Washington Commanders
Role Player
Daily Slop - 11 May 25 - Sunday is the final day of rookie minicamp; mandatory minicamp scheduled for June 10th
Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/11...camp-mandatory-minicamp-scheduled-for-june-10
A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, and a sprinkling of other stuff
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Washington Post (paywall)
Why tougher opponents should lower Commanders’ expectations in 2025
The Washington Commanders’ 2025 win total, 9½, is in the top half of the league and is the highest for the franchise at this point since 2001, its only season under then-coach Marty Schottenheimer. (The NFL still had a 16-game schedule in 2001, when Washington finished 8-8.)
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the Commanders face a tougher schedule in 2025, especially on the road. Five of Washington’s nine 2025 away opponents — the Green Bay Packers, Eagles, Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers and Minnesota Vikings — reached the playoffs last season. The Atlanta Falcons, another road opponent, were in the postseason mix until a late-season collapse, while the Miami Dolphins dealt with significant injuries in 2024 but made the playoffs the previous two seasons. Washington’s strength of schedule doesn’t project to be the most difficult of 2025, but it is among the top third of the league.
Given these considerations, a nine- or 10-win season could reflect continued competitiveness in a more challenging landscape. Washington’s franchise, in fact, hasn’t finished with double-digit wins in consecutive seasons since 1991, the previous time it won a Super Bowl. According to this analysis, there is a 32 percent chance the Commanders finish with 11 or more wins in 2025 and a 28 percent chance they finish below .500.
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Amid a hectic offseason, Commanders’ rookies grab the spotlight for a bit
Rookie minicamp is underway in Ashburn. Here’s what you need to know.
Quick hits
• First-round tackle Josh Conerly Jr. stood out with his quickness in offensive line drills.
• Tight end Zach Ertz watched practice alongside Peters, Quinn, assistant GM Lance Newmark and director of player personnel David Blackburn.
• After practice, a John Deere tractor carried four large logs to the field. Quinn likes to incorporate Navy SEAL training, with the Acumen Performance Group, to build camaraderie and leadership among the players, and log carrying is part of it. Star wide receiver Terry McLaurin was among those who cited the value of the work and how it helped the Commanders establish their culture and chemistry last offseason.
The Athletic (paywall)
Commanders rookie camp brings ties to Washington’s past and future together
4. Quinn doesn’t expect Week 1 or even training camp-level work from the participants. He considers these three days “onboarding.”
“These are the standards. These are the things that are important to us. These are the ways that we go about (our work),” Quinn said. “It doesn’t just take place over one weekend. It takes place all the way up through here and into training camp. This is an excellent team to come be a part of, knowing that there are people here that are gonna help them be their very best.”
5. Lane’s 4.34 40-yard speed made the Virginia Tech receiver a coveted target for teams in the middle rounds. College highlights showed a player often receiving the ball out of the slot and near the line of scrimmage. That tracked with Lane’s usage in a few seven-on-seven drills, as did the burst upfield with the ball in his hands.
Finding ways to get Lane the ball beyond traditional route running feels like an early goal. That includes returning punts and kicks, which might be how he will contribute primarily as a rookie, along with gunner reps on special teams.
7. Then there is seventh-round running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who introduced himself as “Bill” to reporters. He looked bigger than his listed 5 feet 11, 208 pounds. At the same time, the shiftiness showed in drills as expected, without any hints of rust after eligibility issues caused him to miss the final 11 games of his career at Arizona.
8. Two UDFA signings, cornerback Fentrell Cypress and offensive lineman Tim McKay (torn labrum), did not participate. McKay’s injury, suffered at NC State’s pro day, will likely keep the three-year college starter and guard prospect sidelined into training camp, possibly leading to a physically unable to perform designation.
Commanders.com
Quinn wants rookies to compete, learn Commanders standard
Every rookie class is different, and that’s the case this year when comparing this year’s group to the 2024 class. One thing Quinn hopes they have in common is their desire to be good teammates. That, among other things, was something the 2024 class excelled at, and Quinn wants that standard to stay the same in 2025.
“Not every player can become a great player, but you can become a great teammate,” Quinn said.
There’s always a handful of undrafted rookies who make the initial 53-man roster, and that journey begins this weekend. When asked about what they can do to improve their chances, Quinn circled back to one of the main pillars of Washington’s culture: competition.
“And there’s great examples from players who were in that same space, whether it was last season or seasons prior, who have walked that walk,” Quinn said. “We don’t really want them to think about that yet. We don’t really go so far to say what’s gonna happen in September. Just work these skills, learn the system and the skills that are needed for the system.”
Safety Gabe Taylor making the most of his opportunity at rookie minicamp
Taylor’s participation in Washington’s rookie minicamp is a huge milestone for Taylor and a special kind of full-circle moment for the entire Taylor family. Gabe’s older brother Sean, a first-round pick in 2005, was an electrifying talent for the Burgundy & Gold before his career was tragically cut short by fatal injuries sustained during a 2007 home invasion.
Gabe, who was only six years old when Sean passed, has held his brother’s memory close growing up. Joining the Commanders for minicamp this weekend despite calls from other teams is part of that homage. The significance of accepting that invitation certainly wasn’t lost on him or his family.
The decision to come to Washington meant opening the door to what head coach Dan Quinn has described as a “golden opportunity” for tryout players. This weekend in Ashburn, Gabe is focused on showing Washington’s coaching staff that he can contribute to this team.
It would be easy for Taylor to get swept up in the “what ifs” of these few days. He, like other tryout players who are here, can taste the NFL dream. Taylor, however, says he is taking it “one day at a time,” which is exactly what Quinn wants the attitude around minicamp to be for these guys.
“We don’t really want them to really think about that [the initial 53-man roster or practice squad] yet. We don’t really go so far as to say, ‘What’s going to happen in September?’ Just work these skills, learn the system and the skills that are needed for the system,” Quinn said. “If we can do that excellently then the 53 and the practice squad will kind of work itself out. If you’re already looking ahead to that, I think you’re going to miss all of the development, all the things that are going to take place.”
Riggo’s Rag
Commanders should investigate Drake Jackson’s outlook after 49ers departure
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the San Francisco 49ers waived Drake Jackson with a failed physical designation. The former second-round pick is expected to be healthy for the start of training camp, but general manager John Lynch opted to go in a different direction.
This will provoke a discussion in Washington’s front office. Or at least it should.
Peters was part of the draft process that resulted in San Francisco taking Jackson at No. 61 overall in 2022. His career hasn’t gone according to plan due to injuries and a longer rookie adjustment than expected, but his flashes as a pass-rusher indicate it’s too soon to be giving up on him just yet.
Jackson only recently turned 24 years old. He’s not a washed-up veteran down on his luck. With a better run of good fortune on the health front, the edge threat could improve quickly under Washington’s accomplished coaching staff.
That also included a familiar face for the player. Defensive line coach Darryl Tapp spent two seasons coaching Jackson. This would make the transition go smoothly in this scenario, but much will depend on how much the patellar tendon injury that saw him miss the entire 2024 campaign will affect him long term.
Podcasts & videos
NFL Schedule Nuggets: Commanders vs Chiefs on Christmas?
Commanders Rookie Minicamp OBSERVATIONS | Interviews with Lane, Croskey-Merritt and Gabe Taylor
NFC East links
The Athletic (paywall)
Giants minicamp takeaways: Jaxson Dart is already standing out from the crowd
Quarterback Jaxson Dart started his New York Giants rookie minicamp news conference Friday by doing things a little differently: He asked the reporters to introduce themselves before their questions.
Dart wants to start getting to know the people who will help shape the coverage of his career, but he himself needs no introduction. He’s the quarterback the Giants traded back into the first round to get in hopes he’ll become the next face of their franchise.
And though it’s still early, that process is off to a nice start.
Dart finished his first day of rookie minicamp 8-for-10 passing during seven-on-seven drills, with the only two incompletions looking like drops by his receivers. Dart put plenty of zip on his passes, and he even navigated a couple of tight windows. Again, it’s early, but he fared well considering he was the only rookie participating in those seven-on-seven drills.
Completing passes is obviously important, but the big emphasis for Dart is on learning the Giants’ hefty playbook and using a cadence rather than clapping, as he did at Ole Miss. Dart’s former method went viral in a clip talking about it with former NFL coach Jon Gruden.
Big Blue View
Derek Carr announces his retirement - What does it mean for the Giants?
the Giants signed both Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston as free agents. Not only are they expected to carry the load for the Giants this year (and provide scaffolding for the development of Dart), but the Giants also denied them to the other quarterback-needy teams.
There were really only five viable free agent quarterbacks on the market this year — and possibly only four, depending on the status of Aaron Rodgers. The Giants snapping up two of them put both the Steelers and Saints in a bind.
It seems unlikely that the Giants would help out the Saints by trading one of their veterans. Not only would that possibly risk their own season, but it could also risk the development of Dart if he’s pushed onto the field too early.
In the short term, going from Derek Carr to Haener, Rattler, or Shough significantly changes the complexion of the Giants’ upcoming road game against the Saints. The Giants are expected to face one of the most daunting schedules in the NFL, and unleashing their upgraded defense on an inexperienced quarterback makes the game significantly more favorable than a veteran Pro Bowl quarterback.
We shouldn’t chalk this game up as a win, but the news of Carr’s retirement likely improved the Giants’ chances in New Orleans.
Giants’ rookie RB Cam Skattebo: ‘I’ve proved nothing’
Skattebo meets media after first practice
“I mean, as you’ve seen, I cried. This is an awesome place to be,” he said. “Did I expect it to be here? No. But this is where I want to be now, and I love that I’m here. I’ve met new guys throughout the last two weeks, and it’s been awesome.
An endearing aspect of Skattebo’s personality is his humble nature. He understands that he’s at another level of football, and he has yet to prove anything. When asked about his penchant for consistently finding a chip on his shoulder, Skattebo replied with this:
“How many snaps of the NFL have you seen me play? Zero, right? I’ve proved nothing. I’ve proved what I am in college, but I’ve proved nothing at this level. So now where I’m at, I have to prove myself and if that’s for five years or if that’s for 10 years, I’m going to continue to prove myself.”
Skattebo discussed his physical nature and how he loves to run over defenders:
“Getting in the end zone. I mean it feels good when you run somebody over and then get in the end zone. I mean it feels good when you get in the end zone, but imagine running someone over and then running another person over and then getting in the end zone,” he said.I”t’s that much better (laughs). So, it just shows that when you’re physical, it shows the work you put in in the weight room and how much you do to make your game better.”
NFL league links
Articles
Sports Illustrated
Derek Carr’s Retirement Could Be a Blessing in Disguise for the Saints
New Orleans certainly wasn’t hoping its starting quarterback would call it a career Saturday, but Carr’s decision may end up being for the best.
No offense to the combination of 2025 second-round pick Tyler Shough, ’24 fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler and ’23 fourth-round pick Jake Haener, but this is a roster that appears primed for the first overall pick next year. And while many will panic, say that New Orleans should have also taken Shedeur Sanders or hit the eject button on future season tickets, Carr’s retirement may end up being the best development that could have happened for the Saints.
New Orleans’s head-scratching, full-steam ahead cap situation has created a team that, since 2020, has been too talented to finish poorly enough to draft a good quarterback on a rookie deal and too old and broken to win meaningful games. As a credit to Carr, he was sort of the perfect representation of a roster full of proud veterans who, while not quite elite, were certainly good enough to annoyingly beat the Giants on a wholly meaningless December Sunday.
I’m not advocating for tanking, but when an opportunity to walk that fine line between openly trying to lose games and putting together an imperfect yet forward-looking roster presents itself, a coach like Kellen Moore should dive in full-speed ahead.
That’s why Carr’s decision to walk away after the draft, leaving the team in a kind of quarterbacking hellscape where the only aggressive and possible move at this point is trading for Kenny Pickett, will wind up being a blessing in disguise. It’s not the way anyone would have hoped (especially not Moore). It may or may not be part of a larger scheme by Carr to wind up elsewhere. But either way, it forces the Saints to be as bad as the team possibly can be for one season.
Pro Football Focus
Post-NFL draft breakout candidates for all 32 teams
Washington Commanders: DT Jer’Zhan Newton
Newton, much like most rookie defensive linemen, didn’t get a significant snap share in Year 1, but with the team releasing long-time starter Jonathan Allen this offseason, a key opportunity opens up for Newton to prove he is worthy of his early second-round draft capital this season. Newton showed flashes as a rookie, ultimately finishing the year with a 62.7 pass-rush grade (tied for 53rd) with plenty of room to grow this season with a much larger workload.
NFL.com
Ranking top NFL pass-catching groups: Bengals lead class; Cowboys stand out after George Pickens trade
Rank 1 - Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals showed their commitment to the finest pass-catching trio in the league this offseason by opening the vault to retain the services of WR Ja’Marr Chase (four years, $161 million), WR Tee Higgins (four years, $115 million) and TE Mike Gesicki (three years, $25.5 million). Joe Burrow advocated for his playmakers to receive their blockbuster deals, and the money reflects how Cincinnati has dominated opponents on the perimeter. From Chase winning the triple crown in 2024 as the league leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns to Higgins posting 10 touchdowns as the NFL’s most feared WR2 to Gesicki snagging 65 balls as the third option on a prolific, pass-first offense, the Bengals have firepower to match any opponent in a shootout.
Rank 2 - Philadelphia Eagles
It’s hard to find a glaring hole on the defending champions’ roster thanks to the Eagles’ superb scouting and development process. Philadelphia has utilized every acquisition method (draft, trade and free agency) to stockpile blue-chip playmakers. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith share duties as co-WR1s in an offense that utilizes a potent running game, led by Saquon Barkley, to set up opportunities through the air. WR Jahan Dotson and TE Dallas Goedert excel at working the underneath areas to punish opponents utilizing two-deep coverage and split-safety looks designed to limit throws over the top. Despite their best efforts, few defenses have been able to neutralize the Eagles’ aerial attack with Jalen Hurts tossing the ball all over the yard to a collection of sticky-fingered pass catchers with slick route-running skills and big-play potential on the perimeter.
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— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 10, 2025
Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/11...camp-mandatory-minicamp-scheduled-for-june-10
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