Brandon Coleman - Commanders OL
Things were looking up for Brandon Coleman entering his second season with the Washington Commanders. He was switching positions, moving to the interior after general manager Adam Peters traded for five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Still, most thought this was where his skills were best suited.
It didn't go well. Coleman struggled to generate any positive momentum, and he was benched after just two games. Chris Paul came in and raised the consistency, leaving the TCU product as a healthy scratch for long stretches of the campaign.
Coleman's been used as a bit-part player in jumbo packages, but not much else, in recent weeks. The Commanders are not going to cut the 2024 third-round pick. Even so, he needs to show the correct resolve and develop throughout the offseason to stand any chance of cementing his long-term status with the club.
Anything less, and the Commanders have a problem on their hands.
Preston Smith - Commanders DE
Fans were concerned about the Commanders' lack of pass-rushing options heading into the season. Adam Peters didn't address this critical position group with the urgency they wanted, but the front-office leader seemed confident in the options available. And he earned trust after spearheading the organization's renaissance much more quickly than expected.
Unfortunately for Peters, injuries exposed the team's lack of depth. Dorance Armstrong Jr. and Deatriich Wise Jr. both suffered season-ending injuries. The Commanders were left scouring the free-agent market for reinforcements, bringing defensive end Preston Smith into the fold for an emotional homecoming to the team that drafted him.
Smith hasn't met even modest expectations. It looks as if Father Time has finally caught up to a player with 70.5 career sacks. Peters cannot overlook the defensive edge next spring, which will probably leave the 2015 second-round pick on the outside looking in.
Chris Moore - Commanders WR
Losing so many productive wide receivers has been a difficult challenge for the Commanders. Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown have been seldom seen this season. Luke McCaffrey's encouraging progress was halted by a broken collarbone, which is too much to overcome without superstar quarterback Jayden Daniels leading the charge.
This has given opportunities to others who might otherwise have been on the practice squad or the unemployment line. Chris Moore is among them, who got a reprieve this offseason despite struggling to meet his specific targets during the summer.
Moore's had some decent moments, but consistency remains a problem. If the Commanders want to take that next leap and bounce back in 2026, they cannot move forward with the options currently available.
While Moore might get a shot to earn his spot again, it wouldn't be the biggest shock in the world to see him cut loose entirely.