As head coach Dan Quinn stated, the Washington Commanders' unofficial depth chart shouldn't be taken very seriously — not at this stage of the summer. However, it provided third-year wide receiver Luke McCaffrey with the validation he was looking for after an impressive summer.
The unofficial depth chart saw McCaffrey as the starting wideout alongside Terry McLaurin and recent signing Stefon Diggs. Take that however you want, but it shows that the 2024 third-round pick could be a bigger part of the team's plans this time around.
Others will also be vying for playing time, and they are not going to go down without a fight.
Luke McCaffrey has a chance to be more impactful with the Commanders
Treylon Burks has flashed this summer, as has returning receiver Dyami Brown. Third-round rookie Antonio Williams may be the frontrunner to start over time, but the Commanders have the freedom to bring his development along gradually after giving Diggs his homecoming dream.
It was now or never for McCaffrey this summer, and this raised urgency has brought a positive response.
The versatile pass-catcher has looked sharp throughout OTAs, mandatory minicamp, and training camp. McCaffrey's route efficiency is improving with more experience under his belt, and his hands remain dependable. Securing a 53-man roster spot seems like a foregone conclusion right now, but he's well on course to become more than just a force in the kick return game.
Kliff Kingsbury didn't believe in McCaffrey nearly enough. His separation numbers and catch percentage were decent, but the trust just wasn't there to come through in the biggest moments.
New offensive coordinator David Blough is looking to change all that where McCaffrey is concerned. And there should be plenty of space to work with McLaurin, Diggs, and tight end Chig Okonkwo drawing most of the attention from opposing defenses.
He's just got to prove it.
The Commanders will find out much more about McCaffrey in joint practices, starting against the Miami Dolphins this week. It might also be worth getting him involved during the preseason as an offensive focal point to see how he fares. That will be a much stronger measuring stick than the controlled environment of training camp, and the Rice Owls product must deliver.
There will be overreactions to the Commanders' decision, of course, but it's just an unofficial depth chart. Plans can and will change depending on the performance levels from here on. At the same time, McCaffrey must have been thrilled to see his name above other hopefuls looking for their fair share of targets this season.
Capitalizing on it is crucial.
Otherwise, McCaffrey might not be sitting alongside McLaurin and Diggs for much longer.
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