Phase Three of the Washington Commanders' offseason program begins this week. Organized team activities will run from May 27 to June 6 with a little break in between. This will be swiftly followed by their mandatory minicamp on June 10-12.
Football is slowly returning, and preparations for the 2025 campaign are gathering pace. Head coach Dan Quinn and his staff have a lot of hard work ahead, especially considering the weight of expectations on their shoulders has risen exponentially. Meeting them is crucial.
Under the new regime, the Commanders went from an intriguing also-ran to a legitimate contender in Year 1. That has brought increased adulation and challenges, such as little routine on the 2025 schedule and no fewer than eight standalone games.
That's the price of success around the league. It's been a long time since the Commanders were held in such high regard. But the NFL is a fickle business, so maintaining these new standards and perhaps even increasing them becomes the primary objective.
The extra competition for places is there for all to see. Adam Peters worked immensely hard to enhance the roster this offseason. He was aggressive and methodical in equal measure, finding instant difference-makers without jeopardizing the team's future financial flexibility. The Commanders are in a great position, but the onus is on every player to firmly establish themselves from now on, right through the summer.
With this in mind, here are five Commanders players ready to shake up the depth chart during OTAs.
Commanders players ready to shake up the depth chart at OTAs
Michael Gallup - Commanders WR
Much has been made about the Washington Commanders drafting Jaylin Lane at No. 128 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft and striking a trade for Deebo Samuel Sr. to improve their wide receiver weapons around quarterback Jayden Daniels. Michael Gallup's arrival went unnoticed in comparison, but that doesn't detract from the potential intrigue surrounding the once-promising pass-catcher.
Gallup decided to retire just a few weeks into his tenure with the Las Vegas Raiders last summer. Being let go by the Dallas Cowboys stung, and his inner motivation had gone. Now, it's back, and the Commanders coaxed him from the couch and back onto an NFL roster.
The former third-round pick out of Colorado State is a long time removed from his 1,107-yard receiving season in 2019. Gallup's influence in Dallas slowly waned after that, but the Commanders are giving him a shot to prove he still has something to offer.
It's not costing them much to find out one way or another. Gallup looks refreshed, refocused, and ready to help Washington get over the hump. Don't be surprised if he catches the eye when OTAs commence.