Which Washington Commanders players should be classed as overrated until further notice heading into the 2023 campaign?
As the Washington Commanders gear up for their first training camp practice with fans in attendance, the excitement was palpable with thousands descending on Ashburn for the session. And this wasn't just to enjoy the recently installed bleachers implemented by Josh Harris' new ownership group.
There is more positivity than ever before surrounding the Commanders. Putting this to good use is the biggest challenge, but Ron Rivera looks like a man reborn now that the sale is final and there are no more distractions.
Of course, it's easy to get carried away amid all this unfamiliar optimism. Tempering expectations would be wise for now, especially if the added pressure proves too great for Rivera and his staff to overcome.
On this topic, here are four overrated Commanders players entering 2023. However, it might not be the case for some depending on how they fare throughout the upcoming campaign.
Sam Cosmi - Commanders OL
One could make a case that switching Sam Cosmi to the offensive line interior is something that should have been done a lot sooner. Had the former Texas star not been a second-round pick, the pressure to see what he had at right tackle wouldn't have been as pressing.
Cosmi never looked comfortable on the edge despite his encouraging athleticism shining on occasion. But the Washington Commanders aren't giving up on the player just yet heading into a critical Year 3 of his professional career.
There's a chance Cosmi's increased urgency and permanent position change works out positively. However, anyone expecting the lineman to immediately provide the consistency needed from a starting role might be out of luck.
Jamin Davis - Commanders LB
The Washington Commanders saw steady growth from Jamin Davis last season. Their former first-round selection out of Kentucky went over 100 tackles for the first time and made some impressive plays throughout the campaign, but he is far from the finished article just yet.
Davis' gap discipline against the run remains an area that needs polishing. Some more pass-rushing moves would help, and awareness of coverage is another part of his contribution that can be a weak link on occasions.
Statistics only tell half the story where Davis is concerned. And those Commanders fans who've already anointed him their next dominant second-level presence need to pump the brakes.
If Davis takes another leap forward behind Washington's loaded defensive front, it's a different story. Until then, the Commanders' linebacking corps has some concerns attached heading into the season after almost no real investment during the 2023 NFL Draft and free agency.
Whether this results in an over-reliance on players such as Davis and Cody Barton remains to be seen. But the Commanders didn't draft him at No. 19 overall for him to be anything other than the team's enforcer behind the front four.
Davis has flashed these traits - especially last season. But complacency cannot become an issue with the player's fifth-year option decision on the horizon.
Andrew Wylie - Commanders OT
The Washington Commanders were in desperate need of an offensive line makeover this offseason. Four new starters have emerged, with only veteran left tackle Charles Leno Jr. returning from the unit that began the 2022 campaign.
We've already spoken about Sam Cosmi and the same applies to Saahdiq Charles. Nick Gates should improve communication and production at the center position, with much also anticipated from Andrew Wylie following his switch from the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency.
This move doesn't get the green light without Eric Bieniemy's approval, one suspects. The pair worked closely together on the Chiefs during their memorable Super Bowl triumph in 2022, which saw Wylie come in for significant praise for his almost flawless performance against a stacked Philadelphia Eagles defensive line.
Anyone expecting this sort of performance level consistently in a different environment might be let down. Wylie wasn't exactly the most prolific edge protector in the league last season, giving up 49 quarterback pressures, eight penalties, and nine sacks from 1,092 snaps - not exactly stellar production by any stretch of the imagination.
Looking at Wylie's full body of work, this is a major gamble by the Commanders. However, you wouldn't know it given how people seem to be focusing on the positives rather than his obvious frailties.
Chase Young - Commanders DE
Once tabbed as a generational talent coming out of college, Chase Young's career prospects hang in the balance heading into the 2023 season. As it turns out, this is also the last campaign of his rookie deal after the Washington Commanders declined the player's fifth-year option.
Young has the physical tools to become truly dominant. It's been a torrid two years for the defensive end thanks to poor form and injury problems, but he looks more like his old self this summer after working exceptionally hard on rehabbing the knee that kept him out for most of 2022.
The brace is now off and the explosiveness has returned. Young looks highly motivated to get his career on track, but that does not detract from the many unknowns that surround the pass-rusher ahead of a make-or-break campaign.
Is anyone expecting Young to just set on the field and immediately start terrorizing opposing offensive lines? If they are, it might be wise to hold off on such optimism over the first few weeks.
Young's missed a ton of football, will take time to get his gameday conditioning up to scratch, and isn't guaranteed to stay healthy anymore. The fear factor has also gone, so it's up to the Ohio State product to get it back by any means necessary.
If Young cannot meet expectations, then it could be his last in Washington.