The Washington Commanders are set to open training camp this week. The rookies reported late last week, but the entire team is due in Ashburn on Tuesday.
The rosters of all 32 NFL teams are primarily set. Over the next several weeks, teams will trim their rosters from 90 players to 53. Training camp and the preseason will help determine the back end of rosters across the league. While there are some veteran free agents still out there who could step into starting roles, finding impact players at this stage of the year is difficult.
So, as training camp kicks off this week, what is Washington’s biggest remaining hole?
It’s easy to say offensive tackle — specifically left tackle. But the Commanders feel good about the trio vying for the role: Veterans Cornelius Lucas and Trent Scott and rookie Brandon Coleman.
What about cornerback? There are some serious questions there, too. However, the addition of new head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. should help some of the Commanders’ talented young defensive backs.
Jared Dubin of CBS Sports recently looked at every team’s biggest roster hole ahead of the season, and he believes it is edge rusher for the Commanders.
And in Washington, Dorance Armstrong was a strong rotation edge rusher for the Cowboys and Dan Quinn over the last few years, but he’s now the No. 1 guy. That’s less than ideal. The Commanders are counting on guys like Clelin Ferrell, Efe Obada and Dante Fowler Jr. to supplement him.
This is fair. Armstrong, Ferrell, Obada and Fowler are all solid and reliable veteran players, but none of them is a dominant pass rusher at this juncture of their career. There is hope that Armstrong, with an increased role in 2024, will develop into a double-digit pass rusher.
Things are much different for the Commanders in 2024 than they were one year ago. Washington entered 2023 with Chase Young and Montez Sweat. The Commanders traded both and allowed their backups, Casey Toohill and James Smith-Williams, to depart in free agency.