Commanders wide receiver surges from NFL wilderness into roster contention

This time of year is all about seizing opportunity. This bears more significance for the Washington Commanders' wide receivers after the team traded Jahan Dotson to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Adam Peters has a ruthless approach to his roster building. The progressive young general manager believes that this is the best way to get the Commanders trending in the right direction. He thought Dotson didn't fit into the newfound way of thinking and was shipped to the highest bidder - albeit a division rival.

Regardless of whether Peters brings in additional reinforcements, this represents an opportunity for others to step up and firmly establish themselves as a core part of Washington's plans under the new regime. Some seem capable of benefitting more than others. One late arrival is surging quickly to give those in power plenty to think about.

Commanders could include Martavis Bryant on their initial 53-man roster

Martavis Bryant saw his prime years decimated through suspension. The athletically gifted pass-catcher made a ton of mistakes - something he's paid a heavy price for. It's also clear the former fourth-round selection is eager to make up for some lost time.

Bryant spent time with Dan Quinn on the Dallas Cowboys last season after he was finally reinstated by the league. The head coach saw enough to suggest he might be of use in a different environment. Looking at the way he's adapted to his surroundings in a relatively short space of time, this gamble could pay off.

The Clemson product looks in peak physical condition and still boasts explosive traits at 32 years old. Bryant was among the standouts in Washington's preseason triumph against the New England Patriots, bringing in all three of his targets for 20 receiving yards and a touchdown. More importantly, the wideout was a willing blocker, displaying dominance on outside rushes to help those carrying the football gain yardage.

That sort of stuff goes unnoticed by the average fan. However, it's something Quinn and his coaching staff value highly. Something that will come into the equation when the time comes to decide Bryant's fate.

Not many held out much hope for Bryant. He came into the franchise extremely late in their preparations and got a crash course in Kliff Kingsbury's offensive concepts to hit the ground running. The player comes with plenty of baggage, but he wants another opportunity and believes there is a lot more to offer with less tread on the tires than most players his age.

At 6-foot-4 and elite-level length, Bryant offers something different. He knows how to separate and manipulate his body angles to become impactful in the red zone. In a league where every fine margin counts, that's not a bad tool to have in a rookie quarterback's arsenal.

The Commanders couldn't have asked much more from Bryant in such a limited timeframe. It's been a long time since his 765-receiving yard season in 2015. The sample size is small, yet this could be an unexpected X-factor that most teams won't see coming.

It could go the other way and Bryant is moved on with little fanfare attached. But don't be surprised if his name is on the initial 53-man roster past Tuesday's deadline.

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