Commanders announce initial 53-man roster for 2024 season

The Washington Commanders have released their initial 53-man roster for the 2024 season. Here's a positional breakdown of who made the cut.

Note: The Commanders also have the second waiver claim spot, meaning that the initial roster is subject to change over the next 24 hours. The deadline for the Commanders to claim players off the waiver wire is 1 p.m.

OFFENSE (25 players)

Quarterback

• Jayden Daniels
• Marcus Mariota
• Jeff Driskel

It wasn't a question of if but how Jayden Daniels would be named the Commanders' starting quarterback. Rather than name the No. 2 overall pick the starter outright, which was certainly their goal, the team decided to let him earn the job and take snaps behind Marcus Mariota to start OTAs and training camp.

The results were more than what the Commanders originally hoped for. Daniels attacked each challenge placed in front of him with a rare level of determination and work ethic. He showed up early, stayed late and studied hard to make sure he was prepared for practice each day. As with any rookie, there were some growing pains, but Daniels corrected his mistakes quickly and learned from them.

In the preseason games, Daniels showed off flashes of the arm talent and poise that convinced Washington to draft him. After seeing him complete 10-of-12 passes for 78 yards against the Dolphins, head coach Dan Quinn was confident enough to officially make Daniels the starter -- something that had been trending in the right direction for weeks.

"We knew we would get here, but we were just excited to see how we would," Quinn said. So, seeing him hit all the spots, this is a rare competitor, and those are the things that I knew about him. But seeing it in your own building, on your own team, around new teammates, that was cool to see."

Marcus Mariota, who enters his 10th season, will operate as the team's backup. Both Quinn and Daniels have been quick to commend Mariota for his presence and mentorship in the quarterback room. As someone who was also a No. 2 overall pick, his leadership and guidance should prove vital to Daniels as he navigates his rookie season.

Jeff Driskel proved himself to be a strong presence in the locker room and dependable third option in the preseason. If Daniels and Mariota were to miss time, Driskel has shown that he can effectively run the offense.

Running back

• Brian Robinson Jr.
• Austin Ekeler
• Jeremy McNichols

The Commanders have insisted since camp began that they have more of a dual starting running back combination in Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler rather than a traditional hierarchy. It makes sense why they have driven that point home, because each adds something different to the offense.

Although we didn't see much of Robinson during the preseason, the third-year running back looks healthier than he's been in his NFL career. He has some ability as a pass-catcher but is known more for his physical running style. The flashes of that we saw against the Jets and Dolphins were impressive, as he averaged 5.6 yard per carry. Assuming the Commanders add more balance to the offense than last season, when they ran the ball at the lowest rate in the NFL, there should be more opportunities for Robinson to show off his skill set.

"I think after this season if he stays healthy, people will recognize what he can do in the run game, in the past game and some of those young guys are coming on," said offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

Ekeler has proven that his high ankle sprain is a thing of the past, as he looked quick and explosive in practice. He is expected to be another reliable target for Daniels out of the backfield.

"Austin Ekeler has been fantastic," Kingsbury said. "I think it was a narrative out there that maybe he lost a step or something that was off and that couldn't be farther from the truth from what I've seen from him and his ability or some pass game or run game to create separation and make plays."

Jeremy McNichols, who has been in the NFL since 2017, played in three games for the San Francisco 49ers last season. He has a physical style that is complemented by burst and quickness, making him an ideal change-of-pace option for both Robinson and Ekeler.

Tight ends

• Zach Ertz
• John Bates
• Ben Sinnott
• Colson Yankoff

Zach Ertz was one of the first players Washington signed to help build their new culture, citing his experience working with Kingsbury and consistent results throughout his career. Ertz had an interesting stretch before coming to Washington, playing for the Cardinals and briefly joining the Detroit Lions. If anyone thought the 33-year-old tight end had lost a step, they were sorely mistaken.

Ertz has been one of Daniels' best targets in practice, using his years of experience to get open in the middle of the field. His hands have been just as impressive, as he has made several athletic grabs while working with the starting offense. He and Ertz are often together after plays discussing what they saw and how they can fine tune their chemistry. Assuming he stays healthy for most of the season, Ertz's presence should make life much easier for Daniels.

"You got a QB friendly tight end, Zach, that's very smart, very intentional with what he does with his route running," Daniels said.

Next on the depth chart is veteran John Bates and second-round pick Ben Sinnott. Bates does have some ability as a pass-catcher but is better as a blocker. His physicality should come in handy as the Commanders try to create more running lanes for Ekeler and Robinson. Sinnott showed more of his skill set during the preseason games, particularly with what he can do after the catch. He shrugged off multiple defenders against the Jets and Dolphins -- something he couldn't do in practice because of the obvious limitations. Sinnott has also shown promise as a blocker and could develop into an all-around tight end later in his career.

Colson Yankoff was a strong special team contributor throughout camp and had a 12-yard catch against the Patriots. He should fit in nicely as the fourth player on the depth chart.

Wide receiver

• Terry McLaurin
• Dyami Brown
• Luke McCaffrey
• Olamide Zaccheaus
• Jamison Crowder
• Byron Pringle

There has never been any doubt as to who the leader of the Commanders' wide receiver group will be in 2024. McLaurin has been Washington's most consistent weapon since 2019, although this season could be even more successful for him because of who he has at quarterback. Daniels has shown a keen instinct for putting passes where only his receiver can grab them. What's more, Daniels also knows how to throw receivers open and create yards after the catch for them. That was the case against the Dolphins, when McLaurin turned a short pass from Daniels into a 20-yard gain.

"He naturally has a good feel of where to position the ball, whether it's an in-breaking route, out-breaking route, a ball down the field," McLaurin said of Daniels. "A lot of the things, he just naturally has the ability to have a feel for the game, which is very unique for any quarterback, but let alone a rookie."

The rest of the receiver position was more competitive, although there were some players who clearly stood out among the rest. Dyami Brown was the biggest example of that, as he seems to have finally shown that he can be a reliable receiver outside of what he has shown as a blocker. He's starting to make more contested targets downfield, which was something he excelled at in college. If he can keep that up in the regular season, it will provide Washington with an explosive threat it has lacked for years.

Olamide Zaccheaus has been another standout and has impressed Kingsbury with his enthusiasm for every task, whether it be lining up out wide, in the slot or as a blocker. Luke McCaffrey, a third-round pick, is physical at the line of scrimmage and already shows a high level of poise as a rout runner. Jamison Crowder didn't return punts in the preseason but is expected to have that role going forward. He also can line up as a backup slot weapon if desired.

Byron Pringle, who played for the Commanders a year ago, returned to the roster early in training camp and is expected to add depth to the receiver and special teams rooms.

Offensive line

• Brandon Coleman
• Nick Allegretti
• Tyler Biadasz
• Sam Cosmi
• Andrew Wylie
• Cornelius Lucas
• Trent Scott
• Michael Deiter
• Chris Paul

The Commanders entered training camp with a massive hole at left tackle. Though there's still much for third-round pick Brandon Coleman to prove, the team thinks he could be the answer at the position.

Coleman, a product from TCU, was classified as a guard in the draft process, but Adam Peters believed that he could be a good NFL tackle because of his quick feet, arm length and size. All three of those traits were helpful as he quickly became the tackle who worked the most with the starting group. Coleman has the quickness to keep up with edge rusher, and he stayed locked on with defenders once engaged. A shoulder injury kept him out of the preseason and severely limited his snaps in practice. Once he's back, though, it's likely he will be the starter.

While there were some who wondered if there would be any movement on the rest of the offensive line, the group has stayed the same since camp began. Nick Allegretti, primarily a backup for most of his career, has been detail oriented working as the left guard and has some experience working at center. Tyler Biadasz brings stability to Washington's center position, which has dealt with injuries and mixed on-field performances for the past three seasons. Sam Cosmi was listed as one of the best guards in football by Pro Football Focus last season and is expecting another strong campaign. Andrew Wylie dealt with tightness at the start of camp but is healthy now and looks primed to build on his strong chemistry with Cosmi on the right side.

Chris Paul played guard and tackle for the Commanders in the preseason, proving his position versatility and value as a reserve. Michael Deiter, a five-year veteran, will serve as the backup center behind Biadasz.

DEFENSE (25 players)

Defensive tackle

• Jonathan Allen
• Daron Payne
• Jer'Zhan Newton
• Phidarian Mathis
• John Ridgeway III

Like receiver, it's clear which players are at the top of the position. Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne are two of the best in the league at their position and make a formidable duo. Although we didn't see them in the preseason, they've shown enough in practice to prove they are ready for a bounce back season after a statistically underwhelming 2023 campaign.

"Oh, I've been very pleased with them," said defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. "It all starts up front. I'm a believer in that, and those guys have done just a very nice job of not only setting the edge in the run game, but getting after the quarterback."

Phidarian Mathis and John Ridgeway III had strong showings against the Patriots and will back up Allen and Payne. Mathis has dealt with injuries for most of his career so far, but if he can be healthy, perhaps he can turn into the dominant run-stopper he was projected to be coming out of college.

We have seen little of Jer'Zhan Newton in practice, as he has dealt with recovering from surgery and an unrelated injury. It's unclear when he will make his debut, but he is expected provide valuable depth behind Allen and Payne.

Taylor Stallworth -- a six-year veteran who the team signed Aug. 4 -- is going directly to Injured Reserve and will miss the first four games.

Defensive end

• Clelin Ferrell
• Dorance Armstrong
• Javontae Jean-Baptiste
• Jamin Davis

The Commanders have remade the defensive end position over the past year, adding Clelin Ferrell and Dorance Armstrong in free agency as well as drafting Javontae Jean-Baptiste in the seventh round.

Armstrong is coming off two of his most successful seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and getting his chance as a starter for the first time in his career. Ferrell, the No. 4 overall pick from the 2019 draft, started all 17 games for the San Francisco 49ers and had 28 tackles to go with 3.5 sacks. Both will add reliable, veteran experience on the edge.

Perhaps the biggest surprise has been how much Jamin Davis has settled into the Commanders' new role for him. Davis, a first-round pick from 2021, has been used almost exclusively as a pass-rusher over the past month. Although it has taken some time for him to adjust, he is starting to pair his athleticism with the techniques defensive coaches Darryl Tapp and Ryan Kerrigan have been teaching him. Plus, he's been open to being used on special teams, adding more value to the roster.

Jean-Baptiste showed progress late in camp and will provide special teams value as he develops.

Norell Pollard was placed on the Reserve/Injured list.

Linebacker

• Bobby Wagner
• Frankie Luvu
• Dante Fowler Jr.
• Mykal Walker
• Dominique Hampton

Wagner's reputation is well known by fans and players. He has put together a Hall of Fame-worthy career up to this point, and it didn't take long for his teammates to appreciate how his presence can provide guidance for the entire defense.

"He commands the huddle, and we listen to him," Payne said.

There was plenty of excitement around the Commanders facility when they signed Frankie Luvu in March, and it's clear to see why. Luvu, who like Armstrong has found success in the past two seasons, is fast and versatile. He can be as disruptive in pass coverage as well as rushing the quarterback, and he could be the lynchpin that leads the Commanders' defense to success.

Perhaps the biggest surprise has been how much Jamin Davis has settled into the Commanders' new role for him. Davis, a first-round pick from 2021, has been used almost exclusively as a pass-rusher over the past month. Although it has taken some time for him to adjust, he is starting to pair his athleticism with the techniques defensive coaches Darryl Tapp and Ryan Kerrigan have been teaching him. Plus, he's been open to being used on special teams, adding more value to the roster.

Dante Fowler, who signed with Washington in the offseason, will provide his skill set as a starter. Fowler has worked with Quinn at several stops in his career, so he already has experience in what Quinn is looking for from his players, both on the field and in the building. Although Fowler is listed as a linebacker, he will provide help as an edge defender.

Like Jean-Baptiste, Mykal Walker steadily improved throughout camp and showed exceptional energy on the field, recording 13 tackles in the preseason. Dominique Hampton, who was drafted in the fifth-round, is listed as a safety but started to play as a linebacker in certain packages in the second half of camp.

Magee -- a fifth-round pick -- has been placed on Injured Reserve and given the designated to return designation. Per league rules, players designated to return may return to the roster at any point within a 21-day time frame.

Safety

• Jeremy Chinn
• Quan Martin
• Jeremy Reaves
• Percy Butler
• Tyler Owens
• Darrick Forrest

Jeremy Chinn has been one of the enforcers of the Commanders' "run and hit" philosophy since camp began. He flies to the ball and excels at playing close to the line of scrimmage. Chinn has been adamant that Quinn's style of defense fits who he is as a player, and so far, that has been the case.

"He really has done an excellent job here," Quinn said. "We've put him at a couple of different spots. You've probably seen him down by the line of scrimmage, you've seen him blitz some, he's got real speed and length. That's probably the thing that has shown up to me the most."

Quan Martin, Chinn's running mate, has built on the success he had late in his rookie season and is primed for success in Year 2. His intelligence and versatility make him a valuable asset in the secondary, and Whitt has been particularly impressed with his ability to play in the slot.

"He can cover tight ends and cover receivers," Whitt said. "They did that with him last year. He has great range from the middle of the field."

Reaves has become one of the best special teams players in the league, earning an All-Pro selection in 2022. He'll bring depth to the defensive backfield, but most of his time will be spent on punt and kickoff coverage. Percy Butler can play close to the line of scrimmage and often been with the primary backups in practice. He is also expected to provide depth on special teams.

Tyler Owens became a camp favorite because of his size and physicality on special teams. He also showed exceptional effort on the field during the preseason, like when he saved a touchdown against the Dolphins by tackling running back Curtis Brooks.

Darrick Forrest has returned from his shoulder injury and got more comfortable in the defense as camp progressed.

Cornerback

• Mike Sainristil
• Benjamin St-Juste
• Emmanuel Forbes
• Michael Davis
• Noah Igbinoghene

Mike Sainristil has provided an immediate impact on the defense. Although the depth charts in the preseason are "unofficial," the fact that he was listed as a starter as a rookie speaks to how far he has come in such a short time. Sainristil sticks to his job, doesn't over pursue and lets plays come to him. He's impressed his coaches with his maturity, and according to Whitt, he has a "command of the star position" on Washington's defense.

"When it comes to the signal callers, the linebacker, safeties and the star, you have to be able to communicate at a high level with confidence. And the young man has that. He does not walk around as if he's a rookie."

Benjamin St-Juste, a third-round pick from 2021, has been solid at times in practice and the preseason as he has adjusted to the new defensive scheme. Emmanuel Forbes Jr., last season's first-round pick, has been praised by the coaching staff for buying into the concepts taught to him by his coaches and continues to improve.

Michael Davis has 74 starts in his career and an interception in each of the last five seasons. He'll add some much-needed veteran experience to the young position group. That will also be the case for Noah Igbinoghene, a first-round by the Dolphins in 2020. Igbinoghene worked with Quinn last season with the Cowboys, and although he only played in five games, his experience with Quinn and Whitt should be an advantage for him and his teammates.

SPECIALISTS (3 players)

• Tress Way
• Tyler Ott
• Cade York

Tress Way has long been one of the punters in the league and Washington history. He is first in several categories in franchise history and is on the cusp of having the most punt yards by a Washington player.

Tyler Ott is an experienced long snapper and is expected alleviate the team's issues at the position from last season.

Cade York, who the Commanders traded for last week, hit both of his field goal attempts against the Patriots. The team could always look for other options, but for now, it looks like the former fourth-round pick has a home in Washington.

Zach Selby is the Senior Editor at Commanders.com | You can follow him on X and read him at Commanders.com