Commanders drafted Mike Sainristil
Mike Sainristil was an ultra-competitive yet undersized cornerback coming into the league. He played a starring role in the Michigan Wolverines' successful quest for the college football national championship and was touted by many to be a potential first-round pick.
Something caused hesitation. Teams weren't willing to take a chance on the 5-foot-10 defensive back due to his lack of prototypical NFL size. This worked in the Washington Commanders' favor in no uncertain terms.
When Sainristil fell into their laps at No. 50 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, the scenes of jubilation left no doubt about what the Commanders thought of the prospect. Dan Quinn was beaming with delight and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. couldn't hide his joy. General manager Adam Peters didn't hesitate to pull the trigger.
Sainristil hit the ground running. His competitiveness, fearless demeanor, and willingness to take on the league's best pass-catchers were exactly the sort of contribution Washington was looking for. Even when the coaching staff switched him from the slot to the boundary, the rookie didn't skip a beat.
The bigger the moment, the more Sainristil thrives. His two interceptions against the Detroit Lions played a leading role in Washington's landmark triumph. This was a home-run selection. Peters trusted his evaluations and got an absolute steal.
Commanders signed Frankie Luvu
The Commanders' linebacking corps was woefully under-strength and lacked quality throughout Ron Rivera's tenure. He ignored the defensive second-level, believing his investments in the defensive line would be enough. Aside from first-round pick Jamin Davis, this position group became an afterthought.
Rivera and Washington's defense paid a heavy price for this neglect. It wasn't a mistake general manager Adam Peters was going to make, especially considering the scheme Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. planned to implement.
Signing Bobby Wagner was a superb short-term option. He brought a winning mentality and taught this revamped roster how to win. However, making Frankie Luvu a high-priority signing when the legal tampering period began comes with a longer-term upside.
Luvu's story is a feel-good one. He emerged from undrafted free agent irrelevancy to one of the league's best linebackers. The Washington State product emerged as a productive starter with the Carolina Panthers. Linking up with Quinn took his game to completely new heights.
His aggressiveness, passion, and ability to be around the football consistently became the beating heart of Washington's defense. Luvu led all linebackers in sacks with eight and earned second-team All-Pro honors alongside Wagner.
Peters and Quinn thought Luvu could be a difference-maker. They pushed their chips into the middle and got a franchise cornerstone out of it.