Javontae Jean-Baptiste - Commanders OLB
Standing pat in the edge-rushing room would have been unacceptable. They were old. They were slow. Aside from Dorance Armstrong Jr.'s breakout before a serious knee injury halted his momentum, there was nothing remotely positive to cheer.
Fortunately, the Washington Commanders recognized this. Adam Peters prioritized the group more than any other, bringing in several intriguing players who should all play their part under Daronte Jones.
Odafe Oweh, K'Lavon Chaisson, and Charles Omenihu joined the ranks in free agency. The Commanders spent a fifth-round pick on Joshua Josephs, and Armstrong is reportedly making good progress with a view to returning sooner rather than later. As such, these upgrades could make the pass rush a strength.
It also leaves little room for the rest. Javontae Jean-Baptiste is among them, and the 2024 seventh-round pick has a tall order on his hands to secure his place on the roster for a third season.
Jean-Baptiste remains something of an unknown quantity. He flashed some promise as a rookie, but any hopes of building on it were dashed early in the 2025 campaign when he went to the shelf. The Notre Dame product is now healthy, but the standards on the defensive edge have also been raised exponentially.
Luke McCaffrey - Commanders WR
The battle for positioning in the wide receiver room is among the most fascinating when it comes to the Commanders. There remains speculation about another dependable option coming on board, but Adam Peters seems content enough not to force the issue.
Terry McLaurin is the alpha and the only sure thing in Washington's wideout group. The rest are unknowns or young hopefuls seeking more involvement under new offensive coordinator David Blough. And the team seems happy to give everyone a chance to stake their respective claims.
It's a big summer for Luke McCaffrey. The 2024 third-round pick has featured more as a kick returner than in the offensive rotation so far, and that has to change. He can get open and is elusive with the football in his hands. If Blough can find ways to manufacture some easy touches for him, he's got the skill set to be impactful.
McCaffrey won't have it easy, that's for sure.
Dyami Brown, Jaylin Lane, Treylon Burks, Van Jefferson Jr., third-round pick Antonio Williams, and undrafted rookie Jaden Bradley will all be breathing down his neck. Unless he improves consistency and continues to build trust, he is in real danger of getting lost in the shuffle.
High stakes, indeed.
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