Commanders final roster will provide needed depth

Over the past two coaching regimes in Washington, the Burgundy and Gold had solid frontline production. The problem that plagued the franchise was a debilitating injury to one of those top players that would derail any hopes of a successful season.

The Commanders always had Pro Bowl talent at key positions but lacked quality depth.

The 2012 team that won the NFC East division and produced NFL Rookie of the Year in Robert Griffin III might have been the deepest team over the past decade. Coach Mike Shanahan won with a group with top-flight second-tier players sprinkled all over the roster. When quarterback Griffin III was injured during the regular season, backup Kirk Cousins came in and played well. Cousins play proved that the depth chart was working in the team’s favor. Little did anyone know that Cousins would become the QB of the immediate future when Griffin couldn’t recapture the magic that made him a fan favorite from his injury and poor play.

Almost eleven years later the Commanders are now faced with the task of trimming their roster down to 53 players. Coach Ron Rivera and his staff have done an excellent job of turning over former coach Jay Gruden’s roster and along the way, adding quality depth with youth and speed.

The Commanders will have some tough decisions to make over the next 24 hours as to who will be on the final roster. Football teams that have playoff aspirations always have these types of “good” problems in assessing who is good enough to be on the roster or who should be placed on the practice squad. This is a sign that the competition levels have been upgraded from the top of the roster to the bottom.

The Commanders have several young players who have shown that they belong in the National Football League, but are they good enough to crack their roster?

Penn State wideout Mitchel Tinsley has made plays throughout training camp and the preseason. The young wideout is trying to crack a receiver room that has Pro Bowler Terry McLaurin, young upstart and fellow Nittany Lion Jahan Dotson, swiss army-knife Curtis Samuel, and Dyami Brown who has had one of the best camps of any player. The four players are locks to be on the roster. After the quartet, things get interesting with veterans Byron Pringle and Dax Milne who appear set to make the roster because of their familiarity with offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s offense (Pringle) and the ability to produce on special teams (Milne).

The question is, who stays and who goes after the top 4 wideouts? I say Pringle and Tinsley if you keep 6 WR’s. If they keep 7 which seems unlikely is it Allen, Milne, or Kemp? Return duties loom large on that decision. #httc #NFL

— Lake Lewis Jr (@LakeLewisJr) August 26, 2023

Where does that leave Tinsley and fellow rookie Kazmeir Allen (UCLA)?

Washington has many tough decisions to be made not just at wideout but also along the defensive line, tight end group, and the secondary. The team must also decide who is worthy to be added from the offensive line which could be the unit that will make or break the team’s fortunes this season.

Regardless, Washington has turned over the roster and now will be able to compete at a higher level than they have done in some time.