7 Commanders players who must generate early buzz at 2024 camp
By Dean Jones
Football is back. Veterans report today (Tuesday) for training camp. Rookies have been in the facility for a few days. Practices are imminent and Washington Commanders fans are expectant after one of the most dramatic offseasons in franchise history.
Adam Peters laid the foundations by turning over almost half the roster. Dan Quinn and his coaching staff must mold this unit into a cohesive, competitive outfit before their regular season opener. It's a tough challenge, but the initial signs couldn't be more positive.
Players have a lot to prove. They are fighting for every starting position, for every depth spot, and for every practice squad place. Getting off to a positive start can provide the springboard to better individual and collective fortunes when the season begins.
With this in mind, here are seven Commanders players who must generate early buzz at 2024 camp.
Cornelius Lucas - Commanders OT
The Washington Commanders seem content with what they have at the offensive tackle positions. That's not an opinion shared by most fans, so alleviating concerns over camp is the biggest priority above all else for the team's edge protectors.
Last year's veteran free-agent signing Andrew Wylie is locked in on the right-hand side. It seems like an open competition on the left with three players in with a shout at becoming the team's Week 1 starter at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Trent Scott is the outsider based on his previous performance levels. Third-round pick Brandon Coleman is the young upstart looking for immediate involvement. But it appears as if Cornelius Lucas might be the favorite heading into camp.
Lucas has been a swing tackle more often than not since joining the Commanders. He was one of a few to get extensions from general manager Adam Peters this offseason. That's a big confidence boost, but cementing his status early in camp is imperative.
This could be enough to see him earn a starting berth. However, this will also depend on Coleman's critical early development.