7 Commanders players whose stock is soaring entering Preseason Week 2

Dyami Brown - Commanders WR

Dyami Brown entered a crossroads summer with the Washington Commanders. The wide receiver's minimal contribution over his first three seasons left some wondering if he'd be made surplus to requirements under the new regime. He got another chance to prove himself - something the athletic pass-catcher is maximizing in no uncertain terms.

Brown is a lock to make the roster, which wasn't the case earlier this offseason. He's developing a nice chemistry with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and displaying more consistency than we've seen previously. The former third-round selection has a lot of hard work ahead, but the signs are immensely encouraging nonetheless.

The North Carolina product's vertical threat is something an elite downfield thrower such as Daniels can put to better use. Brown's fortunes remain precarious, but he's forcing his way into Washington's plans. This is a testament to the player's strong determination and ability to overcome adversity.

All hope is not lost with Brown, who drew praise from Dan Quinn for his application since he came in as head coach. If things continue similarly before Week 1, there's a high chance the wideout will feature prominently.

Javontae Jean-Baptiste - Commanders DE/OLB

Javontae Jean-Baptiste might be a draft pick, but he's got to fight his way up from the bottom. The edge rusher has the athletic scope needed to be impactful with the right coaching. It's taken time for the seventh-rounder to find his feet, which wasn't entirely unexpected when one considers he was seen as a development project coming into the franchise.

Jean-Baptiste is starting to make a bigger name for himself. He demonstrated explosiveness during his time on the field in Preseason Week 1 at the New York Jets. This was a confidence-boosting performance that should serve him well in pursuit of making the 53-man roster.

The former Notre Dame star seems pretty far down the pecking order right now. It would be a surprise if the Commanders didn't take him through after being impressed by his credentials during the team's pre-draft assessments. However, there's no doubt Jean-Baptiste is aiming much higher than that.

It's been refreshing to see Jean-Baptiste step up over recent days. Building on this is critical, so it'll be interesting to see if the rookie can put his newfound positivity to good use.

More Commanders news and analysis