Coming into the 2025 season, several key factors were evident regarding the Washington Commanders. Everyone acknowledged the dominance of quarterback Jayden Daniels. And the general public was finally prepared to recognize his most valuable weapon, Terry McLaurin, as one of the league’s elite receivers.
On defense, the venerable Bobby Wagner and rising star Frankie Luvu were clear leaders. Even special teams had some sure things in the Pro Bowl duo of Tress Way and Jeremy Reaves. Most fans felt comfortable with those known entities, even though a couple were aging.
But a lot of questions remained.
Adam Peters had drafted a new batch of rookies and signed a new group of free agents. How would they fit in? There were a few lower-profile players — holdovers and newcomers alike — who might be needed in the event of injury. For Washington to repeat or surpass last year’s remarkable finish, a lot of these question marks would have to play big.
Commanders have tackled adversity the right way and answered a lot of critics
How has it gone in the early part of 2025? Peters may not be batting a thousand, but there are encouraging signs from every front.
First, there are the rookies. It seemed a bit out of character when Peters traded a fair amount of his draft capital to acquire some veterans this offseason. But he wanted to take advantage of Daniels’ contract situation and try to win sooner rather than later. That, in turn, put extra pressure on the five draftees.
So far, four out of the five have met or exceeded expectations. It begins with first-round pick Josh Conerly Jr. The 21-year-old out of Oregon struggled early but has been settling in as the season progresses. It was a genuine trial by fire, facing elite edge rushers like Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, Micah Parsons, Rashan Gary, and Maxx Crosby in his first five weeks. But the No. 29 pick has weathered the storm and played every snap thus far.
Second-round pick Trey Amos has been the Commanders' best cover corner by a wide margin early in the season. Fourth-round selection Jaylin Lane already has a punt return for a touchdown.
Of course, there is also Jacory Croskey-Merritt.
The whispers have been there from day one. Despite being a seventh-round pick, the young man was being labelled as special. If anything, the man they call Bill has surpassed even the wildest expectations, leading the league in yards per carry and rushing success rate.
The rookies have answered virtually every question asked of them. But what of those high-priced veterans?
Deebo Samuel Sr. and Laremy Tunsil both arrived via trade, and some analysts thought Peters gave up too much. All the left tackle has done is turn in his typical, top-10 performance at the crucial left tackle spot, playing every snap this season.
Meanwhile, Samuel has stepped up significantly as McLaurin has struggled to regain his 2024 form. The All-Pro is currently the clear leader amongst all receivers, and the hope is that once Washington's alpha in the wideout room rounds into shape, the Commanders will have a dynamic outside tandem.
The other high-priced newcomer, Javon Kinlaw, was the iffiest of all Peters’ moves. Virtually every expert thought the Commanders overpaid for the talented, underachieving defensive tackle. And yet, he is having his best season as a pro.
Kinlaw is emerging as a force in the middle of the defensive front, teaming with Daron Payne, Johnny Newton, and Eddie Goldman to form a dominant core for the Commanders.
Finally, there are the journeymen. These players weren’t expected to be major contributors. But in the event of injury or poor performance, it would be essential that they step up.
On offense, Chris Paul is one of the few remaining draft picks from the Ron Rivera regime. He has always seemed on the verge of being cut, but keeps hanging on. When Nick Allegretti struggled early this season, he entered the starting lineup at left guard. Like Kinlaw, he is playing his best football, locking down his spot on an improving offensive line.
On the other side of the ball, Jacob Martin was a low-profile free agent who had been a pass-rushing specialist throughout his career. When Deatrich Wise Jr. was lost to injury, he stepped into his defensive end spot and has shown off an unexpectedly solid overall game.
At the backend of the defense, long-time special teams star Reaves has showcased the same, filling in for the injured Will Harris. Both players have allowed the defense to move forward without missing a beat.
So the stars have been shining, the rookies have proved they belong, and the journeymen have not wilted when asked to step up. The Commanders have not answered every last question about the 2025 roster, but they have been checking them off at a pretty good clip so far.