Commanders' final 53-man roster prediction: Offense
Quarterback (3): Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota, Athan Kaliakmanis
The Washington Commanders need quarterback Jayden Daniels to be fit and firing on all cylinders throughout the 2026 campaign. He's not lacking in motivation, and if the offensive line meets its end of the bargain, the signal-caller is gifted enough to bounce back with new doubters to silence.
Marcus Mariota will back him up. He's a steady veteran presence who knows how to slot in at a moment's notice when needed. He's also missed a lot of time this summer, so another contingency plan is required.
Spending a seventh-round selection on Athan Kaliakmanis was surprising, but it's been desperately needed. More importantly, the Rutgers product has shown some encouraging signs during his preseason involvement.
Running Back (4): Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White, Kaytron Allen, Jeremy McNichols
The battle for supremacy in Washington's running back room looked like it could result in some tough choices at final cuts. That might still be the case, but the options leveled out as the summer went on.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt and free-agent signing Rachaad White will spearhead the group. Sixth-round rookie Kaytron Allen has some hard work ahead, but he brings a physical presence others cannot manage. And if healthy, Jeremy McNichols will make it as a respected leader and core special-teams presence.
That would leave undrafted rookie Robert Henry Jr. out of luck. However, he's a prime candidate for the practice squad.
Wide Receiver (6): Terry McLaurin, Stefon Diggs, Antonio Williams, Luke McCaffrey, Jaylin Lane, Treylon Burks
The wide receiver dynamic will be among the most fascinating. Much will depend on how many they take through, but competition for places lower down the pecking order is incredibly fierce.
Terry McLaurin, Stefon Diggs, and third-round rookie Antonio Williams are locks. Jaylin Lane and Luke McCaffrey have too much going for them in the return game to remove them from the equation. If the Commanders allocate six spots to the wideout unit, that leaves one spare place for the rest.
Treylon Burks, Van Jefferson Jr., Dyami Brown, and undrafted rookie Jaden Bradley are in contention. It could legitimately go either way, but the 2022 first-round pick might be the one who gets a reprieve.
Tight End (4): Chig Okonkwo, John Bates, Ben Sinnott, Colson Yankoff
The Commanders have stability and encouragement at tight end. Zach Ertz is no longer around, but the club managed to get a more dynamic pass-catcher into the building by acquiring Chig Okonkwo in free agency. And the impressive offseason raised hope he can factor heavily into David Blough's offensive strategy.
John Bates is one of the league's best blockers, so he's an important piece of the puzzle as well. While 2024 second-round pick Ben Sinnott and Colson Yankoff remain unknown quantities, both have flashed enough promise this offseason to carve out bigger roles for themselves.
Okonkwo holds the key, but this needs to be a collective effort.
Offensive Line (9): Brandon Coleman, Chris Paul, Nick Allegretti, Sam Cosmi, Josh Conerly Jr., Andrew Wylie, Trent Scott, Matt Gulbin, D.J. Humphries
The Commanders have some problems to figure out on their offensive line. They won't have five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil to depend upon, which is a body blow. And the problems along the interior are equally as concerning.
Washington should have done more at center. That's not up for discussion, but the recent acquisition of D.J. Humphries means that Adam Peters is still looking for help.
Don't be surprised if the Commanders make another addition with a center who may be available via trade or on the waiver wire. Anything less is organizational malpractice at this point.
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