It was a slow burn for Luke McCaffrey as a rookie. The Washington Commanders brought him along gradually, but everyone associated with the franchise is expecting more this time around.
McCaffrey made some outstanding plays throughout the offseason as he looks for more involvement in 2025. However, one team insider sounded the alarm on an overlooked deficiency that could hold him back when it's all said and done.
The Commanders believe that McCaffrey can become an integral piece of the puzzle over time. Just how long that'll take is the big question, but the former Rice standout has looked much better, for the most part, heading into Year 2 of his professional career.
With fellow wideout Terry McLaurin still not on the practice field as his contract saga continues, players like McCaffrey are getting chances to impress from prominent roles. There's been plenty of good from the No. 100 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, Lynnell Willingham from 106.7 The Fan also highlighted one major negative that could prove complicated when competitive games arrive.
Commanders insider highlights Luke McCaffrey's concentration issues after rough practice
Winningham noted that McCaffrey had another makeable catch hit the ground during the team portion of practice. The team reporter believes that this is rapidly becoming an ongoing trend for the receiver, which is something fans should monitor over the rest of camp and preseason games.
Luke Wide Open drop in flat
— Lynnell Willingham (@Nell_BTP) July 31, 2025
Gotta have that
He’s had it hit the turf a good bit this camp
McCaffrey is a work in progress; there's no getting away from that. He only had two years at receiver in college after transitioning from the quarterback position. Last year's experience with the squad is serving him well, but there remain some inconsistencies if Willingham's observations are any indication.
Of course, not every ball is going to be caught. Everyone makes mistakes, and McCaffrey is no exception. What's important for the wideout is finding the happy medium that allows for more consistency and confidence. After that, it's all systems go.
It's nothing to be overly concerned about right now. McCaffrey is catching far more balls than he's dropping. He's gaining the trust of coaches and quarterback Jayden Daniels. It's still a step-by-step process, but these reported concentration issues are easily corrected.
Here is video of Commanders WR Luke McCaffrey catching passes pic.twitter.com/K6qC6uxPlR
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) July 31, 2025
McCaffrey is a hard worker. He's as professional as they come, learning what it takes to be a productive pro from his brother Christian and father Ed. Any flaws in his game will be rectified, and we've still got a few weeks until Washington's regular-season opener against the New York Giants.
All signs point to McCaffrey having a bigger role in 2025. That won't change with a few drops at camp.