Percy Butler - Commanders S
The Washington Commanders seem more comfortable with their options at safety than fans are. Despite the group's underperformance last season, general manager Adam Peters kept faith, hoping that new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones' schematic concepts could reignite the spark.
It's early days, but there are positive signs emerging from OTAs.
Tyler Owens and Quan Martin are both being challenged, and it's bringing a good response. Nick Cross is reportedly flying all over the field, indicating the free-agent signing is setting the right tone. The Commanders are also expecting bigger things from Will Harris, while Jeremy Reaves is the special-teams ace and respected locker room leader.
Just where that leaves Percy Butler is anyone's guess. He's in no real danger of missing out entirely, thanks to his special-teams prowess. But it's starting to look like that will be his niche moving forward as the Commanders prioritize others in the defensive rotation.
Tim McKay - Commanders OL
There was some intrigue around undrafted free agent offensive lineman Tim McKay last offseason. Some experts believed his skill set could make a difference for the Commanders, but health prevented him from making any impact. Now, he's got to prove himself all over again.
Washington's offensive line is relatively stable. There are competitions going on for the starting center and left guard jobs, and it'll be interesting to see who separates themselves from the pack. But with depth also looking pretty solid, McKay has a fight to be anything more than a practice squad presence once again.
The Commanders re-signed Andrew Wylie, who's got versatility and experience on his side. Brandon Coleman or Chris Paul will also be an understudy. Matt Gulbin is the backup center right now, and Trent Scott is another who can slot in almost anywhere when required. 4
Unless McKay raises his performance levels in the coming months, he'll remain on the fringes.
Van Jefferson Jr. - Commanders WR
There is still fierce debate over the Commanders' wide receiver options. As previously discussed, Brandon Aiyuk and Stefon Diggs have made no secret about their desire to land in Washington, but Adam Peters has held firm up to now. Until something gets confirmed, those around are getting the opportunity to stake their respective claims.
Several are doing just that. Treylon Burks, Luke McCaffrey, third-round rookie Antonio Williams, and the returning Dyami Brown have all drawn widespread praise at OTAs. Terry McLaurin is another, though his previous credentials shouldn't be questioned despite things not going well in 2025.
The competition for places is fierce, but it already seems like Van Jefferson Jr. is a long shot to make the team. He has more experience than Washington's young wideouts, but he lacks the same dynamism at this late stage of his career. There has been almost nothing said about the veteran so far, which is always a worrying sign.
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