7 under the radar Commanders players who must excel in 2024

Luke McCaffrey - Commanders WR

Finding more consistent pass-catchers to help rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels on his path to potential superstardom was important for the Washington Commanders this offseason. Adam Peters made some slight tweaks to the options at his disposal rather than doing anything too drastic. The new general manager's biggest investment came when Luke McCaffrey was taken at No. 100 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.

This was surprising when one considers the options available at the time. Peters sees something in McCaffrey that can be molded into a productive performer. He's not got much experience at the wide receiver position, but he's a fast learner who's adapted extremely well over early offseason workouts.

McCaffrey's drawn praise for his high work ethic, getting into the building early with Daniels and honing their chemistry together. This indicates an important role could be in the offing immediately, although much will depend on how the first-year pro out of Rice fares when things get more intense over camp.

If everything continues on a similar path for McCaffrey in the coming weeks, it would be a shock if offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury didn't provide him with his fair share of targets.

Jordan Magee - Commanders LB

Let's keep the rookie theme going.

The Commanders bolstered their linebacking corps with the high-profile signings of Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu. This will completely transform their fortunes at the defensive second level. It should also allow Jamin Davis an opportunity to be more impactful on the edge, which is more in keeping with the player's outstanding athletic attributes.

One cannot be anything other than impressed by the way Jordan Magee adapted to the pros over early off-season workouts. The former Temple star drew widespread plaudits from coaches and media members for his performance levels so far. If the same trend continues over Washington's training camp, Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. will find ways to get him involved depending on the schematic alignment.

Magee has the physical profile to thrive within Quinn's creative defensive system. He's taken on coaching well and doesn't look overawed by the raised standards. That's great news for his chances of becoming a key rotational feature over Year 1 of his professional career.