The Washington Commanders were willing to give everyone a legitimate chance to prove their worth this offseason under the new regime. Adam Peters' roster cull was drastic and necessary in equal measure. Anyone who survived it or was brought into the organization started with a clean slate. Positions would be earned, not handed out.
Some were more established than others. Those who went undrafted were starting from the bottom up. Their every move could come with severe repercussions attached for good or bad. The pressure was on to perform well and adjust smoothly.
It's a task some unheralded first-year pros have tackled with immense encouragement. Others have fallen by the wayside and don't look up to the required standard. A select few lie somewhere in the middle with their fortunes hanging in the balance as final cuts are just a few short days away.
With this in mind, here are three undrafted free agents with the best chance to win spots on the Commanders' initial 53-man roster in 2024.
Undrafted free agents with the best chance of making Commanders roster post-camp
Michael Wiley - Commanders RB
It was a tough ask for anyone looking to force their way into the running back dynamic this offseason. The Washington Commanders have their primary tandem locked up in Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler. There was also a lot to like about Chris Rodriguez Jr.'s chances of progressing in Year 2 after flashing during limited involvement as a rookie.
Things are not so clear-cut now. Rodriguez's place on the roster isn't secure following a pedestrian training camp and preseason. It's opened the door for others to stake a claim. Jeremy McNichols is one. Michael Wiley is the other.
Wiley failed to hear his name called during the 2024 NFL Draft. The five-year player at Arizona put up some decent numbers throughout his college career. There's a long way to go and nothing is guaranteed, but the dual-threat weapon is giving the Commanders plenty to think about.
If Wiley can bolster his chances by outperforming Rodriguez and McNichols in Washington's preseason finale against the New England Patriots, that could be enough to convince the coaching staff he's worthy of a place.
Tyler Owens - Commanders S
Tyler Owens is rapidly becoming one of the summer's most encouraging stories within the Washington Commanders. Not much was expected of the safety, even though those in power allocated a decent undrafted free-agent contract to secure his services. Adam Peters and his staff saw something in the player others didn't. Looking at his offseason contribution, it's not hard to see why.
To say Owens slotted in seamlessly would be an understatement. His size and physical profile are exactly what Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. look for in their defensive backs. The former Texas Tech star surged into contention quickly, displaying outstanding progress in all defensive phases and also making an impact on special teams for good measure.
After starring over Washington's opening two preseason games, one could even make a case for Owens being a shoo-in to make the 53-man roster right now. He won't be taking anything for granted, but the rookie's put himself in an outstanding position barring any drastic turn of events in the coming days.
This is better than even the brightest optimist envisaged for Owens within a competitive safety room. It's unlikely he'll be able to unseat the starting tandem of Jeremy Chinn and Quan Martin. Darrick Forrest looks like the primary backup. After that, everything else is up for grabs.
Owens shining in practice was one thing. But the way he applied himself on defense and special teams in a more typical game-day setting tipped the scales in his favor. He's fast, aggressive, and disciplined. That's a dangerous combination and something the Commanders can put to good use.
Nothing is guaranteed, of course. The Commanders have strength in depth on the backend with several worthy candidates capable of forcing their way into the team's plans. However, it would be surprising if Owens' sterling efforts weren't rewarded.
One thing is for sure. The Commanders cannot risk stashing Owens onto the practice squad by placing him on waivers. That would almost guarantee he ends up elsewhere following an exceptional camp.
Chigozie Anusiem - Commanders CB
There are some concerns about the Washington Commanders' outside cornerback options heading into the season. Mike Sainristil's outstanding transition from college to the pros should be a revelation from the slot. Things are less certain on the perimeter, which won't take long to become a weak link when the regular season commences.
Benjamin St-Juste, Michael Davis, and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. are the three primary candidates for extended involvement. There isn't a great deal of confidence in any of them. This could leave the Commanders exploring alternative options either on the roster right now or elsewhere when cuts begin occurring around the league.
Someone like Chigozie Anusiem might fancy his chances of pushing his way up the ladder. The undrafted free agent chose the Commanders over half the league through a combination of money and a big opportunity. It's something he's grasped, not looking out of place in coverage and making plays when opportunities arise.
This is incredibly positive from Anusiem's standpoint. However, his situation remains precarious. Nothing but a strong end to Washington's preseason commitments will do.
Anusiem has the size and length typically associated with cornerbacks operating within Dan Quinn's creative defensive schematics. His overall attitude, tireless work ethic, and ability to seize the moment won't be going unnoticed by Washington's primary decision-makers. Any positives the rookie can generate against the New England Patriots will do his hopes of making the team a tremendous amount of good.
All Anusiem wanted was a genuine opportunity to make an NFL squad. He believed the Commanders represented the best destination to accomplish his goals under a coaching staff renowned for their defensive back development. It could still go either way, but the fact he's in with a fighting chance this late into the offseason is a testament to the way he's adapted to a professional climate.
The former Colorado State star needs to leave no doubt with another outstanding outing in Preseason Week 3. After that, everything else is out of his hands.