The Washington Commanders are expecting more from everybody next season. And for those who became part of general manager Adam Peters' first draft class, this is the time to step up.
There are concerns about everyone taken in the 2024 NFL Draft. Some haven't featured much. One didn't even make it to his second season. Others haven't performed up to expectations. And for quarterback Jayden Daniels, durability is a new problem that must be alleviated.
Mike Sainristil is among those with raised stakes. The cornerback's second year did not go nearly as well as his first. He gained a lot of takeaways, but he was lackluster in coverage, and for the first time in his professional career, he looked undersized.
Logan Paulsen urges Commanders to switch Mike Sainristil to the boundary permanently
Moving from the slot to the boundary over and over doesn't exactly help, either. Former Washington tight end Logan Paulsen believes switching him to the outside permanently is something the Commanders should seriously consider, which would impact his ability to be instinctive while also helping ensure his physical limits are less exposed.
"Once they moved him out, you saw some of those run-fit limitations, the size limitations, become less relevant, just because you're further away from the football. You're still going to run into the same limitations, but that doesn't take away from the other things he does well.
"He's very instinctive to the football. He understands route concepts well. If you understand that about him, he's going to be very ball productive for you. On the perimeter, he's instinctive, he's smart, he's got great click, and close, there's really good stuff there that masks the physical limitations."
It's an interesting debate. Sainristil came into the league as a nickel. Injuries forced him to the outside as a rookie, and he shone as Washington reached the NFC Championship game. The regression last season was notable, but that was the case with almost every other defender, too.
The Commanders are ready to give Sainristil the benefit of the doubt. They didn't do much to improve the cornerback unit this offseason, signing Ahkello Witherspoon and Amik Robertson to replace the outgoing veterans. Some don't believe that is enough, but it highlights Washington's faith in the Michigan product and Trey Amos, who performed well before injury struck.
Defensive coordinator Daronte Jones will have a plan in place. He wants his defensive backs to be versatile and dynamic. Sainristil ticks those boxes, but keying in on one position — the boundary, in this scenario — and sticking to it could be enough for the third-year pro to launch a bounce-back campaign.
Anything less, and the Commanders may not be as lenient with Sainristil's status this time next year.
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