Colson Yankoff - Commanders TE
The Washington Commanders got a massive boost to their tight end room this offseason with the signing of Chig Okonkwo. He's imposed himself immediately, showcasing the speed and athleticism that this offense didn't have when Zach Ertz was manning the starting job.
Others will also need to step up their performance levels. New offensive coordinator David Blough is expected to rely heavily on the position in his system. John Bates will be a role, especially as a blocker. Ben Sinnott is making encouraging strides, but another is also delivering a strong case for more involvement.
Colson Yankoff came into the Commanders as an undrafted free agent in 2024. He's made the roster for two straight years, featuring primarily on special teams. This experience has served him well, and he wants to take things up a notch this summer to play his part in Blough's schematic designs.
Yankoff showcased his pass-catching potential on the final day of mandatory minicamp. He looks sharper and seems to be more comfortable as a route runner. While he may only be No. 4 on the depth chart, his roster chances are getting stronger with every good session.
Colson Yankoff with a one-handed grab … pic.twitter.com/zQLmYoBVDq
— John Keim (@john_keim) June 18, 2026
And if Blough is going to use tight ends as many expect, four could be the number going through onto the squad once again.
Jayden Daniels - Commanders QB
The QB3 battle between Athan Kaliakmanis and Sam Hartman has taken center stage over mandatory minicamp, at least during 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills. Head coach Dan Quinn wants to get a good look at those lower down the depth chart before attention shifts at training camp, but everyone was still watching the progress of Jayden Daniels closely.
Daniels is looking to silence some new doubters. He's done talking about last season, and his fierce competitiveness to drive everyone forward has come across almost constantly throughout the offseason. The Commanders are bringing all their established veterans along gradually before things ramp up at camp, but reports indicate the No. 2 pick in 2024 is ready to hit the ground running.
While it's still just in shorts with no pads on, Daniels' accuracy and movements remain top-notch. His developing connection with new tight end Chig Okonkwo is coming along nicely, and there are no lingering effects of the injury problems that blighted his 2025 campaign.
That's arguably the biggest positive of all. Bigger tests are coming for Daniels to pass, and the wide receivers behind Terry McLaurin remain a question mark, but the LSU product looks ready to remind the world just how special he can be.
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