The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team unless specified by a direct quote.
We're less than a month away from the Washington Commanders reporting to Ashburn, Virginia, for training camp, and it's time we got to know the roster a little better.
The Commanders outperformed expectations in the first year with general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn at the helm. Jayden Daniels put together one of the most electrifying rookie seasons in NFL history, and the team was one game away from appearing in the Super Bowl.
Now, with more primetime games on the horizon and a much higher standard to reach, the Commanders must prepare for an encore performance. Like last year, that work will begin in training camp, and Commanders.com will look at every position ahead of the first practice day on July 23. Next up are the safeties.
On the roster
- Percy Butler
- Will Harris
- Quan Martin
- Robert McDaniel
- Ben Nikkel
- Tyler Owens
- Jeremy Reaves
What to watch
- Can Will Harris help the Commanders improve in coverage? Jeremy Chinn played well for the Commanders in 2024 and was one of the team's best tacklers, but it was clear that he struggled at times in coverage. The Commanders ranked 30th as a team in that category, according to Pro Football Focus, and that was something they set out to change this offseason. They believe Harris, who previously worked with Marshon Lattimore as a member of the New Orleans Saints, is part of the answer. Harris might be a little less physical at the point of attack but is slightly better in coverage with a career-high five pass breakups last season. The hope is that Harris will allow Washington to be more versatile in the secondary and give offenses different looks compared to last year, which should elevate the entire defense.
- Will Quan Martin turn into the safety his coaches believe he can become? Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. had high praise for Martin during OTAs when he said Martin could become one of the league's better safeties. Those are high expectations, but Martin has stepped up ahead of his third season. He's no longer making mistakes Whitt said "we can't afford to make," and he has become a leader in terms of communicating calls and understanding the scheme. That, along with the natural talent that helped him record a career-high in tackles as well as two interceptions, makes his coaches excited about what he could become this season. Martin made a considerable jump in production from his rookie to second season with more snaps and looks primed to take another one in 2025.
- Who emerges as key depth pieces at the position? Although we're still over a month away from the first unofficial depth chart being released, it seems fair to assume Martin and Harris will be the starting safeties. After that, it's anyone's guess how the position will play out. We do know some things about Washington's plans; Whitt wants to find a bigger role for Reaves, who signed a contract extension last month, outside of playing special teams. Tyler Owens, another core special teams player, could have a bigger role if he can build on the development he showed as a rookie. There's also Percy Butler, who has some likeable qualities but is entering the final year of his contract. There are some good players in the group, but they'll need to prove they deserve bigger roles in camp.
