3 Commanders who were unlucky not to make the 53-man roster

Just like that, roster deadline day is over. Just because it is, though, doesn’t mean the Washington Commanders are finished making moves. As of the submission of their 53-man roster, they have just four cornerbacks and their linebacker rotation is paper thin behind projected starters Cole Holcomb and Jamin Davis.

Like most squads, the Commanders made some surprising decisions. Certain players getting released came as a shock to the mind and it was somewhat stunning they opted to keep five tight ends, including two undrafted free agents.

But what about players who were unlucky not to make the final cut? The Commanders’ depth isn’t raved about, but they flaunt a slew of NFL caliber players who found themselves on waivers due to a surplus of depth at their respective positions.

Let’s highlight some of those players, shall we?

3 Commanders who were unlucky not to make 53-man roster

3. Alex Erickson

It was always a long shot that Washington would keep Dax Milne and Alex Erickson, as both players are your classic undersized receivers who know how to get open and can return kicks. When push came to shove, Milne got the nod.

While Erickson is the more proven return specialist, Milne popped more during camp and parlayed that into a strong preseason. With that said, Erickson tied Milne for the team lead in catches (10) and finished with the most receiving yards (134).

Additionally, Erickson averaged 13.4 yards per catch, 6.4 yards after the catch per reception and QBs boasted a 117.4 passer rating when targeting him.

When you compare Erickson’s consistency with someone like Dyami Brown, who didn’t offset his drops with enough big plays to warrant a roster spot, you’ll realize how unlucky Erickson was to miss the cut.

Luckily for Brown, he was drafted in the third round last April and his big-play ability (coupled with Milne’s emergence) is likely what convinced the coaching staff to cut Erickson loose.