Adam Peters and Dan Quinn weren't happy with the performance during the Washington Commanders' preseason curtain-raiser versus the New England Patriots. And that might be understating things slightly.
Very few came out of the contest with encouragement. Potential flaws were exposed, giving the general manager and head coach plenty to think about before finalizing their squad for the new campaign.
Peters made several roster changes after the clash, including the release of linebacker Dominique Hampton. This was the first time Washington had cut a draft pick from the current front-office leader, which sent a loud message to everyone on the fringes about the need to raise standards or suffer a similar fate.
There isn't much time to alter perceptions. The Commanders have just two weeks remaining until final cuts are due. They have two preseason games, including on the bright lights of Monday Night Football, to navigate before some tough choices are discussed. And looking at the ruthless way Peters has built this roster, he won't hesitate to pull the trigger if he feels like it will benefit the franchise.
With this in mind, we took a look at how the Commanders' 53-man roster could look after the first preseason game.
Commanders' 53-man roster projection unleashes Adam Peters' ruthless vision
Commanders' special teams roster projection
- Matt Gay (PK), Tress Way (P), Tyler Ott (LS)
There wasn't much debate about the special teams trio. However, the recent frailties of Matt Gay have seen calls to have a late kicking competition before the campaign.
Those fell on deaf ears where Dan Quinn was concerned. He's confident that Gay can come through when it counts. And it's also worth noting that the veteran has been almost automatic more often than not during the summer.
The Commanders gave Gay the most guaranteed money for any kicker on a one-year deal in league history. They're not going to give up so soon, but the life of an NFL kicker is precarious unless the required consistency is displayed.
Washington's other two spots are locked up. Legendary punter Tress Way is the team's longest-serving player. More importantly, he is still performing at a high level. His supreme leadership in the locker room also serves as inspiration to others, which is an overlooked yet pivotal part of his overall presence.
There is also long-snapper Tyler Ott. He barely put a foot wrong in 2024, which is a far cry from the catastrophes Washington churned out at the position before his arrival.
Commanders' offensive roster projection
Quarterback (3): Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota, Josh Johnson.
Running back (3): Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler, Jacory Croskey-Merritt.
Wide receiver (6): Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel Sr., Noah Brown, Jaylin Lane, Luke McCaffrey, Ja'Corey Brooks.
Tight end (3): Zach Ertz, John Bates, Ben Sinnott.
Offensive line (9): Laremy Tunsil, Brandon Coleman, Tyler Biadasz, Nick Allegretti, Josh Conerly Jr., Andrew Wylie, Trent Scott, Foster Sarrell, Julian Good-Jones (Sam Cosmi — PUP).
Jayden Daniels is the franchise quarterback with the Washington Commanders' fate in the palm of his hand. Fans believe anything is possible with the No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft under center, and it's not hard to see why after his phenomenal first campaign in the pros.
Marcus Mariota will back him up, but he's been dealing with some injury problems of late. That could see the Commanders take three quarterbacks once again, and Josh Johnson looks like the frontrunner after outperforming Sam Hartman in Washington's preseason opener.
It'll be interesting to see how many spots are allocated to the running back room. Adam Peters might only need three, given the presence of Deebo Samuel Sr. and Jaylin Lane. That makes Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler, and seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt the choices, which is unlikely to change at this juncture.
The wide receiver room is arguably the most fascinating remaining dynamic. Terry McLaurin is still awaiting his new contract, but every fan is hoping for a successful resolution before Week 1 against the New York Giants arrives.
Samuel, Lane, Luke McCaffrey, and Noah Brown should make it barring something unforeseen occurring. That leaves perhaps one spot for someone else. The choice is undrafted rookie Ja'Corey Brooks after he brought in all five of his targets in a memorable preseason debut.
There hasn't been much drama in the tight end room. Zach Ertz and John Bates are the starting tandem, and the Commanders still have high hopes for Ben Sinnott. Things are less certain around Colson Yankoff, who could find himself off the team unless performances improve over the next two preseason games.
After some substantial investments in the offensive line, those in power are expecting every player to deliver. There are some injury concerns right now, with the statuses of Sam Cosmi and Brandon Coleman — who are projected to be the Commanders' starting guard tandem — in doubt.
Coleman has a better chance to feature right out of the gate than Cosmi, who'll probably start on the physically unable to perform list as he recovers from a torn ACL. There are no such issues at left tackle, with Laremy Tunsil making his presence felt immediately this offseason.
Tyler Biadasz will start at center, with Julian Good-Jones chosen over Michael Deiter to back him up. Andrew Wylie and Josh Conerly Jr. could share right tackle duties to start the season, but the rookie first-rounder has made some encouraging progress over the last week.
Commanders' defensive roster projection
Defensive line (9): Dorance Armstrong Jr., Daron Payne, Javon Kinlaw, Deatrich Wise Jr., Jacob Martin, Johnny Newton, Eddie Goldman, Jalyn Holmes, Sheldon Day.
Linebacker (6): Bobby Wagner, Frankie Luvu, Von Miller, Jordan Magee, Nick Bellore, Kain Medrano.
Corneback (6): Marshon Lattimore, Trey Amos, Mike Sainristil, Noah Igbinoghene, Jonathan Jones, Car'lin Vigers.
Safety (5): Quan Martin, Will Harris, Percy Butler, Tyler Owens, Jeremy Reaves.
The Washington Commanders' defensive line could be a lot better than people expect in 2025. This is predicated on their starting options thriving, because the depth behind them didn't exactly flourish against the New England Patriots.
Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw will lead the interior charge. Johnny Newton has potential as a pass-rushing specialist in the 3-technique, but his ability against the run remains a concern. That's not the case with Eddie Goldman and Sheldon Day, who should provide solid cover if needed.
With Von Miller being listed as a rush linebacker, the Commanders will likely deploy Dorance Armstrong Jr. and Deatrich Wise Jr. as their starting defensive ends. Jacob Martin and Jalyn Holmes could back them up, with Kinlaw also expected to play on the edge in specific situations.
The Commanders officially gave up on 2024 fifth-round pick Dominique Hampton, which all but cements the second-level players going through. Bobby Wagner, Frankie Luvu, and Miller are the established linebacking trio. Hopes are high for Jordan Magee in Year 2. Nick Bellore and rookie Kain Medrano will be depth pieces tasked with playing important roles on special teams.
Washington's cornerback room is pretty set, depending on how many Dan Quinn and Adam Peters want to take through. Marshon Lattimore and second-round pick Trey Amos look like a dynamic boundary tandem. Mike Sainristil has thrived in the slot all summer long. Noah Igbinoghene and Jonathan Jones will be decent rotational pieces with proven production in a competitive setting.
That leaves one spot for the rest. There were some obvious growing pains during his preseason debut, but the Commanders have the luxury of allocating the spot to a development project that can assist on special teams. Car'lin Vigers is the tentative choice, but improvements must be made over the next fortnight.
It's hard to find holes in the safety unit right now. Quan Martin and Will Harris will start. Both Jeremy Reaves and Tyler Owens have been getting a ton of work with the first-string defense and should play important roles. Percy Butler got a new one-year deal ahead of time in recognition of his improvements, and he'll be an integral part of the special-teams plans if he doesn't quite crack the defensive rotation.
Things didn't go according to plan defensively against the Patriots. But it's worth remembering that almost no established starters saw time on the field. If everyone meets expectations, it should be a profitable campaign.