Andrew Wylie - Commanders OL
The Washington Commanders moved swiftly and with conviction to improve the protection in front of quarterback Jayden Daniels this offseason. Adam Peters spared no expense, trading for five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil and using the No. 29 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft on Josh Conerly Jr.
This could be a prolific bookend tandem for Daniels to depend upon. Brandon Coleman is going inside to the left guard spot, with Nick Alegretti moving to the right-hand side until Sam Cosmi is ready to return. Tyler Biadasz is the mainstay at Washington's center position, which leaves Andrew Wylie as the odd man out.
Wylie spent the last two seasons as the team's starting right tackle with moderate success. He could still begin the season on the edge if Conerly needs extra time to develop. Looking at the former Oregon star's early integration, that seems unlikely.
That leaves Wylie with two options in pursuit of staying relevant. He could potentially unseat Allegretti at right guard and fill the void as Cosmi recovers from a torn ACL. He could also replace Cornelius Lucas as Washington's swing tackle option after he departed for the Cleveland Browns in free agency.
Either way, the 2025 campaign will probably be Wylie's last in Washington, regardless of how things go.
Jalyn Holmes - Commanders DL
The Commanders raised competition for places almost everywhere this offseason. There's no better example than the defensive front, which will be a fascinating dynamic for fans to monitor when training camp begins.
Washington released Pro Bowl lineman Jonathan Allen, which was the right thing to do. He was an undisputed alpha, so others will now get the chance to impose themselves as potential long-term leaders moving forward. Javon Kinlaw and Deatrich Wise Jr. bring experience, but they represent gambles that could go either way.
It's not much clearer further down the depth chart right now. Most of those who logged reps last season got new deals. Jalyn Holmes was one of them, but it didn't come with any guarantees about making the 53-man roster again.
Holmes flashed promise when called upon last season. He is versatile enough to play anywhere along the defensive front, and the scheme familiarity developed in 2024 should serve him well. However, his situation remains extremely precarious.
The Commanders will reward those who prove their worth. They've wiped the slate clean, and the best performers will go through. That keeps urgency high and should enhance overall standards. For Holmes, this is about showing enough growth to get another reprieve when the time comes.