5 intriguing position battles for Commanders in 2024
By Dean Jones
One of Adam Peters' biggest objectives heading into his first offseason as general manager was to raise standards across the board. This was a tough ask looking at the complete mess he inherited on and off the field. But it's so far, so good after one of the busiest recruitment periods in franchise history.
The Washington Commanders are in a much better place right now. There is plenty more for Peters to navigate in the weeks and months ahead, but the roster improvements are notable. They also have a coaching staff that looks more than capable of nurturing them correctly throughout the preparation period.
Of course, with an influx of additions comes heightened competition for places. Players have already begun to jockey for position over the early stages of OTAs. This is going to be a constant assessment by those in power, who could easily bring in further reinforcements if they feel like it can benefit their chances of surprising people next time around.
That's to be determined. For now, here are five intriguing position battles Commanders fans should monitor closely in the weeks and months before their Week 1 opener at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Commanders safeties
The Washington Commanders have a fascinating dynamic in their safety room right now. Kamren Curl wasn't offered a new deal to stick around and signed for the Los Angeles Rams in free agency. Adam Peters brought in Jeremy Chinn and spent a late-round selection on Dominique Hampton. How this shakes out will be a key component to any success that comes their way.
One would expect Chinn and Darrick Forrest to generate prominent reps. There's also the small matter of head coach Dan Quinn potentially switching Quan Martin to the backend after the Commanders took nickel cornerback Mike Sainristil in the second round. Couple this with the presence of Percy Butler, and it's not hard to see why there promises to be plenty of urgency throughout the summer.
This competition can only be a good thing. Plenty of players became too comfortable and set in their ways under Ron Rivera. That will not be tolerated under the new regime and the safety spots could be the poster child for a different way of thinking in the nation's capital.