Adam Peters was eager to raise the stakes within the Washington Commanders this offseason. After Year 1, the project might be further ahead than anyone anticipated, but maintaining urgency and avoiding complacency became the biggest objective in Year 2.
This is done through recruitment. Strengthening every position group by raising competition for places was the primary goal. Peters did an incredible job with the resources available. Now, it's a case of having the best man win when preparations for the upcoming campaign gather pace.
That's how you keep things pushing in the right direction. That's how you ensure every player, whether it's the franchise quarterback or someone fighting for their job on the roster bubble, is focused on the task at hand. Veterans will be clinging to their respective spots, while Washington's 2025 NFL Draft class and undrafted free agents will look to impose themselves immediately.
With this in mind, here are five Commanders starters who could be ousted by rookies at some stage during the 2025 campaign.
Commanders starters who could be ousted by rookies in 2025
Nick Bellore - Commanders LB
Nick Bellore is not a starter on the defensive rotation. However, the veteran linebacker is one of the most important parts of Washington's special teams strategy.
For now, at least.
Bellore signed a new two-year deal this offseason despite his advancing age. He'll be 36 years old soon with 14 seasons under his belt. His special teams production last season was impressive enough to suggest there is some good football left, but the Commanders were right to form contingency plans in case the same standards aren't met.
Kain Medrano was the Commanders' sixth-round pick at No. 205 overall. The former UCLA star is supremely athletic, boasting some of the best testing numbers for participating linebackers at the NFL Scouting Combine. He's a work in progress technically, especially from a tackling standpoint, but the raw physical gifts make him a potential special-teams ace immediately.
That's the best-case scenario for the Commanders until Medrano works on the problem areas of his game. Bellore will have a pivotal role to play regardless of whether the rookie shines right out of the gate or not. Still, he might not be the top dog for much longer as Washington attempts to go younger.
Bellore is professional enough to be a strong support system to Medrano if he's given significant special-teams duties. He knows this is the future, and he's firmly in the twilight of his professional career.