Athan Kaliakmanis' ongoing comfort level
Unheralded quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis was a surprising choice in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. And while it's only the preseason, the Washington Commanders may have a legitimate development project on their hands.
Kaliakmanis was once again comfortable in the pocket during his involvement against the Detroit Lions. He knows how to read defenses, and the signal-caller goes through his progressions effectively. The arm is live, and there is no hesitation in his decision-making whatsoever.
The former Rutgers standout is comfortably ahead of Sam Hartman for the QB3 role. With Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota both dealing with injury problems last season, it makes sense to keep the rookie on the squad.
T.J. Maguranyanga is staking his Commanders' roster claim
There is plenty to like about T.J. Maguranyanga's development during his second offseason in Washington. Last year's International Player Pathway success story is still learning the nuances of being a successful NFL pro, but the former rugby player is making notable strides.
Maguranyanga has the speed and length to cause problems off the edge. He is improving from a technical standpoint, and there is much more patience on the field these days. More importantly, he's making things happen in a live-fire game-day setting, which is always the strongest measuring stick.
His route to the 53-man roster is not set in stone by any stretch of the imagination. But after a highly impressive summer, Maguranyanga might have a fighting chance now.
Antonio Williams is finding his groove
The Commanders thought a lot of Antonio Williams during their comprehensive pre-draft assessments. He's a slippery wide receiver who knows how to get open quickly, and after an expected transitional period this summer, the No. 71 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft is starting to find his groove.
Williams looked a lot more comfortable against the Lions. Things aren't perfect yet, but his manipulation at the top of his route stems and dependability when targets came his way were a big positive throughout. And even though the veteran duo of Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs are Washington's 1-2 punch at receiver, the former Clemson star might be next in line.
McLaurin and Diggs will get the attention of opposing coverages. But don't be shocked if Williams outperforms his third-round billing.
Adam Peters might be busy after final cuts
Adam Peters is not a general manager who waits for things to come to him. He's aggressive and ruthless in equal measure, and looking at how things have unfolded this summer, Washington's front-office leader might be busy after final cuts.
The Commanders' depth options are not good enough in several areas. The cornerback unit could use an upgrade, and the trenches on both sides of the football are not as deep as fans initially thought.
This will not go unnoticed by Peters. The Commanders have money to spend if the right opportunities become available, and there should be a few lively candidates on the waiver wire for Washington to consider before Week 1.
Add us as a preferred source on Google