Deebo Samuel Sr. - Commanders WR
The Washington Commanders were right to send a fifth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers for Deebo Samuel Sr. Adam Peters knew the player well. The general manager also knew how much he could help the club despite concerns about his conditioning and locker-room attitude.
None of that has cropped up in Washington, even with the team struggling. Samuel has stayed professional, and the Commanders have tasked him with a lot as Terry McLaurin, Noah Brown, and Luke McCaffrey remain on the shelf. Peters' decision not to trade him before the 2025 deadline suggests that a new contract could be on the horizon next spring.
That could legitimately go either way right now. Samuel will be 30 soon, and Peters might not want to make another massive financial commitment after paying McLaurin. It'll be interesting to see what happens, but a prolific end to the campaign will only help his chances.
Noah Igbinoghene - Commanders CB
There was intense trade speculation around Noah Igbinoghene both before the campaign and the 2025 deadline. Nothing eventually materialized, and the athletic cornerback will now get an extended audition to carve out another year with the Commanders down the stretch.
The Commanders' cornerback unit is decimated by injuries. Four-time Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore is out indefinitely with a torn ACL, and he might not play for the Commanders again. Second-round rookie Trey Amos' promising first campaign also came to an abrupt halt, giving Igbinoghene more involvement along the way.
The first-round pick out of Auburn has logged more than 50 percent of the team's defensive snaps over their last two contests. Igbinoghene has performed relatively well, but a massive effort is needed over the final six games to book his place on Washington's squad in 2026.
Anything less, and the Commanders might go in a different direction.
Chris Paul - Commanders OL
The Commanders needed to take drastic action on their interior offensive line early in the campaign. Things were not clicking, and the coaching staff could see it a mile away. Both guards were replaced, with Andrew Wylie moving to the right and Chris Paul being installed at left guard.
Paul found a way to stick around, entering the final year of his deal this summer. The seventh-round pick has never cemented a starting berth, so putting more on his plate was a calculated risk by the coaching staff. It's paid off handsomely, and the former Tulsa star could potentially secure his status with the club next year with a strong end to the campaign.
His 81.0 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus ranks second league-wide among all qualifying guards. Paul's run blocking has been subpar at times, but his overall performance has represented a massive step forward. If the same trend continues, a new deal will be waiting next spring.