The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team.
The Washington Commanders have wrapped up their minicamp and are headed for a six-week break before training camp. Here are three standouts from the final week of the offseason program.
Luke McCaffrey
There was never a question about McCaffrey's work ethic or determination last season, but it was clear that he needed more time to develop into a more polished NFL receiver. Now, the former third-round pick's hard work is starting to pay off.
Head coach Dan Quinn praised McCaffrey for the attention to detail he showed in his route running, and that showed throughout OTAs and minicamp. One of his best moments came when he was able to shake off Marshon Lattimore during seven-on-seven drills and get open for a decent gain. He also made a tough sideline catch with Tyler Owens providing tight coverage and scored a touchdown on a catch-and-run later in the day.
"Those are the things that I've seen from him this offseason as a really polished receiver," Quinn said. "Was I surprised that he did it? No, because I knew he's a person [who] if I go back to the competitor, he's going to find a way or make a way."
McCaffrey wants to have a bigger role in the offense during his second season. He'll need to keep showing progress in camp, but he's off to a good start.
Mike Sainristil
It isn't always easy to judge the performance of defensive backs at this time of year because of restrictions on contact and how the drills are set up, but Sainristil found ways to stand out throughout the offseason.
Sainristil, who stepped up as a perimeter corner last season, is back to playing in the slot with Lattimore back and Trey Amos adding his talents to the secondary. His quickness and knowledge have shone through at the position, and he's able to keep up with Washington's best offensive weapons. On the first day of minicamp, he matched up against Deebo Samuel during two-minute drills and had a pass breakup near the goal line, knocking the ball away before Samuel could get his hands on it.
Although it looks like Sainristil will remain in the slot, it's still unclear as to where he'll line up during the 2025 season. His exact role might be more fluid because of his versatility, as he held his own against some of the league's top wideouts. Still, regardless of where he plays, Quinn said Sainristil had a "remarkable year," and the staff expects more from him in his second season.
Chris Moore
The battle for spots at the bottom of the receiver depth chart looks like it'll be one to watch once again. It's still too early to make any assumptions, but Moore is making his case about why he should stick around.
Moore, a 10-year veteran, proved himself as a savvy route runner during minicamp and had some of the best catches of the offseason. He started minicamp by catching a deep pass from Daniels over Amos. He made another explosive catch the following day, this time over Car'Lin Vigers on the left side of the field.
Assuming he can keep standing out in training camp, Moore could be an interesting backup option for the Commanders. If Noah Brown, who was carted off the field on Wednesday, cannot participate for an extended period, perhaps Moore could step in as a veteran presence in the room. Or, if he doesn't make the initial 53-man roster, the team could keep him on the practice squad and call him up if another injury occurs during the season.
Either way, Moore showed that he could still be a useful player and help a team win games.
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