Brandon Coleman - Commanders OL
Brandon Coleman's rollercoaster first two years in the league came with some good moments and a few disappointments thrown in for good measure. The Washington Commanders are not ready to give up on him yet, and the 2024 third-round pick is getting the opportunity to fight it out for the starting left guard job he lost to Chris Paul just two games into the previous campaign.
Coleman switched inside when the Commanders traded for left tackle Laremy Tunsil. It didn't go well, though he may also have been dealing with an injury. The TCU product is getting the benefit of the doubt, but if he wants to become anything more than a versatile depth piece, the third-year pro must impose himself at training camp and the preseason.
The physical intangibles are not in question. If Coleman can add some toughness to his game and become stronger in his base, he can force a difficult conversation between those in power.
Drake Jackson - Commanders OLB
Had it not been for a series of unfortunate injuries, there is a good chance that Drake Jackson would have carved out a highly successful career for himself by now. Sadly for the edge rusher, that's not the case, and he now faces a real fight to make Washington's roster once again.
Adam Peters still believes Jackson can be impactful; he just needs a little bit of luck. Staying healthy is critical, especially with the improved options in the pass-rushing room. He's on the roster bubble right now, and if he wants to improve his standing, the flashes must be plentiful throughout camp and in any reps he gets in the preseason.
Jackson's talent was not in doubt. He was a high-end Day 2 draft pick who can cause untold problems when firing on all cylinders. There hasn't been nearly enough of that in recent years, so it's a do-or-die summer with huge ramifications attached if it all goes wrong.
Jaylin Lane - Commanders WR
A case can be made for most wide receivers behind Terry McLaurin making more of an impact in David Blough's system. But until someone steps up and becomes a viable solution to their problem, most remain unknown quantities.
Jaylin Lane is among them. His rookie contribution was primarily in punt return duties, where he returned two punts for touchdowns during the season. He's got the speed and the elusiveness to be a threat after the catch in the short to intermediate areas of the field, but there is a significant amount of polish needed as well.
Lane must improve his concentration and ball security to stand any chance of gaining his fair share of targets. His route tree needs to expand, but there is a way for him to feature if Blough can manufacture some touches for him and maximize his skill set.
It won't be easy for Lane, especially if more receiver acquisitions are made. But this could also be the opening he's been waiting for.
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