5 Commanders fringe roster candidates making a name for themselves at camp
By Dean Jones
Brycen Tremayne - Commanders WR
Establishing roles in the wide receiver room is an important objective for the Washington Commanders this offseason. Terry McLaurin is the undisputed alpha of the unit after displaying remarkable consistency in difficult circumstances since entering the league. Aside from that, everything else must be earned.
Jahan Dotson and Luke McCaffrey have done nothing to suggest they won't be integral pieces. Olamide Zaccheaus is also thriving when called upon. One unheralded pass-catcher is another who looks more than capable of rising from obscurity into a roster spot.
The Commanders must be thrilled with what they've seen from Brycen Tremayne. He's 6-foot-4 with the athleticism to get the football at its highest point. He's also developing his body control and strength in contested catch situations to raise enthusiasm about his chances further.
Much like the situation with most on the roster bubble, how Tremayne performs during preseason involvement will be crucial. He's got a fan on the coaching staff having worked with Tavita Pritchard closely during their time together at Stanford. Making a difference when targets arrive in a typical game-day environment can be enough to tip the scales in his favor.
Tyler Owens - Commanders S
Being an undrafted free agent is difficult. You're starting from the bottom and don't get the same reps as others. This raises the stakes to perform well when called upon and move up the ladder in pursuit of making the 53-man roster.
The Commanders are giving everyone on the 90-man squad a chance to prove themselves. Some are thriving with the spotlight glaring. Tyler Owens fits into this category after catching the eye over the first few days of camp.
Owens was a highly coveted undrafted prospect this spring. The Commanders handed the safety a decent contract to secure his services. This looks like money well spent so far, but whether it's enough to force his way into the team's plans remains to be seen.
There's a lot to like about Owens' size and strength. He doesn't look overawed and boasts the quick-fire instincts needed to become impact with a little extra refinement. That's exactly what Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. want from their defensive backs.
The Commanders have a big decision to make with the Texas Tech product if the same trend continues. They'd be running a huge risk by placing him on waivers in pursuit of bringing him back onto the practice squad looking at his performance levels. That's how good Owens has been during his first foray into the NFL.