Commanders initial 53-man roster projection after 2024 preseason finale
By Dean Jones
There is no more time for players to impress. The Washington Commanders finished their 2024 preseason slate on a high thanks to victory over the New England Patriots. This was also the final evaluation tool for new general manager Adam Peters ahead of some difficult conversations in the coming days.
Competition for places was extremely high across the Commanders this offseason. Peters turned over almost two-thirds of the roster, which was a telling indicator of what he thought about Ron Rivera's personnel moves. This raised urgency across the board, with every player knowing that places had to be earned, not given.
It's also worth remembering that this is called the initial 53-man roster for a reason. The Commanders have the No. 2 waiver wire priority and a ton of remaining salary-cap space. Peters could use this to his advantage by picking up talented players who don't quite make the grade elsewhere.
A fascinating few days await. Before then, here is our Commanders' initial 53-man roster projection with final cuts on the immediate horizon.
Commanders initial 53-man roster projection after 2024 preseason finale
Commanders special teams (3)
- Tress Way (P), Cade York (K), Tyler Ott (LS)
The Washington Commanders' kicking problem has been glaring throughout the offseason. Releasing Brandon McManus was the right call in difficult circumstances. Ramiz Ahmed wasn't up to the required standard and Riley Patterson - picked up off waiver from the Jacksonville Jaguars - also fluffed his lines.
Adam Peters took drastic action, sending a conditional seventh-round selection to the Cleveland Browns for Cade York. This might not be the answer, but his solid impression in Preseason Week 3 indicates he'll get the first shot during Washington's regular-season opener at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Things are far more stable at the other special teams' spots. Tress Way is a dependable punter and a valuable leadership presence in the locker room. The Pro Bowler is entering a contract year, so the motivation to perform well is there for all to see.
After some long-snapper woes last season, the Commanders picked up Tyler Ott. He's looked far more assured and should be a significant upgrade on anything Washington churned out at the spot in 2023.