The Washington Commanders now have a good sample size on their rookie class. There have been some real standouts, while others are taking a little extra time to develop.
And in one case, they left almost as quickly as they arrived.
Washington has had a difficult start to the season. Head coach Dan Quinn's squad sits at 1-4-1 through six games, but they have arguably already played the hardest part of their schedule.
Pressure is building, but majority owner Josh Harris is not making changes yet. If the Commanders want to get out of their slump, they'll need the rookie to keep growing over the next 11 contests.
Some look more capable than others. With that in mind, we looked at how Washington's 2026 rookie class is shaping up as the team heads into its bye week.
Washington Commanders rookie stock report puts early promise under bye-week scrutiny
Jaden Bradley - Commanders WR
Why is a rookie currently on the practice squad who hasn't played a competitive snap yet on this list? Well, it's because fans could finally see a little more of Jaden Bradley in the very near future.
The Commanders were rocked when two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Terry McLaurin suffered a torn patellar tendon against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. This is a hammer blow, leaving a gaping hole both on and off the field. Washington could seek outside help, but it may also keep things in-house.
Van Jefferson Jr. is on the practice squad. So is Bradley, whose strong summer brought plenty of intrigue about what he could achieve in a live-fire setting.
Nothing is guaranteed, of course. But if the Commanders stand pat with their receiver options, don't be surprised if Bradley gets his shot.
Verdict: Stock Slightly Up ⬆️
Drew Stevens - Commanders PK
The Commanders are willing to ride the ups and downs that come with a rookie kicker. Drew Stevens has made some impressive field goals from deep, but the accuracy from closer range remains inconsistent.
Stevens has all the raw ability one looks for in a long-term kicker. His next challenge is cleaning up his stroke on the easier attempts, because he's got the leg to hit from almost anywhere.
This is pretty much what fans expected. Stevens won the job, but he was never going to have it easy. The NFL brings different pressure. But in a weird way, the Commanders' failures elsewhere are taking the focus off him.
That can only be a good thing moving forward. But the former Iowa standout has to improve his accuracy to avoid another kicking competition next summer.
Verdict: Stock Neutral ➡️
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