Commanders 2024 rookie power rankings entering Week 1 at the Buccaneers
By Dean Jones
If the Washington Commanders want to make the improvements expected in 2024, they'll be heavily reliant on their youth movement. Adam Peters injected fresh life into an underwhelming roster throughout an immensely profitable recruitment period for the franchise. Now, it's time to see the fruits of his labor.
The Commanders are tipped by many to be a potential surprise package if everything goes according to plan. Dan Quinn and his staff worked hard to ensure everyone got on the same page throughout the summer. There are going to be some hiccups along the way - especially considering the impact wholesale changes could have on early chemistry. How the players cope will go a long way to determining their overall outlook.
Washington is building through the draft under Peters. He's made no secret of this. It's also the reason why he avoided the temptation to make a daring trade for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk this offseason despite his close connection to quarterback Jayden Daniels.
A fascinating season full of ups and downs awaits. Before competitive action begins, here are our Commanders' rookie power rankings entering Week 1 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Commanders 2024 rookie power rankings entering Week 1 at the Buccaneers
- Not included: Jordan Magee and Norell Pollard (injured reserve).
10. Colson Yankoff - Commanders TE
Not many held out much hope for Colson Yankoff entering the offseason. The undrafted free agent started from the bottom with several tight ends ahead of him. Through hard work, perseverance, and making every opportunity count, the Washington Commanders rewarded him accordingly with a place on the 53-man roster.
This was a surprising development to many. Nobody would deny that Yankoff didn't put in the hard yards to secure his chance to shine. He's listed as the No. 4 tight end on the Commanders' unofficial depth chart behind Zach Ertz, Ben Sinnott, and John Bates. Dan Quinn commended his special teams' influence - a big reason why he was preferred to Cole Turner. That might need to become his bread and butter when active.
Whether Yankoff gets to suit up in Week 1 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is anyone's guess. It would be surprising given how other tight ends are expected to feature, so taking things week by week and focusing on improvements in practice remains the primary goal.