Jayden Daniels? Or is it all part of the plan? Commanders’ fans might have to wait to next seasons to find out.
Colson Yankoff – Mystery Man: Yankoff is a mystery wrapped in an enigma. It is not even clear what position he plays on offense. Nor is it clear why the Commanders signed the positionless UDFA to a three year contract. So far, he has mainly played on special teams, recording 101 ST snaps (15th on the team) in 6 games, with 1 tackle and 1 assist. He has missed the last 3 games on IR.
Cole Turner: Still on the PS.
Brandon Coleman – Building Block: Brandon Coleman has allowed pressures on 6.71% of pass blocking snaps throughout his rookie season. That is fairly high for starting LTs. The median pressure rate among the 33 LTs who have played more than 310 blocking snaps this season is 5.21% (I slipped an extra player into the sample of “starters” because the LT with the 33rd most snaps was the Commanders’ Cornelius Lucas). LTs who consistently allow pressure on less than 5% of dropbacks tend to get locked up long term. However, rookie OTs tend to allow more pressure than vets. The key point is that Coleman has shown tremendous improvement through his first season. Through the first 6 weeks his pressure rate averaged 11.2%. In the last 6 games he played, he has had three games without allowing any pressures.
Run blocking was rated by PFF run blocking grades. PFF rates Coleman as below average in run blocking among starting LTs. He hasn’t shown the same obvious improvement in run blocking as in pass protection.
If he continues improving, Coleman should find a place in the starting OL lineup, if not at LT then possibly at LG, which he played in college, or maybe RT.
Sam Cosmi – Building Block: Cosmi ranked 17th in pass protection among the 64 OGs with the most playing time in 2024 (min 380 snaps). His run blocking ranks a little below average among starting guards, at least as rated by PFF grades. Overall, he grades out as a high end starter and is young enough to see the Commanders through the rebuild and beyond. He has been very reliable, only missing 3 games in the last three seasons.
Tyler Biadasz – Building Block: Biadasz followed Dan Quinn from Dallas and has returned great value for Washington, shoring up the interior offensive line, which was the biggest weakness in 2023. He is the highest rated Commanders’ offensive lineman, grading out as elite in pass protection (4th among 32 C, min 350 snaps) and significantly above average in run blocking. He and Cosmi form a core of the iOL that the Commanders can build around.
Cornelius Lucas, Andrew Wylie – Bridge Players: Lucas has had a career renaissance this season, returning to his early career form in pass protection, while playing a little below average in run blocking. Wylie is also having the best year of his career in pass protection, although his run blocking has not been as strong. Given all the air time that was given to potential disaster scenarios at OT in the offseason, Commanders fans may be interested to know that Wylie is one of only 6 out of 42 OTs who have played over 650 snaps without giving up a single sack. Both players provide enough value to keep around for another season or two, while Adam Peters looks for younger, better players at their positions.
Nick Allegretti – Replacement Level: Allegretti signing raised eyebrows at the time, since he had been a career backup for the Chiefs. However, his three year, $5.3 m APY contract is far from being high end starting money. That’s probably a good thing, because he has been the weakest link on the OL this season, aside from Brandon Coleman’s rookie growing pains. Allegretti’s 5.36% pressure rate in pass protection would be alright for an OT, but it is pretty mediocre for an OG, ranking 47th out of the 64 guards with the most playing time. His pass blocking ranks slightly better. The Commanders should look to upgrade the LG position to bring it up to the level of the other iOL positions.
Trent Scott – Replacement Level: Scott’s blocking stats need to be taken with a grain of salt, because he hasn’t played enough to get a firm handle on his performance. The real issue with Scott is that he is an aging veteran, taking up a roster spot that would be better used on a young player with upside. He did contribute the most electrifying TD reception by an offensive lineman this season. That is something no one can ever take away from him.
End of the Roster: Michael Dieter is a cheap journeyman capable of competent performance at times. Chris Paul has pretty much vanished from sight. And it’s anyone’s guess why the Commanders kept Julian Good-Jones on the PS.
Cleveland Browns v Washington Commanders Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Summary
To summarize, here is an offensive depth chart made up of players Washington should look to keep, heading into the offseason. Presumptive starters are designated by asterisks. End of roster and replacement-level players might be brought back on team friendly deals, but are not shown here, unless there is an obvious reason to believe they’ll be back next year.
QB: Jayden Daniels*, Marcus Mariota
RB: Brian Robinson Jr*, Chris Rodriguez
WR: Terry McLaurin*, Luke McCaffrey (slot)*
TE: New Starter?*, Ben Sinnott, Colson Yankoff
LT: Brandon Coleman*
LG: New Starter?*, Nick Allegretti, Chris Paul
C: Tyler Biadasz*
RG: Sam Cosmi*
RT: Andrew Wylie*
Major Offseason Needs
If this is anywhere near accurate, then the major needs to be filled in the offseason ahead of the draft would look something like this:
WR2
OG
OT depth
RB – change of pace/third down back
TE
Stay tuned for Part 2 – Defense, coming soon to a football blog near you.
Poll
Which 2025 starting spot is most likely to be filled by a current Commanders’ rookie?
0%
Slot WR
(0 votes)
0%
TE
(0 votes)
0%
OT
(0 votes)
0%
OG
(0 votes)
0%
Third down back
(0 votes)
0%
More than two of the above
(0 votes)
0%
None of them - bust draft class
(0 votes)
0 votes total Vote Now
Poll
What should the top priority to upgrade in FA?
0%
OT
(0 votes)
0%
WR2
(0 votes)
0%
TE
(0 votes)
0%
LG
(0 votes)
0%
RB
(0 votes)
0%
Another position on offense
(0 votes)
0 votes total Vote Now