Loser No. 1
Michael Gallup - Commanders WR
The Washington Commanders gave Michael Gallup a chance to galvanize his NFL career this offseason. He unretired after one year away from the gridiron. He was also highly motivated to remind the world why he was such a highly-regarded player once upon a time.
It hasn't cost the Commanders much to find out one way or another. With Terry McLaurin holding out of Washington's mandatory minicamp as frustrations build regarding his new deal, opportunities were expected to be plentiful for Gallup. Unfortunately, he was unable to make any sort of impression.
Gallup didn't feature in the team's mandatory minicamp after the team disclosed a hamstring strain for the wide receiver. Considering his injury history before retirement and having almost no margin for error in pursuit of making the squad, this was nothing short of disastrous.
The Commanders aren't going to cut Gallup before giving him a shot at training camp. He knows Dan Quinn well from their time together with the Dallas Cowboys, so the head coach will be fair. That doesn't guarantee anything, so hitting the ground running when things get more intense is critical.
There were already doubts about Gallup's ability to contribute before he unfortunately got hurt. Hopefully, it's not severe, and the former third-round pick out of Colorado State can return to something like his old form.
Winner No. 2
Josh Conerly Jr. - Commanders OT
The Commanders raised a few eyebrows when they took Josh Conerly Jr. at No. 29 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, the stud offensive tackle was always Adam Peters' No. 1 target based on information released after the event.
Conerly looks primed to start opposite five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil on the right-hand side. There's a chance Washington could shift him onto the interior, but that seems unlikely. This has the makings of a dynamic edge-protecting tandem capable of making life easier for star quarterback Jayden Daniels.
The former Oregon sensation applied himself extremely well throughout Washington's offseason program. Conerly's footwork and technique were as advertised and already looked NFL-ready. Some highlights suggested the playing strength that raised red flags in college won't be much of a problem.
He's also got a big fan in Tunsil. The veteran isn't one for dishing out praise for nothing, but he believes the Commanders have the real deal on their hands in Conerly. That seal of approval is a tremendous confidence boost for the rookie. At the same time, complacency cannot become an issue.
Conerly is off to a fantastic start. If the same trend continues over the summer, he'll be the Week 1 starter at right tackle.