The 2025 season is almost upon us, and while the Washington Commanders have provided several solutions to the challenges on their roster, fans still have questions as the squad gets ready for training camp.

And I'm here to answer them.

Since this is the second (or third?) incarnation of Hail Mail, I thought it would be a good idea to cover some ground rules: First, anything in this or future mailbag stories is based on my opinion. Neither Adam Peters nor Dan Quinn are rolling up to my desk to provide me with any inside information, and I think any attempt from me to give them guidance on the roster would be promptly placed in the recycling bins by their desks. I say that facetiously, because both Peters and Quinn are great people. However, they've done a great job with the team so far and certainly don't need any help from me.

Now for the second point. Let's acknowledge that I do work for the team, so I'm obviously not going to make any speculations about contract disputes, aside from what someone from the front office has provided, or offer any negative criticism (that doesn't mean I am unable to acknowledge mistakes, but it does mean I'm going to focus on how the team can move forward from those errors). There are other reporters out there who can do that and are great at their jobs, but neither of those topics are part of my job description. If you're looking for that content, I encourage you to look elsewhere.

With that said, there are a lot of things I can discuss with a measured outlook (something I believe is in short supply these days) and would be happy to give my perspective as someone who is entering his seventh NFL season. Is everyone clear on that? Good. Let's get to it.

@GarnerShaw42699: Will they add another pass rusher?

In terms of adding another pass-rusher, I could see it happening at some point, but probably after training camp similar to how the Commanders signed Noah Brown last season. Are there scenarios that would change their plans? Sure, but I also believe they want to give the players they drafted a chance to fill those roles. Javontae Jean-Baptiste is the first player who comes to mind. If he makes progress in August, it would solve some of their problems with a player who is under contract for another two seasons. Maybe T.J. Maguranyanga -- their IPP player -- is ahead of schedule, or Johnny Newton has a strong performance in camp.

The Commanders have shown they aren't afraid to use draft picks or cap space to address holes, but given how expensive both routes can be, I expect them to give their current options every chance to succeed. So, to answer the first part of the question, possibly, but only as a last resort.

@BigBrussells: What do you believe to be the pecking order for SS after Chinn's departure. Will Harris seems to be the favorite. Did you see anything during the off-season, detailing the way they plan to deploy guys behind him?

As a small preview for the next question, I think the secondary as a whole will be one of the most interesting groups to watch this summer. Losing Chinn is tough, but the fact remains that Washington is in a division with a Philadelphia Eagles team that has arguably the best all-around wide receiver corps in the NFL. They need to find ways to compete against that group, which means it is imperative that they improve in coverage.

Harris gives them the chance to do that, or at least be more versatile in their coverage package, which is why I believe you're right to assume he is at the top of the depth chart for now. They still need to figure some things out; for example, Joe Whitt Jr. said he wants to find a role for Jeremy Reaves. Perhaps Tyler Owens also takes a step in his development. But for now, it would not surprise me if Harris was part of the first group to start camp.

As for the other part of your question, the Commanders, like every NFL team, keeps things vanilla during public practices, so there's really not much to go on for right now.

@JayDanielsMVP: What are some specific position battles fans should be excited to see when the pads come on?

Obviously, it's the offensive and defensive lines. It's just hard to gauge their progress in jerseys, shorts and helmets. On the offensive line specifically, I want to see who can claim the two guard spots. It seems like the Commanders want Brandon Coleman to take that left guard position, but I suspect that Nate Herbig and Chris Paul will have a chance to compete for both spots. I'm also curious about Conerly and how long it will take for him to show he can be a starter. It wouldn't surprise me if the Commanders did something similar to what they did with Coleman and Cornelius Lucas last year, meaning Conerly and Andrew Wylie would split reps. That worked well for them last season, so perhaps they try that again.

Here are a few other battles I'll be watching next month: the bottom of the receiver position is always fascinating to me; I'm excited to see who emerges as the starting cornerback opposite Marshon Lattimore; and I'm curious about the running backs, which I will go into more detail on next.

@SadeghiStu21366: Will the backfield be split you think (assuming) bill impresses? Maybe even starts.

There has been a lot of hype surrounding seventh-round running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, otherwise known as "Bill." There's a lot to like about him; he's quick, decisive and can burst through running lanes. It's been a while since he's played in a meaningful game, but it didn't appear as if he's lost a step during OTAs and minicamp.

However -- and I don't mean to dump cold water on Croskey-Merritt before his career even begins -- but let's temper the expectations on him a bit. He's still a seventh-round pick, which means he will need to earn a spot on the 53-man roster before anything else. That means he has to beat out other running backs ahead of him, and there are several players who already have a strong rapport with the coaching staff. I fully believe he can do that. He seems like a good kid with the right work ethic, and those traits give him a shot with this coaching staff. But let's wait until we see him in action with pads on before we make any assumptions about what he will be in his career.

@32BeatWriters also asked what we would need to see for Croskey-Merritt to have an impact. I want to see him build on the positive signs we saw in June. He needs to have a positive attitude and be willing to take on any role they give him, particularly on special teams. If he can do that, he has a shot to be a good player.

@DCSports_Talk: What are you baking lately?

An excellent question. I've had a few projects over the summer, although I have neglected to put them on social media. I've rediscovered my love for cupcakes and recently made some vanilla-flavored ones with lavender icing. I think I'm going to try rose water icing next. I've read it's really good with lemon cupcakes, so I might give that a shot as a little treat before camp.