Javon Kinlaw - Commanders DL
The Washington Commanders took a big risk with Javon Kinlaw in free agency. Not many analysts or people around the NFL thought that the imposing defensive lineman would get a three-year, $45 million deal with $30 million guaranteed. Adam Peters thought it was a gamble worth making, but the pressure to repay this faith is palpable.
Kinlaw is confident in his abilities. The former first-round pick believes he is still improving with every passing year. But after getting such a big financial commitment from the Commanders, raising consistency is paramount to ensure Peters gets a significant return on his investment.
We're only in training camp, but the Commanders have seen glimpses of what Kinlaw can bring to the table. He's a ferocious, powerful figure who can overwhelm opposing offensive linemen whenever he sees fit. The South Carolina product put that on full display on Day 7 of training camp.
According to those in attendance, Kinlaw's explosiveness at the contact point caught the eye. There's not much anybody can do when he gets the upper hand in the trenches. The fact that he looks trim indicates that the Commanders will have no trouble moving him around to exploit mismatches.
There's a long way to go, but Kinlaw is off to a tremendous start.
Jaylin Lane - Commanders WR
There was one player who shone above all else on Day 7 of training camp. And it was another of Washington's draft class who took center stage in the most impressive way imaginable.
Jaylin Lane turned this session into his own stage. The No. 128 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft is growing in stature and gaining the trust of coaches. This saw offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury involve the rookie wideout with the first-string offense more frequently than ever.
Lane did not look out of place, catching a touchdown from quarterback Jayden Daniels and being used on jet sweeps. This adds another wrinkle to the offense's creativity, which is never a bad thing.
Things got even better as practice went on. Lane put his blazing downfield speed to good use by catching a 60-yard touchdown pass from Sam Hartman. The duo combined for another score soon after, rounding off a phenomenal day at the office for the Virginia Tech product.
The transition has been seamless for Lane. Watching how he fares in the preseason will be far more telling, but he's got a shot to impact the offensive rotation while also putting his athletic attributes to good use in the return game right out of the gate.