Van Jefferson Jr. - Commanders WR
Debates remain rampant in the media and across the fan base around the Washington Commanders' wide receiver options heading into the summer. Speculation is growing around another capable veteran coming into the fold at some stage, but general manager Adam Peters has resisted the temptation so far.
He wants to take a good look at the young wideouts behind Terry McLaurin before deciding on whether more is needed. Brandon Aiyuk and Stefon Diggs are the hot names, but nothing concrete has emerged. Until something materializes on that front, those currently under contract will get the chance to impress.
It's so far, so good. The likes of Treylon Burks, Luke McCaffrey, Jaylin Lane, and third-round rookie Antonio Williams have all caught the eye of those in attendance at OTAs. Dyami Brown is also standing out, but fans are taking that with a little more caution.
This already puts Van Jefferson Jr. on the back foot. He joined the Commanders on a one-year deal in free agency, but his place on the 53-man roster is far from assured. There is a long way to go, and there will be many twists to come, but it looks like the experienced veteran has an uphill battle on his hands in the coming months.
Sam Hartman - Commanders QB
The Commanders now have a healthy quarterback unit, unlike much of the previous campaign. And for all the substantial roster alterations made by Adam Peters throughout a busy offseason, this organization will go as far as Jayden Daniels takes them.
Daniels turned out just seven times last season. He completed only four contests. Veteran backup Marcus Mariota also got hurt, forcing Washington to place journeyman Josh Johnson in the starting seat late in the campaign. By that point, the Commanders' race was already run.
Peters didn't want to leave anything to chance this time around. Mariota was re-signed to another one-year deal. The Commanders also used their final selection in the 2026 NFL Draft on Athan Kaliakmanis, who flashed athleticism and improved accuracy during his final college campaign at Rutgers.
Kaliakmanis won't be pushing for any of the top-two positions, at least not right now. He's in a fight with Sam Hartman for the QB3 job, and reports suggest he is ahead at OTAs.
Hartman is in his third season, but reporters in attendance noted that he is still struggling to find the proper velocity on his throws. With Kaliakmanis around, that's a big problem, so the practice squad may beckon once again if the same trend continues.
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