Luke McCaffrey - Commanders WR
Much like the situation with Ben Sinnott, wide receiver Luke McCaffrey didn't get many targets in 2024. The rookie played a decent amount of snaps, which should serve him well, but the Washington Commanders were reluctant to put too much on his plate in Year 1.
McCaffrey remains something of an unknown quantity as a result. He shone as a kick returner, but remains a work in progress on the wideout front. There was a lot to like about his ability to create separation, so it's a case of building more trust with quarterback Jayden Daniels and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
The Commanders didn't sit on their hands this offseason. They traded for Deebo Samuel Sr., drafted Jaylin Lane, coaxed Michael Gallup out of retirement, and re-signed Noah Brown. McCaffery must hit the ground running this offseason. If he does, don't be surprised if he emerges as the team's slot specialist in 2025.
Jordan Magee - Commanders LB
Jordan Magee took the Commanders by storm over early workouts last summer. The rookie linebacker was physical, fast, and explosive. This was exactly what the coaching staff had in mind, but a devastating injury dented his progress significantly.
Magee suffered a knee complication that required surgery. He managed to return during the season but wasn't much of a factor on the defensive rotation. Although no doubt disappointing, all hope is not lost with the former Temple star by any stretch.
The Commanders have Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu as their starting linebacker duo. They are looking for one of their young guns to surge forward into a key rotational role. Magee has the athletic attributes to achieve this objective, but Washington also drafted Kain Medrano to keep the urgency high.
How Magee performs over the summer and the preseason will ultimately determine his 2025 outlook. If he impresses enough, the second-level force will be rewarded accordingly.
Tyler Owens - Commanders S
Tyler Owens was the story of Washington's training camp last year. Very little was expected of the undrafted free agent despite his impressive combination of size and speed. He put together a sensational few weeks to cement his place on the 53-man roster.
The dynamic safety wasn't utilized much aside from special teams. Owens got hurt at a bad time, which didn't help his chances. There were flashes of genuine quality on special teams, but nothing to overly convince anybody that he's got a long-term future with the franchise.
That's the big objective facing Owens this time around. Catching the eye and being a big surprise right out of the gate is one thing. Making sure these standards are sustained en route to more involvement is something else entirely.
The Commanders didn't do much to bolster their safety corps throughout the offseason. There's still time for that to change, but it could also be a sign that those in power believe Owens can improve enough to become a dangerous asset in 2025.