4 winners and losers from Commanders' early offseason workouts in 2023

Loser: Kazmeir Allen - Commanders WR/KR

Shortly after the 2023 NFL Draft concluded, those in power identified Kazmeir Allen became among their top priorities during the frenzied period of undrafted free agency. Many were surprised to see the dynamic wide receiver/kick returner fail to hear his name called, but Ron Rivera and Eric Bieniemy convinced the former UCLA standout this was the place for him.

The Washington Commanders have waxed lyrical about Allen since joining the team. However, the player was rarely seen over the final fortnight thanks to injury, which was a big concern many teams had during their pre-draft evaluations.

Not only did Allen miss out on valuable reps, but the likes of Jalen Sample and Dax Milne shone in his absence. This only raises the stakes further during Washington's training camp in pursuit of making the 53-man roster.

It might have been a blow for Allen, but it's not the end of the world. Washington's staff will give him the same opportunity as everyone else to impress, so maximizing every touch and return on special teams is of critical importance.

Allen has the tools to potentially become an upgrade in the return game over Milne. But time is of the essence for the undrafted free agent after missing so much practice during early offseason workouts.