The preseason is officially over, and now the difficult decisions begin for Washington. With final cuts approaching, the Commanders’ 53-man roster is beginning to take shape as general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn determine which players will survive and which players could be looking for another opportunity.
Most of Washington’s starting lineup appears settled, but several position battles could determine the final construction of the Commanders’ 53-man roster. Wide receiver, offensive line, linebacker, and secondary depth remain among the biggest areas to watch.
Washington’s preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens provided one final evaluation opportunity for players battling for jobs.
Now comes the hard part.
Here is my final projection for the Commanders’ 53-man roster entering the 2026 season.
Commanders 53-Man Roster Offense:
Quarterback (3)
There’s no question who’s leading the charge at quarterback, and Jayden Daniels is still the man in charge, and this offense is definitely his to run.
That’s the million-dollar question – will Washington decide to go with two quarterbacks or take a chance and carry three on their roster?
Marcus Mariota gives the Commanders an experienced backup behind Daniels, but his recent injury situation makes keeping rookie Athan Kaliakmanis even more important.
Washington has a tough decision to make with Kaliakmanis. He’s been getting better and better throughout training camp and the preseason.
One option for the team is to try and get him through waivers and onto the practice squad. But that’s a bit of a gamble – another team might just snatch him up, and the Commanders would lose a quarterback they’ve already invested a draft pick in. Washington decided to keep three quarterbacks on the Commanders’ 53-man roster.
Prediction: Kaliakmanis survives final cuts.
Running Back (4)
Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Rachaad White
Kaytron Allen
Jeremy McNichols
Washington’s running game has seen some big changes, but Jacory Croskey-Merritt is still a key player going into the new season.
Rachaad White provides the Commanders with a seasoned backup who can make an impact both on the ground and in the air.
Kaytron Allen adds a physical presence to the team and is still someone who has a lot of potential for growth. Jeremy McNichols earns the last spot due to his solid experience, being someone the team can count on, and his skills in special teams.
Keeping four running backs gives offensive coordinator David Blough flexibility with how he wants to construct the offense around Daniels.
Wide Receiver (6)
Terry McLaurin
Stefon Diggs
Treylon Burks
Dyami Brown
Antonio Williams
Jaylin Lane
Things get really interesting when you look at the Commanders’ 53-man roster.
Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs are a seasoned pair of receivers that Daniels can rely on to cause headaches for the opposing team’s defensive backs.
Following them, the Washington team faces one of its toughest lineup choices.
Treylon Burks makes my 53-man roster.
Washington gets a much-needed boost with this former first-round pick, who brings a key asset to the receiver room that’s been lacking: genuine size on the outside.
Washington gave Burks another chance to prove himself, and at 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, he’s a big target who can handle physical play and make tough catches.
Washington decided not to play Burks, instead choosing to sit him out along with a few other receivers who already seemed to have a spot on the team, rather than giving him another chance to prove himself.
It may not mean much, but it still feels like something important is happening.
Dyami Brown in my opinion secured a spot on the roster, and his ability to sprint down the field is a major asset for Daniels, who now has another receiver that can blow past defenders and create big plays.
Antonio Williams is really making a name for himself as a valuable player, and Jaylin Lane is showing he can make a difference in multiple ways both on offense and special teams. This versatility is a big plus for him as he tries to secure a spot on the Commanders’ 53-man roster.
Luke McCaffrey is definitely a tough one to let go of; I can see why he’d be a difficult cut to make.
When it comes down to it, the fact that Washington used a third-round pick on McCaffrey back in 2024 makes this a tough call. However, at the end of the day, roster spots are determined by how a player is performing right now, what their current role is, and how they fit into the overall roster – not just where they were drafted.
What gives Burks the upper hand is that he brings a whole new level of size and physical presence to Washington’s offense, which is a major plus.
Toughest cut: Luke McCaffrey
Tight End (4)
Chig Okonkwo
John Bates
Ben Sinnott
Colson Yankoff
Chig Okonkwo gives Washington an athletic receiving option at tight end and should have opportunities within Blough’s offense.
John Bates remains valuable because of his blocking ability and experience.
The player with the most to prove may be Ben Sinnott.
Washington invested a second-round selection in Sinnott in 2024, and the Commanders still need to determine exactly what they have in the former Kansas State standout.
Colson Yankoff grabs the fourth spot because of his versatility and special teams value.
Offensive Line (9)
Brandon Coleman
Chris Paul
Nick Allegretti
Sam Cosmi
Josh Conerly Jr.
Andrew Wylie
D.J. Humphries
Trent Scott
Matt Gulbin
What was once a strength has become the biggest concern for the Commanders’ 53-man roster entering the regular season.
Laremy Tunsil’s injury completely changes the outlook at left tackle and forces Washington to lean more heavily on its offensive-line depth.
The addition of veteran D.J. Humphries adds another experienced option, but significant questions remain about how Washington will construct its starting five.
My projected group is:
LT — Brandon Coleman
LG — Chris Paul
C — Nick Allegretti
RG — Sam Cosmi
RT — Josh Conerly Jr.
Center remains the biggest question.
Allegretti has dealt with a calf injury, while rookie Matt Gulbin has received opportunities at center throughout the summer.
Gulbin makes my roster as a developmental interior offensive lineman, but Washington shouldn’t consider the position settled.
This is one area where Peters should be watching the waiver wire closely.
If a veteran center or versatile interior offensive lineman becomes available following final cuts, Washington should be aggressive.
Protecting Daniels has to remain one of the organization’s biggest priorities.
Commanders 53-Man Roster Defense:
Defensive Linemen (5)
Daron Payne
Javon Kinlaw
Tim Settle
Charles Omenihu
Ricky Barber
The defensive line becomes an important position to watch as Washington prepares to finalize the Commanders’ 53-man roster.
Daron Payne remains the centerpiece of the defensive interior and will once again be counted on to disrupt both the run and pass.
Javon Kinlaw and Tim Settle provide veteran size and experience alongside Payne. With Jer’Zhan Newton dealing with an injury, Washington’s depth along the defensive front becomes even more important.
Charles Omenihu also belongs in this group.
Omenihu gives Daronte Jones something valuable because of his ability to line up in multiple spots along the defensive front. He can play on the edge in certain packages but also rush inside and against guards. That versatility could become particularly valuable on passing downs when Jones wants to get creative with his defensive fronts.
Rather than viewing Omenihu strictly as an edge defender, I’m placing him with the defensive line because Washington can use him as a movable piece across the front.
The final spot goes to Ricky Barber over Shy Tuttle.
Barber has shown enough during the preseason to warrant keeping him around as a rotational interior defender. With Newton’s availability uncertain, keeping another defensive lineman gives Washington additional insurance.
The combination of Payne, Kinlaw, Settle, Omenihu and Barber gives the Commanders a mixture of size, experience and versatility up front.
Edge Rusher (4)
Odafe Oweh
K’Lavon Chaisson
Joshua Josephs
Javontae Jean-Baptiste
Dorance Armstrong — One-game suspension
Washington needs more consistent pressure off the edge in 2026, and Odafe Oweh will be counted on heavily to provide it.
Oweh gives Washington an explosive presence capable of attacking offensive tackles and creating pressure off the edge.
K’Lavon Chaisson provides another veteran option for Daronte Jones and gives the Commanders a defender who can be moved around depending on the situation.
One of the players I’ve been most intrigued by is Joshua Josephs.
Josephs has flashed enough throughout the preseason to earn a roster spot and could eventually develop into a useful rotational pass rusher.
Javontae Jean-Baptiste takes the final active spot in the edge room.
Dorance Armstrong’s one-game suspension adds another wrinkle to Washington’s roster construction. Armstrong remains part of the team’s plans, but Washington will have to account for his temporary absence before he becomes eligible to return.
Omenihu’s ability to kick outside when necessary also gives Jones another option while Armstrong is unavailable.
Linebacker (4)
Frankie Luvu
Sonny Styles
Leo Chenal
Jordan Magee
Kain Medrano
Frankie Luvu remains the tone-setter of this defense.
His physicality, versatility, and energy make him one of the most important players in Washington’s front seven.
Sonny Styles could become one of the most intriguing pieces in Daronte Jones’ defense because he combines size, athleticism, and positional versatility.
Leo Chenal adds another physical presence, while Jordan Magee gives Washington a young linebacker capable of contributing defensively and on special teams.
Cornerback (5)
Trey Amos
Amik Robertson
Mike Sainristil
Rasul Douglas
Antonio Hamilton Sr.
Washington’s secondary looks significantly different heading into 2026.
Trey Amos remains one of the organization’s most important young defensive backs and should have an opportunity to take another step.
Amik Robertson adds toughness, competitiveness, and experience.
Mike Sainristil remains one of Washington’s most versatile defensive backs because of what he can provide from the slot.
Rasul Douglas gives Washington another experienced outside corner capable of matching up against bigger receivers.
Antonio Hamilton Sr. narrowly gets the final spot on my Commanders 53-man roster projection.
This is another battle that could go either way, particularly if Washington decides it values special teams ability over experience at the bottom of the cornerback room.
Safety (5)
Nick Cross
Jeremy Reaves
Quan Martin
Tyler Owens
Percy Butler
Nick Cross should have an opportunity to establish himself as an important piece on the back end of Washington’s defense.
Jeremy Reaves remains extremely valuable because of what he brings to special teams in addition to his ability to contribute defensively.
Quan Martin gives Washington versatility throughout the secondary.
But one of the biggest risers in this group has been Tyler Owens.
Owens has done enough throughout the summer to earn his way onto my projected roster. His athletic ability and special teams value give Washington another developmental player worth keeping.
Percy Butler grabs the final safety spot.
Specialists (3)
K — Drew Stevens
P — Tress Way
LS — Tyler Ott
There aren’t many questions surrounding Tress Way or Tyler Ott.
The bigger storyline is the kicker.
Drew Stevens won the job fair and square and is set to kick in the Week 1 opener.
