3 Commanders rookies who need to shine during training camp

After a month of no football, the Washington Commanders will report to team headquarters in Ashburn, VA. for training camp on July 27.

In terms of storylines to watch, Carson Wentz will partake in his first practices with comparable intensity to games. The Commanders’ newly-minted quarterback will also get his first practice reps with No. 1 receiver Terry McLaurin, who missed all of OTAs and minicamp while he negotiated his new contract.

While Washington’s veterans will be the center of attention at camp, the team’s first-year players will have just as much intrigue.

Jahan Dotson will look to piggyback off his eye-popping spring, Phidarian Mathis has big shoes to fill as the top backup defensive tackle on the roster and Brian Robinson Jr. will look to prove to the coaching staff that he’s worthy of meaningful snaps behind Antonio Gibson from the jump.

But what about Washington’s other rookies? Let’s highlight a trio of first-year players who need a big training camp to earn a role on the team.

3 Commanders rookies who need to shine during training camp

3. Chris Paul, OL

It’s unfortunate for Paul that the Commanders’ offensive line is arguably their deepest position group, but a dominant camp could see the rookie seventh-round pick carve out a reserve role on the 53-man regular season roster.

A Tulsa product, Paul’s versatility should resonate with the coaching staff. He started 32 career games, making 28 starts and made the move from left guard to right tackle as a junior in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. At Tulsa, he started eight games at right tackle, 12 at left guard and eight at right guard.

Paul projects as an interior lineman in the NFL, but the fact he has experience at both positions should help his case to make the team.

Assuming the Commanders keep 10 offensive lineman on their final roster, you’re probably looking at the five starters — Charles Leno, Andrew Norwell, Chase Roullier, Trai Turner and Sam Cosmi — and Cornelius Lucas, Wes Schweitzer, Saahdiq Charles, Tyler Larsen and Paul as the likely finalists.

Currently buried on the depth chart, which isn’t out of the ordinary for a seventh-round pick, Paul could potentially leapfrog Charles, who’s coming off a poor spring, in the guard pecking order if he sticks out at training camp.