3 under-the-radar storylines to watch at Commanders at training camp

2. Battle for No. 4 WR Role

For the first time in a long time, Washington has some clarity at the top of its receiver depth chart. With Terry McLaurin the team’s clearcut “X” receiver, Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel will likely rotate between the slot and other boundary.

McLaurin, Dotson and Samuel are safe bets to dominate the target share in the passing game, but we’re intrigued to see who emerges as the No. 4 option at training camp. The likely candidates? Dyami Brown and Cam Sims.

Brown is guaranteed to see the field more after he played just 335 snaps (22.3 per game) as a rookie. The hope is Carson Wentz’s arm strength and ability to stretch the field will better accentuate Brown’s skillset, but there’s no denying the 2021 third-round pick was a disappointment as a first-year player.

In regard to Sims, the Commanders re-signed him this offseason. Unless we know nothing about football, which could be true, odds are they didn’t bring the 6-foot-5, 220-pound pass-catcher back if they didn’t plan on using him.

Sims played a lowly 31% of the snaps last year after a breakout 2020. Wentz has historically loved throwing to big-bodied receivers, so what will it be? Sims’ imposing stature or Brown’s ability to take the top off of the defense?