Rachaad White - Commanders RB
There is an interesting battle brewing in the Washington Commanders' running back room. Several viable candidates are looking to make their presence felt, and there is no clear-cut frontrunner right now.
The dynamic might become clearer when the Commanders get to training camp. But even now, it's starting to look like Rachaad White is going to have an influential say in proceedings.
White turned down offers from other interested parties to join the Commanders this offseason. He's got a previous connection to quarterback Jayden Daniels from their time together at Arizona State, and the seamless transition is evident over his first few weeks with the franchise.
The final day of minicamp saw him emerge as the standout offensive player, according to reports. This stemmed from his explosiveness and pass-catching prowess out of the backfield, traits the Commanders lacked last season after Austin Ekeler went down with a torn Achilles.
Others are also making strong claims, but White is firmly in the mix. He performed well for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, gaining 4,106 yards from scrimmage and 25 touchdowns over his four years in the NFC South. If he can replicate or increase this in Washington, the Commanders will have a steal on their hands.
K'Lavon Chaisson - Commanders OLB
Addressing the edge-rushing room with no urgency this offseason was not an option for general manager Adam Peters. Washington's front-office supremo knew that significant investment was needed to generate more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. After an aggressive recruitment phase, things look a lot more promising now.
K'Lavon Chaisson is among the new arrivals. The 2020 first-round pick is in the midst of a massive career turnaround, and he was willing to bet on himself with another one-year deal in Washington.
Chaisson could have secured a longer contract with the New Orleans Saints, but he feels this situation in Washington gives him the best possible chance to take another step forward. And based on reports emanating from minicamp, he's got the scope to help dramatically within Daronte Jones' schematic concepts.
There is a lot to like about the way Chaisson goes about his business. ESPN insider John Keim was among those who noted his athleticism and competitiveness as traits that have stood out. There is a long way to go and a lot of hard work ahead, but the LSU product couldn't be doing much more to firmly establish himself.
If the same trend carries through the summer, Chaisson will be an asset when the regular season arrives.
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