5 Commanders players who could get cut after the 2024 NFL Draft
By Dean Jones
Christian Holmes - Commanders CB
It was sad to see Kendall Fuller leave for the Miami Dolphins in free agency. He was the Washington Commanders' most consistent cornerback by a considerable margin last season and performed well enough for an extension. However, general manager Adam Peters believed allocating significant resources in the veteran's direction wasn't part of his grand plans for progress.
That's well within his right and there should be a level of confidence attached to his decision-making given the esteem in which he is held around the league. Michael Davis was signed in free agency to potentially fill the void, but this does appear to be a downgrade looking at how the pair performed last time around.
The Commanders also acquired James Pierre and Noah Igbinoghene, but they could be more backup options who can make an impact on special teams rather than players capable of providing a valuable contribution to the defensive rotation. This places exponential pressure on Benjamin St-Juste and Emmanuel Forbes to bounce back under two renowned defensive back developers, Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr.
Fortunately for the Commanders, they have a bounty of draft picks to find another option. They could acquire someone with the scope to slot into a decent role immediately at some stage on Day 2. After that, the talent level drops off, although Quinn's developed a fine reputation for turning unheralded prospects into impact players. Whoever joins the fold is walking into the best possible situation for further progress.
What this means for someone like Christian Holmes is another matter. The former seventh-round selection was used sparingly by Ron Rivera once again last season. He was a key figure on special teams, but the Commanders brought in their guys to fill this void in free agency.
Holmes might be kept around to fight for his spot throughout the preparation period. But his chances of making the team diminish significantly if two more defensive backs come from the draft or undrafted free agency.