If the Washington Commanders want to bounce back next season, they need almost everything to go their way. They need franchise players to step up. They need better luck on the injury front. And they need a few breakout stars to come out of nowhere.
That sounds difficult, but it's not impossible by any stretch of the imagination. And according to head coach Dan Quinn, there is a player going completely under the radar who he'll be watching extremely closely this offseason.
During his media availability at the annual league meetings, Quinn outlined his faith in tight end Lawrence Cager making more of an impression this summer. It's a crowded room with Chig Okonkwo, Ben Sinnott, John Bates, and Colson Yankoff, but it's evident that the Commanders see something in the Georgia product.
Commanders outline quiet confidence in Lawrence Cager to make an impact next season
This was surprising. However, according to ESPN insider John Keim, it's not the first time someone within the building has highlighted Cager as someone who could make a bigger impact in 2026.
"Dan Quinn said they're high on TE Lawrence Cager...."Interesting to see where it goes with Cager." Not the first time I've heard someone with the team mention Cager this offseason."
Cager came into the league as a wide receiver but converted to tight end. He's bounced around before joining the Commanders in 2025. He didn't do enough to make the roster and was on and off the practice before getting a reserve/futures contract when the campaign concluded.
Not exactly the brightest trajectory for the 28-year-old. But based on Quinn's comments and Keim's conversations with others, the Commanders are going to give Cager every chance to make a much better go of things when on-field preparations for the new campaign begin.
This is a massive confidence boost for the player, who has the size and athleticism to possibly carve out a role for himself. Okonkwo, Bates, and Sinnott are all but assured their roster places. Therefore, it could come down to a straight fight between Cager and Yankoff for the fourth tight end spot.
Yankoff is an undrafted free agent who's been part of the squad over the last two seasons. He's not carved out many reps on the offensive rotation, but he is a useful special-teams performer. That might be enough to give him the upper hand, but Cager's projected ceiling, according to Quinn, means nothing is set in stone right now.
The Commanders will give Cager a chance to impress. Quinn is expecting big things, but it could still go either way.