Brandon Coleman - Commanders OL
When the Washington Commanders sealed a bombshell trade for five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil, it represented a major statement of intent. Adam Peters meant business, and the general manager was going to do everything in his power to surround quarterback sensation Jayden Daniels with the pieces needed to excel further.
This meant a position switch for Brandon Coleman. The No. 67 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft manned the blindside as a rookie. He performed well but experienced some growing pains as expected. There is no doubt that Tunsil represents a huge upgrade, leaving the TCU product switching to the interior.
Coleman is the starter at left guard. He's transitioned smoothly this offseason, although an injury over training camp wasn't ideal. Thankfully for the Commanders, he returned to practice recently. The fact that he wanted to gain game-day reps in Washington's final preseason contest against the Baltimore Ravens spoke volumes.
All signs are pointing up for Coleman. His impressive physical attributes look much better suited to the guard spot. Having the benefit of Tunsil alongside him on the edge is a massive security blanket to call upon. If he gets a clear run of luck on the health front, a potential Pro Bowl-caliber campaign might be in the offing.
Trey Amos - Commanders CB
The Commanders believed immediately that they had a steal on their hands with Trey Amos. Adam Peters considered taking the cornerback at No. 29 overall before offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. was available. When he was still sitting there at No. 61 overall, it represented a no-brainer.
Amos imposed himself immediately. He felt slighted after a reported back issue during his pre-draft medical testing caused his stock to tumble. That's provided the motivation needed to hit the ground running and quickly establish himself as an important part of the team's plans in 2025.
It didn't take long for Amos to secure a starting spot on the boundary opposite four-time Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore. He's a physical presence in press coverage. He's a willing contributor against the run, and he slotted into Joe Whitt Jr.'s schematic concepts instantly. There are very few flaws to his game, so hopes are high that the Ole Miss product can bring this through into a competitive setting.
Rookie cornerbacks tend to experience some growing pains. The Commanders have seen that first-hand with the likes of Emmanuel Forbes Jr. and Benjamin St-Juste in recent seasons. Even so, Amos looks more than capable of asserting his dominance early on.