Winner No. 3
Luke McCaffrey - Commanders WR
The Washington Commanders were missing some veteran wide receivers at their mandatory minicamp. Terry McLaurin held out as he awaited his new contract. Noah Brown and Michael Gallup both missed time through injury. Although disappointing, it gave the coaching staff a chance to see what Luke McCaffrey could do in an expanded role.
McCaffrey was involved last season without putting together the breakout performance fans expected. The former third-round pick flashed as a pass-catcher and kick returner, but stepping things up in Year 2 is paramount. He's worked hard throughout the offseason to improve his craft, and the early results speak for themselves.
There was a lot to like about the way McCaffrey applied himself. His route-running looked sharper. The player's movement looks better, and his speed was also something that caught the eye of those watching. There's a long way to go and a lot of hard work ahead, but all signs point to the Rice graduate becoming more influential next time around.
The competition for places is fierce in Washington's wide receiver room. McCaffrey's place on the squad was never in question, but he's gone a long way towards forcing the issue in pursuit of avoiding others surging ahead of him on the depth chart.
Winner No. 4
Jordan Magee - Commanders LB
The Commanders thought they had something special on their hands with Jordan Magee last season. A knee injury derailed the rookie linebacker's progress considerably, but he's eager to make up for some lost time this offseason.
Joe Whitt Jr. is looking to implement more three-linebacker sets next season. The defensive coordinator also believes Magee is capable of filling the void next to Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu. Based on the second-year pro's performance levels over Washington's offseason program, it's not hard to see why.
Magee got plenty of reps with the starting defense, according to those in attendance at mandatory minicamp. The former Temple star didn't look out of place, showcasing the athleticism and explosiveness that made him a high priority for the Commanders on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft.
This is the best-case scenario for the Commanders. They didn't strengthen their linebacking corps this offseason aside from drafting development project Kain Medrano. That was a head-scratcher for most fans, but it also signaled the team's unrivaled faith that Magee could take a massive leap and become a factor in 2025.
Nicki Jhabvala from The Washington Post is among those who believe big things are ahead for Magee. And he's got all the physical attributes needed to be a difference-maker.