5 winners (and 2 losers) from Commanders joint practice vs. Dolphins
By Dean Jones
Winner No. 3
Terry McLaurin - Commanders WR
Those fortunate enough to attend were denied a mouth-watering battle between Terry McLaurin and Jalen Ramsey after the Miami Dolphins didn't risk the All-Pro cornerback. That didn't stop the prolific wide receiver from cementing his already-proven status as a core component to any success in 2024 and beyond.
McLaurin's developing chemistry with Jayden Daniels continues to encourage. The former Ohio State stud caught two touchdowns during red-zone drills and looked sharp out of his route stems. This is something the Washington Commanders will be relying upon early and often throughout the campaign.
Nobody expects anything less from McLaurin. He's a proven performer and a team alpha. Even going up against an old friend in Kendall Fuller - who joined the Dolphins in free agency - didn't stop him from adopting a business-first mindset to great effect.
Daniels is extremely fortunate to have such a weapon in Year 1 of his NFL journey. This relationship will be crucial to Washington's hopes of surprising people in 2024. It's so far, so good.
Winner No. 4
Mike Sainristil - Commanders CB
Mike Sainristil is gaining significant momentum. Not exactly breaking news for those who've followed his progress closely since the Commanders took him at No. 50 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, but his seamless transition is starting to gain wider notoriety.
Sainristil showed he belonged among NFL-caliber performers in Washington's joint practice with the Miami Dolphins. He wasn't overawed despite having to cover some electrifying wide receivers at Mike McDaniel's disposal. The former Michigan star even came up with a solid pass defense when up against All-Pro pass-catcher Tyreek Hill according to those in attendance.
This was another feather in Sainristil's cap. The defensive back is displaying exceptional maturity for someone so inexperienced at the pro level. He's not backing down an inch no matter the challenges placed in front of him. Expectations are through the roof as a result.
The Commanders have complete confidence in Sainristil and did so from the moment they began their pre-draft assessments of the player. Looking at his current trajectory, it's not hard to see why.