Beyond the franchise cornerstones on either side of the ball, a few underrated pieces could determine just how far the Washington Commanders can climb in 2025.
Here are three Commanders who quietly hold the key to Washington reaching its full potential in 2025.
Commanders players who hold the key to Washington reaching its potential in 2025
Johnny Newton, DL
It's a massive second season for Johnny Newton, especially with Jonathan Allen and former second-round pick Phidarian Mathis now out of the picture. An all-everything player during his time at Illinois, the transition from college to the NFL game saw the defensive tackle endure some speed bumps in his rookie campaign.
While expected, his workload of snaps now will not be looked at as developmental, but crucial to each down the Commanders spend on the defensive side of the ball. His pressure numbers remained limited last fall, but Newton's flashes during Washington's deep playoff run and this summer's slate of work showcase a player who will arrive with a chip on his shoulder once things begin to count.
The Commanders spent a large amount of capital in boosting their defensive line this spring, and the onus on Newton to evolve into a core contributor will be expected from Day 1.
Percy Butler, S
A rotational defender is often left off these types of lists, but Percy Butler's skillset is unique compared to every other third-level defender within Washington's defense.
What separates him? Range.
The Commanders have hybrid defenders that can play the box or line up against tight ends in man coverage, but the lone player on the backend with the true centerfield type of range is Butler. While most of his snaps early in the campaign are expected to come on special teams, his ability to produce on key passing downs will remain critical to Washington limiting chunk plays through the air, as well as getting off the field on extended third-down situations.
Touting the players with the ability to flip and run at the safety spot is a commodity most NFL secondaries have in large supply. But for Washington, it's Butler with the true number-to-number range that will be called upon in key passing situations.
Luke McCaffrey, WR
Washington only kept five wideouts in their initial 53-man roster, with Luke McCaffrey sneaking in as the final name to earn a spot. A former Day 2 pick in 2024, the Rice product simply has to be better in his second campaign.
While McCaffrey's underlying analytics and separation scores at the position were above league average, it's telling when, throughout the entirety of the 2024 regular and postseason, and into this summer's slate of exhibition contests, that Washington's quarterbacks have simply passed on feeding him the football. And while a receiver's success is directly correlated to a quarterback's talent and ability to pump throws his way, he has seemingly fallen into the bucket of a player who has remained "the next guy" in a progression.
With attention on Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel Sr., and Zach Ertz up the seam, and the dual-threat ability of Jayden Daniels, the canvas is clear for McCaffrey to evolve into a high-level playmaker for Washington this fall.
Just last year, we saw Daniels elevate the likes of Dyami Brown and Olamide Zaccheus, earning both of them contracts elsewhere with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears, respectively. This leaves zero reason for McCaffrey not to find open air and frequent targets in 2025.
It's been great watching him do the dirty work on the outside as a blocker in the ground game, but expanding his role into a top four wideout for the Commanders this year would likely satisfy head coach Dan Quinn and further expand offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury's high-octane attack.