5 Commanders who turned heads with superstar swagger on Day 1 of minicamp

There was enormous excitement in the air as the Washington Commanders took to the practice field for Day 1 of their annual mandatory minicamp. This is the final chance to impress before training camp, so the stakes are increasing as football gets closer.

Veteran wide receiver Terry McLaurin was a no-show as expected. The Pro Bowl pass-catcher is reportedly frustrated with the fact that no contract extension has been confirmed yet. It's way too early to be pressing the panic button, but Adam Peters needs to bring this to a successful resolution sooner rather than later.

Aside from that, all systems go for the rest. A couple of players were absent for one reason or another, but nothing to overly concern head coach Dan Quinn and his accomplished staff. We are still in the transitional period for some. That doesn't mean they couldn't help their chances of making the squad or cementing their importance to the team's plans in 2025.

With this in mind, here are five Commanders players who turned heads on Day 1 of the team's mandatory minicamp.

Commanders who turned heads with superstar swagger on Day 1 of minicamp

Laremy Tunsil - Commanders OT

After deciding to skip voluntary OTAs, Laremy Tunsil finally made his long-awaited first appearance at practice following his offseason trade. The Washington Commanders expect big things from the five-time Pro Bowl left tackle, who remains one of the league's elite pass protectors and someone capable of solidifying quarterback Jayden Daniels' blindside effectively.

Tunsil's mere presence is a sight to behold. He carries himself like an alpha male, someone who knows they are among the very best at their craft. The former first-round pick out of Ole Miss looked sharp during individual drills according to those in attendance. However, the coaching staff didn't include him during the team portion of practice.

The edge force worked on more conditioning drills instead, which indicates he hasn't come into the organization at optimum fitness levels. That's not entirely surprising, but it shouldn't take long for Tunsil to get up to speed.

There is an aura around Tunsil that cannot be ignored. He's a massive human with the physical scope to become a game-changing force for the Commanders. Showing up also alleviates any concerns about rumored unhappiness with his contract, which is a relief considering Terry McLaurin isn't around currently.

Tunsil's imposing stature was the talk of Day 1. The Commanders are expecting an immediate return on their investment, but he's more than capable of delivering the goods.