5 grave concerns from Washington Commanders 2024 training camp

Commanders permieter cornerbacks

Mike Sainristil's exceptional transition immediately surged him into a potential cornerstone piece for the future. The rookie cornerback does his best work from the slot, which is where he'll be deployed by the Washington Commanders. It's a huge upgrade to the interior coverage. On the outside, it's a different story.

The Commanders have a big problem on their hands. Benjamin St-Juste, Michael Davis, and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. are the likely perimeter options. None have inspired much confidence over training camp. This is something defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. and his staff will be examining closely over the first few weeks of the campaign.

Forbes, in particular, is a work in progress. The former first-round pick out of Mississippi State flashed moments of promise, but the same inconsistencies remain. He's not a lost cause just yet, so finding a way to best use his skill set without tasking him with too much versus the elite-level wide receivers represents a conundrum.

Washington cannot let this area of the field become a weak link once again. Having more pass-rush and a stronger linebacking corps should assist. The Commanders also have a strong-looking safety unit that can provide support on the backend. That's encouraging, but the onus is on this outside coverage trio to step up and prove their doubters wrong.

Commanders offensive line depth

Washington's offensive line was a primary catalyst behind their demise in 2023. Adam Peters strengthened this critical area of the field through free-agent signings, draft picks, and undrafted free agents. That's helped enormously, but depth remains a potential stumbling block until further notice.

The Commanders have a decent-looking starting five if Nick Allegretti maximizes his starting chance at left guard and Brandon Coleman thrives as a rookie left tackle. If any of the preferred starters miss time through injury, that's when the problems could arrive.

Cornelius Lucas is dependable enough as a swing tackle. Nobody else jumps off the page. Michael Deiter's regression over the second half of camp was a huge disappointment. Unless something changes shortly, expect Adam Peters to act swiftly to rectify this complication off the waiver wire if the right opportunities come along.

Players like Chris Paul, Ricky Stromberg, Braeden Daniels, and Trent Scott need to prove their worth with almost no time to alter narratives. The Commanders will be examining their fortunes closely. Don't be shocked if one or two are sacrificed for new additions when the time for final cuts gets here.