Kain Medrano - Commanders LB
Adam Peters made strengthening the linebacking corps among his top priorities this offseason. For Daronte Jones' system to work, he needs athletic, dynamic players to operate aggressively behind the defensive front. Now, he's got the tools needed to hit the ground running.
The Washington Commanders signed Leo Chenal in free agency. They took Sonny Styles at No. 7 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Frankie Luvu is moving back into his off-ball role, and Jordan Magee also has some useful attributes that could develop further.
This could be a potent quartet. Unfortunately for players like Kain Medrano, it makes it even harder to make an impact.
Medrano was a sixth-round pick last year. The Commanders thought his exceptional athleticism could be molded into a productive player over time, but after practically redshirting his rookie season, there is just no telling how far along he is or isn't at the moment.
While it may be too early to give up on Medrano just yet, it'll be interesting to see his growth when things get tougher over the summer.
Chris Hilton Jr. - Commanders WR
The Commanders have a battle of epic proportions brewing in the wide receiver room. Terry McLaurin is the only dependable presence with proven production. However, several young hopefuls are also looking to make a greater impact within David Blough's schematic concepts.
Reports from OTAs suggest some wideouts are taking advantage. There are even murmurings about an undrafted rookie making waves, but not the one fans expected heading into the process.
Jaden Bradley didn't come with much hype, and he might still be nothing more than a practice squad development project, but he's got people's attention. That's always a positive first step, but where Chris Hilton Jr. stands in the pecking order right now is extremely unclear.
Hilton was another UDFA acquisition. He has a connection to Jayden Daniels from their time together at LSU, but he's a raw player with a lot of hard work ahead. And with the margin for error so slim, picking things up quickly is crucial.
Darius Rush - Commanders CB
The Commanders' cornerback room is a subject of great debate among the fan base. Some believe another productive option is needed for this defense to take the next step. But there is a growing sense in the building that there may be enough to cope with some tough challenges in 2026.
Trey Amos and Mike Sainristil are expected to start on the boundary. The free-agent signings of Amik Robertson and Ahkello Witherspoon should also play a part. Washington is also deploying Quan Martin in the nickel, which is where he's better suited after things stalled dramatically for the 2023 second-round pick.
Others are struggling to make their presence felt. Darius Rush is among them, so it'll take a massive effort to force his way onto the 53-man roster right now.
Rush joined the team last season but didn't feature much. Unless significant improvements are made, the same fate could befall him.
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