The Washington Commanders open the 2023 regular season against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 10 at FedEx Field.
Washington enters the fourth season under Ron Rivera, but the first with new owner Josh Harris. The franchise has not posted a winning season since 2016, so their roster decisions need to be on point. The Commanders at least feel like they have a young quarterback to build around in Sam Howell.
But have Ron Rivera and his front office done enough to build the offensive line? They can keep 10 on the roster, but do they have quality depth?
As of now, it appears each draft pick from the past two years will be on the roster, with four of them entering as starters: WR Jahan Dotson, RB Brian Robinson Jr., CB Emmanuel Forbes and Howell.
The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
Here is the final projection:
QUARTERBACK (2): Sam Howell, Jacoby Brissett
Ron Rivera said he feels good about the quarterback situation, with a young player to develop in Howell and a solid veteran behind him. Howell has made one NFL start and becomes the sixth different quarterback to start the season for Washington since Kirk Cousins left after the 2017 season. They can keep Jake Fromm on the practice squad.
RUNNING BACK (4): Brian Robinson Jr., Antonio Gibson, Chris Rodriguez Jr., Alex Armah
The roles are clear. Robinson will be the primary back. He has had a good summer, both as a runner and pass-catcher. Gibson will be the third-down back. Rodriguez, a rookie, has run with power and shown better hands than expected, after not being asked to catch many passes at Kentucky. There's a good chance Armah could be cut initially, but he'd be brought back soon regardless because they plan on using him this season. He plays fullback and tight end; he received a lot of work in training camp.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Curtis Samuel, Dyami Brown, Byron Pringle, Dax Milne
There's a good chance seven make the initial roster, with perhaps both Milne and Kazmeir Allen making it. Milne could make it ahead of Allen if they only keep six, but Allen's return ability helps. The first four were easy picks. McLaurin's chemistry with Howell has developed nicely as the summer unfolded. Dotson could have an excellent season; no one on the roster shakes defenders better than he does. Pringle, who played for coordinator Eric Bieniemy, adds experienced depth.
TIGHT END (3): Logan Thomas, John Bates, Cole Turner
Washington needs to be careful with Thomas, who missed a couple weeks in camp with a calf issue. If he's durable, the Commanders can receive better production from this position, especially in the red zone. Bates serves as a good run blocker capable of the occasional catch. Turner should help in the pass game, but needs to be more stout at the point of catch. Curtis Hodges should be kept on the practice squad; he's athletic and can be developed but keeping Armah meant only going with three tight ends.
OFFENSIVE LINE (10): Charles Leno Jr., Saahdiq Charles, Nick Gates, Sam Cosmi, Andrew Wylie, Cornelius Lucas, Tyler Larsen, Chris Paul, Ricky Stromberg, Braeden Daniels
Washington's biggest question, a weakness in 2022, has new starters at four spots; Leno is the only returning starter at the same position. Cosmi shifted from tackle to right guard. The question will be: Can they be good enough to handle a strong group of defensive ends in the NFC East? The Commanders have only two backups with legitimate experience. Washington has not drafted an offensive lineman in the first round since 2015.
DEFENSIVE LINE (11): Montez Sweat, Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Chase Young, Efe Obada, John Ridgeway, Phidarian Mathis, Casey Toohill, James Smith-Williams, Andre Jones Jr., KJ Henry
The Commanders, led by Payne and Allen, have one of the best defensive lines in the NFL, though Sweat and Young must produce bigger sack totals this season. Washington could opt to keep 10 linemen, in which case one of the ends -- Smith-Williams, Toohill, Henry or Jones -- would be in jeopardy. But Jones, a seventh-round rookie, has flashed enough to warrant a spot. One of the veterans, Smith-Williams or Toohill, could be in trouble.
LINEBACKER (4): Jamin Davis, Cody Barton, David Mayo, Khaleke Hudson
Washington could keep five linebackers, but with the versatility it has in the defensive backfield it can get away with four and elevate one off the practice squad if needed. Davis has had a good summer, though he also will find out on Aug. 31 if he must serve jail time for a reckless driving charge. Milo Eifler and De'Jon Harris would be possibilities if they kept five, but one or both could be headed to the practice squad.
CORNERBACK (5): Benjamin St-Juste, Kendall Fuller, Emmanuel Forbes, Danny Johnson, Christian Holmes
Forbes and Fuller will play outside while St-Juste, who had a terrific summer, can play either spot. He'll play inside in their three-corner packages. Holmes is a terrific gunner on special teams. The Commanders could keep six here, but Rachad Wildgoose needed to show he could be more than a slot corner and he did not.
SAFETY (5): Kamren Curl, Darrick Forrest, Percy Butler, Jeremy Reaves, Jartavius Martin
They have versatility with this group. Martin, a rookie, can play slot corner as well. Washington loves to use three-safety sets with Curl as a hybrid linebacker/safety. Forrest continues to improve, while Reaves is a coming off an All-Pro season as a special teamer.
SPECIALISTS (3): Tress Way (P), Joey Slye (K), Camaron Cheeseman (LS)
It's the same group as last season, though Slye had to beat out Michael Badgley for the job this summer. Cheeseman, effective his first two seasons, has been inconsistent with his snaps since camp opened but Way -- in addition to being a two-time Pro Bowler -- is a terrific holder.