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 tight ends.

On the roster

• John Bates
• Lawrence Cager
• Zach Ertz
• Tyree Jackson
• Ben Sinnott
• Cole Turner
• Colson Yankoff

What to watch

• Can Ertz continue to turn back the clock? Ertz was one of the Commanders' biggest surprises last season. Despite being one of the older active players in the league, he had his best season since 2021 and became a reliable red zone target for Jayden Daniels. Ertz said last offseason he was the healthiest he had been in years, and it showed with his 72.5% catch rate. Ertz made it clear he wanted to be back for 2025, and the Commanders were quick to re-sign him. Obviously, Ertz is near the end of his career, but the main question for him and Washington is whether he can maintain the success he had last season. If he can put up similar numbers, it provides more optimism that the Commanders will have another top 10 offense.
• What's the update on Sinnott's development? The Commanders had hopes that Sinnott -- the second tight end taken in last year's draft -- could develop into an all-around player. That could still happen, but it was clear last year that Sinnott needed more time to develop. Tight ends coach David Raih said Sinnott has made strides this offseason, both as a blocker and pass-catcher. There were some positive signs during the season -- he caught all his targets -- and depending on how he looks in camp, he could get more looks in his second season. Fortunately for the Commanders, they managed to retain both Ertz and Bates, so there is no need for them to rush Sinnott's development. They can ease him into a larger role, but it would be beneficial for him to show progress this summer.
• Can the Commanders get more out of their developmental players? Washington has several projects at tight end, from Yankoff to Jackson and Turner, and while there is no immediate need for them to play, it would be a bonus if one of them were to step up and become more meaningful contributors. Yankoff earned a spot on last year's initial roster but was mostly a special teams player; Jackson is raw but has unique size at 6-foot-7; and Turner has struggled to get on the field but has put on weight and improved as a blocker to pair that with his pass-catching skill set. The Commanders kept four tight ends last season, so it's reasonable to expect them to do so again. Any of those previously mentioned players could make a case to earn that spot, but they will need strong preseason performances to do so.