Deebo Samuel Sr. - Commanders WR
Deebo Samuel Sr. arrived at the Washington Commanders via trade from the San Francisco 49ers this offseason. The wide receiver came into the franchise with questions about his conditioning, attitude, and everything in between. He's answered his critics and more.
Samuel has been nothing but professional, focused, and willing to help others from the moment he got into the building. The Commanders have used the former South Carolina sensation as a versatile weapon in the short to intermediate areas of the field with great success. He also managed to step up into a more focal-point role when Terry McLaurin got hurt.
The Commanders could easily keep him around with a strong end to the campaign. However, the wideout isn't going to come cheap, and this throws his future into serious doubt.
Washington already has a lot of money tied into McLaurin, so giving another receiver over 30 years old a lucrative commitment might not be in Peters's thought process. It could go either way, so the need to finish on the front foot cannot be overstated.
Chris Paul - Commanders OL
Veteran interior offensive lineman Chris Paul typifies the resolve that head coach Dan Quinn demands from his players. Even though general manager Adam Peters disposed of Ron Rivera's draft picks at will, the 2022 seventh-round pick managed to stick around. And when he was finally given a chance to shine from a starting role, he took it.
Paul replaced Brandon Coleman in Week 3 and has been in the left guard spot ever since. His 78.4 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus ranks fourth out of 78 qualifying guards. There is some significant refinement needed on running plays, but the Tulsa product looks well on his way to securing a new deal if the same trend continues down the stretch.
The Commanders have not lost faith in Coleman, and a recent report suggests there was more to his benching than met the eye at the time. That keeps the stakes high for Paul, which should motivate him to conclude his campaign on a positive note.
Antonio Hamilton Sr. - Commanders CB
The Commanders have dealt with some torrid injuries in their cornerback room this season. Marshon Lattimore and second-round rookie Trey Amos were the team's starting options on the boundary. They both suffered serious knee injuries, so others have been forced to step up accordingly.
It took a while for Antonio Hamilton Sr. to get his opportunity. The veteran has played in 12 games this season, but has been used primarily on special teams. That all changed in Week 15 against the New York Giants.
Hamilton got the chance to show what he could do from a starting role, and the defensive back was sensational. He locked down almost everyone in his path, made plays on the football when it came his way, and displayed outstanding recovery techniques on the odd occasions he lost a step. This exceptional showing dictates greater involvement in Washington's final three games.
Things will get a lot tougher against A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens, but Hamilton has earned this audition.