Fentrell Cypress II - Commanders CB
The Washington Commanders improved their cornerback unit this offseason. This should help them cope better with some exceptional passing attacks on the 2025 schedule, but anyone not pulling their weight isn't going to last long.
Washington signed two-time Super Bowl winner Jonathan Jones in free agency, ending his glittering spell with the New England Patriots. Adam Peters also spent the No. 61 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft on Trey Amos, who had a first-round grade but fell through the cracks after a back issue surfaced during his pre-draft assessments.
If Amos and Jones both meet their billing, the Commanders will be in a good spot. If Marshon Lattimore bounces back, Mike Sainristil continues his ascent to superstardom, and Noah Igbinoghene builds on the most promising campaign of his professional career, this unit could become a real force in 2025.
That makes it more difficult for players like Fentrell Cypress II to make an impression. The undrafted free agent is starting from the bottom and must work his way up the ranks. He's got some impressive athletic attributes to call upon, but the margin for error is razor-thin.
If Cypress manages to book his place on the practice squad, that represents a huge accomplishment.
Dominique Hampton - Commanders LB/S
There was some intrigue around the Commanders' spending a fifth-round selection on Dominique Hampton last spring. The physical safety starred for the Washington Huskies during their memorable run to the college football national championship game. Hopes were high that he could transition smoothly and make a rookie contribution at some stage.
That didn't come to fruition. Hampton struggled to make an impression at the safety spot. The Commanders switched him to the defensive second level, which was enough to see him make the 53-man roster when it could have easily gone the other way.
It was a big accomplishment for Hampton, even if he had to change positions to achieve his goal. The Commanders made him a healthy scratch more often than not throughout the 2024 campaign, but being around the locker room and learning what it takes to be a solid professional from the likes of Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu will have aided his early development considerably.
What comes next for Hampton is more important. The Commanders have Jordan Magee back to full health, and they also drafted Kain Medrano. That makes spaces limited in the linebacker room, so anything less than major improvements could see him off the squad when push comes to shove.
That would be deeply disappointing, but it cannot be completely dismissed. Especially considering that Hampton remains an unknown quantity.