Marshon Lattimore - Commanders CB
There were some notable absentees from organized team activities. Terry McLaurin sat out as he awaited a lucrative new extension from the Washington Commanders. Laremy Tunsil was also a no-show, which could also be related to his current deal given there is no guaranteed money attached after the 2025 campaign.
Marshon Lattimore also opted to prepare away from the team. That was arguably the most contentious issue among the fanbase, especially considering the cornerback's indifferent contribution with mitigating circumstances attached last season.
The Commanders gave up a decent amount of capital to acquire Lattimore via trade from the New Orleans Saints before the 2024 deadline. This was seen as the shutdown coverage presence Washington lacked — someone who could make a considerable impression if the same trend continued. That didn't happen, thanks in no small part to a hamstring injury that never got back to 100 percent.
Lattimore was a shell of his old self. The Ohio State graduate never backed down from a challenge, but the hamstring issue made things complicated. Washington is giving him another shot to firmly establish himself once fully healthy, but no-showing OTAs just sends the wrong message.
The former first-round pick is experienced enough to hit the ground running when he turns up for Washington's mandatory minicamp. But make no mistake, the pressure is on to produce.
K.J. Osborn - Commanders WR
As previously mentioned, the competition for places is high in Washington's wide receiver room. The best players will go through to the squad. Previous achievements don't matter much. This is all about what they can do for the Commanders' chances in 2025 and potentially beyond.
Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel Sr., Noah Brown, Jaylin Lane, and Luke McCaffrey will all make the squad. That leaves room for one more option if the Commanders take six wideouts into their Week 1 game against the New York Giants. Michael Gallup is in the driving seat currently, but there is a newfound unknown attached after spending a year away from the league due to retirement.
K.J. Osborn is another who'll fancy his chances of making the team. The Commanders scooped him off the waiver wire following an injury to Brown that required kidney surgery late in the 2024 campaign. He was an emergency option and didn't feature much at all. However, those in power want to see what he can offer with a full offseason to immerse himself in Kliff Kingsbury's schematic concepts.
Looking at how players like Samuel, Lane, and Gallup have excelled over early offseason workouts, Osborn's quest to make the team represents a significant challenge. Unless every chance is taken and some notable highlights emerge, he could be looking for alternative employment at some stage.