2022 draft pick left off Commanders writer’s 53-man roster projection

The Washington Commanders are just days away from their final preseason game. While preseason results don’t matter, it would do a lot for the team’s confidence if they ended Baltimore’s record of 22 straight preseason wins.

With the game being Saturday night, the Commanders’ final wave of roster cuts will come just three days later on Tuesday. Rosters will be reduced from 80 to 53 players, meaning 27 players will be cut loose by this time next week.

It’s a sad time around the NFL, and Washington is surely dreading the deadline because countless roster bubble players are worthy of a spot on the team, including safety Steven Parker and running back Jonathan Williams, among others.

In terms of the 2022 draft class, seven of the club’s eight draftees are all but guaranteed to make the 53-man roster. The lone exception?

The team’s final pick, cornerback Christian Holmes, who was omitted from The Athletic’s Ben Standig’s 53-man roster prediction.

Is Commanders’ seventh-round pick Christian Holmes in danger of being left off the 53-man roster?

In Standig’s projection, the Commanders keep five cornerbacks, including Kendall Fuller, William Jackson, Benjamin St-Juste, Danny Johnson and Corn Elder, who was evaluated for a concussion against the Chiefs but returned to practice Monday.

Elder’s inclusion might surprise fans, but he’s quietly been a nuisance for the passing game throughout camp and the preseason.

At the same time, this prediction might be draconian from Holmes’ perspective.

With St-Juste poised to assume the slot cornerback role, Holmes might be Washington’s best backup perimeter option aside from Elder. Johnson is clearly better in the nickel, but he’s played a fair amount of snaps out wide, which would suggest the coaching staff prefers him to Holmes.

What also might be working against him is his lack of versatility. Through two preseason games, the Oklahoma State product has played 51 snaps out wide compared to just six in the box. Elder, meanwhile, has played 22 snaps in the slot and 14 outside, and Johnson’s logged 26 slot snaps compared to 12 out wide.

Yes, Fuller and Jackson have played exclusively on the boundary, but shouldn’t a team want versatility in its backup options? It’s anyone’s guess as to what might keep Holmes off Washington’s final roster. Maybe he just hasn’t shown enough in coverage. Maybe it’s his lack of versatility, or perhaps the Commanders are hoping to claim a more experienced backup after the 53-man deadline.

Whatever the case, don’t sharpie in Holmes on your roster predictions. Standig is as plugged in as any writer on the Commanders beat so he likely has a good feel for which players are on the roster bubble with a week to go before Tuesday’s all-important deadline.