When the Washington Commanders spent a sixth-round selection on center Matt Gulbin, some experts and fans thought he could push veteran Nick Allegretti for the starting job immediately. Even head coach Dan Quinn claimed it was a competition earlier in the offseason.
The reality was far different. And before his first real taste of NFL action in a game-day setting, Gulbin has a significant amount to prove.
Perhaps proclaiming this as a genuine roster battle placed too much pressure on Gulbin. He was a Day 3 selection for a reason, and it quickly became apparent that the Commanders were going to bring him along gradually.
Matt Gulbin has an enormous amount to prove in Commanders' preseason
Even when Allegretti suffered a calf strain during the opening training camp practice, the Commanders didn't throw Gulbin into the fire. That spoke volumes.
The Commanders opted to place veteran Julian Good-Jones as the starting anchor on the protection in front of quarterback Jayden Daniels instead. His performances throughout camp have been subpar at best, but there remains a reluctance to get the Michigan State product more involved.
That will change in the preseason. The Commanders will give Gulbin plenty of chances to show what he can do, and the first-year pro must raise confidence in his long-term outlook.
Nothing else will do.
Gulbin had some decent college production at Wake Forest and Michigan State. He might not be the biggest or most athletic, but he emerged as a stone wall in pass protection with a firm base, hand strength, and a relentless approach that's hard not to love. His leadership and versatility also intrigued the Commanders enough to take the plunge, but there is a lot of hard work ahead.
Commanders will find out just how far along Matt Gulbin is in the preseason
At the end of the day, this is what the preseason is for.
It's an opportunity for those on the fringes to stake a claim. It's also a chance for the Commanders' brass to see how far along their young players are, and Gulbin is firmly under the microscope.
While Gulbin's roster status isn't under any threat, he cannot afford to get lost in the shuffle. If it takes him a little longer to pick things up, so be it. But with concerns around Allegretti's ability to man the center position effectively after Tyler Biadasz's surprising release, the Commanders will be watching developments extremely closely.
Gulbin may not have surged into the starting role, but all hope is not lost. He's still acclimatizing. He's still in the early stages of improving his craft. He's picking up the nuances and getting all the time he needs to fully adjust.
Preseason experience will only help him grow. Gulbin will be going up against players fighting for their futures elsewhere, so he must meet fire with fire. There will be struggles, but he has to come out on the other end with more encouraging signs than negative.
Though Gulbin's chances of cracking the lineup in Washington as a rookie are remote, he still has to be ready as a versatile backup. And after a rollercoaster summer so far, he can alleviate some fears against the Miami Dolphins.
Anything less, and the worries will only grow.
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