Winner No. 3
Chris Paul - Commanders OL
There aren't many draft picks made by Ron Rivera who have made it to the end of their rookie deals. One wouldn't have given Chris Paul much chance to turn the tide, but a rousing effort from the offensive lineman this summer saw his roster hopes become a reality once again.
Paul made the squad last season but was used sparingly. The Tulsa product wasn't cut this offseason, which was a big confidence boost at a time when hope was diminishing. This added urgency served him well, standing out as a core depth piece along the protection to comfortably secure his spot.
Whether Paul gets a run in the starting lineup at any stage is debatable. Sam Cosmi will miss the first four games, which is a smart move as he recovers from a torn ACL. All it'll take is another injury or underperformance from others to thrust him into the spotlight.
Paul deserves tremendous credit for fighting back in the face of adversity. That didn't go unnoticed by those in power when push came to shove.
Loser No. 3
Cole Turner - TE
As previously mentioned, the Commanders' competition for places was fierce in the tight end room. Very few (if any) places on the 53-man roster were available, which isn't a bad spot for general manager Adam Peters to be in before such a high-stakes campaign for all involved.
Zach Ertz and John Bates are firmly cemented as the team's starting options. One is a Pro Bowl pass-catcher, and the other is emerging as one of the league's most productive blocking specialists. The Commanders weren't going to give up on Ben Sinnott yet, and we've already discussed how Colson Yankoff left no doubt regarding his roster status.
That made it extremely difficult for others. The best Cole Tuner could probably hope for was a place on the practice squad. But the surprising emergence of Lawrence Cager quickly made him a much more viable option.
Ron Rivera thought he found a gem with Turner in the 2022 NFL Draft. Not for the first time, he was wrong.
Winner No. 4
Chris Rodriguez Jr. - Commanders RB
Washington's running back dynamic was easily the most fascinating. Most thought that the Commanders would move forward with Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler as their starting running back tandem. But a seismic shift occurred pretty quickly as training camp progressed.
All the hype centered on seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and rightfully so. The Commanders traded Robinson to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2026 sixth-round selection, which sent the first-year pro's stock through the roof. However, he might not be the biggest beneficiary when it's all said and done.
That could be Chris Rodriguez Jr. The sixth-round pick out of Kentucky forced the issue through purposeful running, improved contact balance, and more explosive plays than Robinson could provide. He remains a physical runner, but his progression when it comes to exploiting gaps and making big gains tipped the scales in his favor.
Dan Quinn stated that Rodriguez will be in line to fill the void left by Robinson initially. But getting complacent is not an option with Croskey-Merritt around.