Tyler Biadasz - Commanders C
The Washington Commanders have endured some difficulties along the offensive line this season. This bears more significance on the interior, which prompted the coaching staff to take drastic action just two games into the campaign.
Dan Quinn changed the two starting guards. That was a massive risk at a critical early stage, but there was one glue guy holding everything together in his typically understated manner.
Tyler Biadasz won't generate the buzz of others, but his role is integral to the Commanders' chances. He's been a model of consistency so far, giving up just one sack and zero penalties. There are some flaws in pass protection on occasion, but the good far outweighs the bad.
That is a small sample of Biadasz's influence. He's an exceptional communicator pre-snap. His experience in forming chemistry with whoever is under center instantly was needed when Marcus Mariota came in for an injured Jayden Daniels. He's everything you'd want in a dependable center.
Javon Kinlaw - Commanders DL
There weren't many around the media who thought that Javon Kinlaw was worth the contract handed to him by the Commanders in free agency.
After one solid if unspectacular year with the New York Jets, his future was hanging in the balance. Adam Peters, who was part of the brain trust that spent a first-round pick on the defensive lineman in San Francisco, felt this was the perfect environment to take his game up a notch.
The Commanders outlined their supreme faith in Kinlaw with a three-year, $45 million deal that also included $30 million in guaranteed money. Analysts and fans scoffed at the figure, but the former South Carolina prospect is repaying this confidence in no uncertain terms.
A lot of Kinlaw's best work doesn't show up on the stat sheet. He's formed a dominant interior tandem with Daron Payne. His presence is helping the Alabama product reach new levels of consistency. Their physical attributes are well-suited, making it incredibly difficult for opposing offensive lines to counteract.
This looks like money well spent so far.
Trey Amos - Commanders CB
The Commanders believed they had a steal on their hands when Trey Amos fell into their laps at No. 61 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. Adam Peters had a first-round grade on the cornerback, but a back issue that came up during his medical assessments was enough to put teams off.
Some are probably regretting that decision now. Amos won a starting job quickly during the summer. He's transitioned smoother than most first-year corners, displaying the physicality and accomplished coverage credentials that the Commanders desperately needed opposite Marshon Lattimore.
There have been some rough times for the secondary, but the fact that Amos is arguably the most consistent performer at this early stage of his career speaks volumes. The Ole Miss product is not making things easy for opposing wide receivers, as reflected in the eight receptions allowed and the 74.3 passer rating conceded through five weeks.