Winner No. 3
Quan Martin - Commanders S
Quan Martin was a warrior-like presence for the Washington Commanders last season. The safety played through extreme pain to help the cause in 2024, navigating two separated shoulders impressively to make a considerable impact as Dan Quinn's squad reached the NFC Championship game against all odds.
Joe Whitt Jr. revealed that sending Martin to the second team when standards were slipping lit a fire under the defensive back that kicked his career into life. The former second-round pick formed a productive backend tandem with Jeremy Chinn, providing a sense of stability and dynamism that was sorely lacking previously. But everything's changed now.
Chinn is no longer around after signing for the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. Martin is now the alpha dog in the safety unit, and it's a responsibility he's taking extremely seriously if reports from OTAs are any indication.
Quinn and Whitt both singled out Martin for special praise. They've seen something different in the Illinois graduate this offseason. He's looking to emerge from an underrated player into one of the league's best at the safety spot. And that's the standard his defensive coordinator is holding him to.
Considering the questions surrounding other safeties on the roster, Martin's possible dominance will be a core component of any success that comes Washington's way in 2025.
Winner No. 4
Trey Amos - Commanders CB
The Commanders could have a steal on their hands in Trey Amos. Adam Peters couldn't believe his luck when the cornerback was available at No. 61 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. After all, the general manager considered taking him at No. 29 before offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. fell into his lap.
Amos had a first-round projection according to the Commanders and most analysts in the media. A back issue cropped up during his medical testing, which was enough to put off teams from taking the plunge. Peters had no such concerns, and the former Ole Miss standout is eager to repay the faith shown in him by the front office.
He might be a rookie, but Amos is already looking like a seasoned veteran at OTAs according to those in attendance. His ability in coverage, physical tone-setting approach, and instincts to break on the football have been evident throughout. The second-rounder looks capable of slotting into a starting role immediately, which is exactly what the Commanders had in mind.
It's early days, so tempering expectations would be wise. However., there's a growing believe among coaches and fans that Amos could have something special to offer if the same trend continues over the summer.