What critical observations can be taken from a dramatic day for the Washington Commanders en route to finalizing their initial 53-man roster?
It was a long, difficult day for those in power within the Washington Commanders as they made a plethora of cuts to get their roster down to 53 players. This is never the easiest part of the job, but one that is unfortunately necessary after everyone gave their all throughout one of the most positive off-seasons in franchise history.
Some tough choices were navigated by head coach Ron Rivera, general manager Martin Mayhew, and others in influential positions. A few that were let go will return to the practice squad, while others will go and seek their fortune elsewhere depending on which teams decide to put in waiver claims.
That being said, here are four critical observations from the Commanders' choices en route to finalizing their initial roster.
Commanders still believe in Curtis Hodges
One of the most surprising things to see from the Washington Commanders' initial roster was the inclusion of Curtis Hodges. The tight end got his place on the team despite showing very little throughout the preparation period, which is the strongest sign yet that the coaching staff still believes in his upside.
Hodges has physical gifts that cannot be taught. He is s little rough around the edges in most areas, but Ron Rivera is betting on traits becoming something more rather than cutting Washington's losses entirely.
Just how much action Hodges sees in 2023 remains to be seen. He's clearly the fourth tight end behind Logan Thomas, Cole Turner, and John Bates, which gives him the freedom to develop gradually in the hope of playing a more significant role later in the campaign.
Of course, if a waiver opportunity comes along that can instantly improve the Commanders' chances at another position group, Hodges' joy might be short-lived. Only time will tell on that one.
Commanders will add off the waiver wire
It's called an initial 53-man roster for a reason. With hundreds of players now on the waiver wire, the Washington Commanders could use this opportunity to pick up a potential difference-maker who didn't quite make the grade elsewhere - something that looks entirely possible given how much is at stake for head coach Ron Rivera this season.
As the old saying goes, one man's trash is another man's treasure. Players who didn't fit in on another team could be exactly what the Commanders are looking for, so it's a fluid situation that will become clearer once waivers are processed at noon tomorrow.
After that, teams are free to speak with and sign whomever they want. So those on the fringes thinking of celebrating might be better off waiting a few days before their fate is officially confirmed one way or another.
Looking at the current state of affairs across Washington's depth chart, the offensive line has some concerns. One could make a strong case for the cornerback room being short of reliable options behind the starting trio and as always, the linebacking unit is an often ignored potential complication.
The Commanders have a little extra breathing space to make moves after Dan Snyder's departure. Josh Harris' ownership group wants to make an immediate impact and if everyone is in agreement, money can be moved around accordingly with one common goal in mind.
Commanders kick returner dilemma
After all the supposed competition and improvements to the Washington Commanders' kicking options, it's got more of a status quo feel to it than ever before. Those in power opted to keep faith with Dax Milne for the time being, which was met with dismay by some sections of the team's fanbase who've seen enough of the BYU product.
Whether Milne is good enough is up for debate. But the fact is that nobody seized their opportunity and took his job during camp or Washington's three preseason games made this outcome a foregone conclusion.
It looked for a long time as if Kazmeir Allen would be the guy hand-picked by the Commanders to take over return duties. Washington made him a high-priority signing once the 2023 NFL Draft came to a conclusion, but he faded at the most crucial time after a promising start.
Allen dropped two passes and fumbled a punt in the Commanders' preseason finale against the Cincinnati Bengals. That wasn't the best way to earn coaches' trust, so a potential spot on the practice squad now beckons for the one-time UCLA star provided he clears waivers.
What the Commanders can expect from Milne is anyone's guess. There's also a slight chance they find someone better on waivers before the campaign gets underway, which might not be that difficult when one considers the standard of previous performances.
Commanders will be dangerous if everyone stays healthy
Aside from the aforementioned issues within certain position groups, the Washington Commanders' initial 53-man roster looks pretty strong. And make no mistake, it needs to be if Ron Rivera wants to make the strides needed to keep his job beyond 2023.
The starting options look tremendous and dangerous in equal measure. This bears more significance on defense, which could be a special unit if everyone gets a clean run on the health front throughout what promises to be another grueling 17-game slate.
Of course, a large part of Washington's hopes rests squarely on the shoulders of inexperienced quarterback Sam Howell. But if the signal-caller doesn't become a weak link, this team might be set to surprise a few who've already written off their chances.
As previously stated, health is the biggest factor here. All it'll take is one or two key men to go down for a lengthy period to completely shift the landscape - something that will likely come with grave consequences attached as Josh Harris' ownership group assesses everything across the franchise in the coming months.
For now, fans should be optimistic about the Commanders - both on and off the field. It's been a long time since they could say that with any great confidence, but only if Rivera's squad can feed off the newfound positive energy and harness it into an improved football product.