2024 Roster Projection

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August 26, 2024

By Noonefromtampa

NFL teams must trim their 90-man offseason roster down to 53 players this week. Once players clear waivers they can be added to the practice squad. All teams must be down to the 53-man limit by 4:00 P.M. Eastern time on Tuesday, August, 27th.

Here are my projections for Washington’s 53-man roster (25-25-3 breakdown) and potential practice squad members

Quarterback

Jayden Daniels in training camp. Photo credit: Alex Zeese

The question at quarterback this year isn’t the starter, but rather how many and who they keep. The first decision is how many quarterbacks do the Commanders keep at quarterback, two or three?  The second decision is probably whether they put Sam Hartman on injured reserve or try to put him on the practice squad by waiving him and risk losing to another team. Jeff Driskel has had a decent preseason while Marcus Mariota has been dealing with a groin injury. If Mariota is not 100% the Commanders likely start the season with three roster quarterbacks.

Starter: Jayden Daniels

Backups: Marcus Mariota, Jeff Driskell

Practice Squad: Sam Hartman

Running Back

Brian Robinson Jr. has shown flashes of excelling in the new offense despite the lackluster offensive line. Austin Ekeler has the third down back role locked up. The most likely scenario is that the team only keeps three running backs on the active roster, leaving one position up for grabs. In the preseason, Michael Wiley and Jeremy McNichols performed better than holdover Chris Rodriguez. I’m giving the nod to veteran McNichols over rookie Wiley.

Starter: Brian Robinson

Backups: Austin Eckler, Jeremy McNichols

Practice Squad: Michael Wiley

Wide Receiver

I think four players are a lock right now for a roster spot: Terry McLaurin, Dyami Brown, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Luke McCaffrey.  The question is whether the team will keep five or six wide receivers on the active roster. I think with Kliff Kingsbury’s offense they go with six players. That leaves eight players competing for two roster spots: Kazmeir Allen, Martavis Bryant, Jamison Crowder, Davion Davis, Byron Pringle, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Mitchell Tinsley, and Brycen Tremayne.

The players I rank the highest out of that group are Crowder and Pringle, who are both solid veterans and good on special teams. In a slight surprise, I have the Commanders signing Bryant to the practice squad in order to give him more time to get back up to speed. [Edit – After watching the game Bryant may have displaced Pringle.]

Starters: Terry McLaurin, Dyami Brown

Backups: Olamide Zaccheaus, Luke McCaffrey, Jamison Crowder, Byron Pringle

Practice Squad: Davion Davis, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Martavis Bryant

Tight End

Three players here have locked up spots: Zack Ertz, John Bates, and Ben Sinnott. That also may be all they keep on the roster initially. With 13 roster spots remaining for offense the choice is now between three tight ends and ten offensive linemen, or four and nine, respectively. I’m going with three tight ends.

Starter: Zack Ertz

Backups: John Bates and Ben Sinnott

Practice Squad: To be determined

Offensive Line

The offensive line has been banged up during the preseason and the projected starting lineup has had little time to work together during an actual game. That is another reason why I believe the offensive line group will have ten players to begin the season, not nine. I would also not be surprised if the Commanders front office is tracking players to add as backups if they get waived during the roster reduction.

Starters: Brandon Coleman (T), Nick Allegretti (G), Tyler Biadasz (C), Sam Cosmi (G), Andrew Wylie (T)

Backups: Cornelius Lucas (T), Michael Deiter (C/G), Julian Good-Jones (G), Chris Paul (G), Braeden Daniels (T)

Practice Squad: To be determined

Defensive Ends/Edge

The new defensive ends have shown they can rush and maintain their lanes much better than the replacements used last year after Montez Sweat and Chase Young were traded away. I would not be surprised if K.J. Henry ends up a starter by the end of the season.

Starters: Dorance Armstrong Jr., Clelin Ferrell

Backups: K.J. Henry, Andre Jones Jr., Javontae Jean-Baptiste

Practice Squad: To be determined

Defensive Tackles

The only question in this group is which player gets the fourth slot in this position group. Phidarian Mathis was a second round pick but has a history of injuries in his first few seasons. He also has not stood out in the preseason games. John Ridgeway played for head coach Dan Quinn in Dallas before he was released by the Cowboys and claimed by Washington. However, he is not a lock either.

Starters: Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne

Backups: Johnny Newton, John Ridgeway

Practice Squad: Benning Potoa’e, Haggai Ndubuisi

Linebackers

What a difference a year makes. The Commanders new front office made renovation of the linebacker group a top priority. They signed Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner at linebacker in free agency. Then, they drafted Jordan Magee, who looked great in camp, but he suffered a knee injury (meniscus). My guess is that he makes the 53-man roster and is then moved to injured reserve with a return designation. Dante Fowler and Jamin Davis are both listed as linebackers, but they fill the role of edge rusher who sometimes also drops into coverage role. This is a huge position shift for Davis versus what he was asked to do under the previous coaching staff. Mykal Walker, Anthony Pittman and Chapelle Russell are the remaining players in this position group. Pittman is a special teams leader and makes the team on that skill alone.

Starters: Frankie Luvu, Bobby Wagner

Backups: Dante Fowler, Anthony Pittman, Jordan Magee, Jamin Davis

Practice Squad: To be determined

Cornerbacks

This group has underwhelmed during preseason. I would not be surprised to see the team add players from the waiver wire to the group. The lone standout in this group is second-round pick Mike Sainristil. He is the slot corner though, and has not played an outside role. The trio of players competing for the starting outside roles are Mike Davis, Benjamin St-Juste and Emmanuel Forbes, who all have showed some inconsistencies in their game during camp. Then, there’s a mix of veterans and rookies who are just trying to make a roster spot: Chigozie Anusiem, Tariq Castro-Fields, Noah Igbinoghene, Kyu Blu Kelly, James Pierre, Nick Whiteside, and A.J. Woods.

Starters: Mike Sainristil, Benjamin St-Juste, Emmanuel Forbes

Backups: Mike Davis, Noah Igbinoghene, Chigozie Anusiem

Practice Squad: Nick Whiteside, A.J. Woods

Safeties                                       

This is the stronger part of the  Commanders’ secondary. The numbers game comes into play here also, whether the team keeps six corners and five safeties or vice versa. The locks right now are Jeremy Chinn, Quan Martin, and Darrick Forrest. Tyler Owens has shown enough in games that I don’t think they can waive him now. So, that would leave one spot open for several players from this group: Kendell Brooks, Percy Butler, Dominique Hampton, Jeremy Reaves, and Sheldrick Redwine. Reaves is special teams standout, but Owens has showed his skills there and is younger and cheaper. Hampton, the 5th round pick has not excelled in camp. Butler brings several years of experience.

Starters: Jeremy Chinn, Quan Martin

Backups: Darrick Forrest, Tyler Owens, Percy Butler

Practice Squad: Dominique Hampton

Special Teams

With two of the three key special teams positions competently filled by Tress Way and Tyler Ott, the Commanders have struggled to find the solution for the kicker position. General Manager Adam Peters traded a conditional 7th round pick to Cleveland for Cade York. He will probably be the week 1 kicker unless someone they like better comes along via waiver wire after other teams start reducing their rosters.

Punter: Tress Way

Long Snapper: Tyler Ott

Kicker: Cade York

Wrap-Up

I believe there are a few players the Commanders will try to trade for low round picks before releasing them, such as Phidarian Mathis and Jamin Davis.

The second key point is that the front office will be working the waiver wire looking to upgrade at offensive line, linebacker, cornerback and kicker, and will look for players they like to fill out the practice squad.

The practice squad limit is 16 players again this year, with one additional spot for an international player. Haggai Ndubuisi qualifies for the international player position.

Let the folks at The Sty know who your roster makers are in the comments below.