Commanders rookies reported for training camp on Friday. Oh, and quarterbacks and some others coming off injury. All that’s standard, allowing the new folks a few days to get settled in before the full squad reports on Tuesday.
This pre-camp period came without much fanfare, though it’s an important stretch to help the rookies hit the ground running next week while battling for roles and roster spots ahead of this 2026 campaign.
It’s a seven-week stress test full of meetings, practices and walk-throughs
where attention’s fully on football. Seeing how these players navigate their first camp will be revealing, though evaluation isn’t keyed to those avoiding mistakes. It’s about learning from them and maintaining the proper pace of absorbing information and then applying it.
Washington needs several rookies to make an instant impact, while developing others for contributions over a longer term.
There are several we’ll be watching closely in camp. And, yes, No. 7 overall pick Sonny Styles sits atop the list. We’ll write a ton about him this summer, so he gets a pass here. There are quite a few more tabs to keep moving forward. Let’s identify a few, including members of the draft class and those signed after it was complete.
WR Antonio Williams
Antonio Williams carries high expectations into the 2026 season, likely higher than his draft slot demands. Part of that’s out of necessity, considering the glaring hole at the No. 2 spot opposite Terry McLaurin. Scary Terry’s the other component, considering he was a third-round pick who burst onto the scene with a strong rookie season.
All that pressure’s maybe a bit unfair for someone selected No. 71 overall and the ninth receiver selected, but here we are, hoping all the “draft steal” talk pans out. Williams is slippery and a top-tier separator, which should help him fit into new coordinator David Blough’s offense.
It’s less important whether Williams plays inside or outside and more about whether he can build trust with quarterback Jayden Daniels in time to contribute this regular season. Receivers moving from college to the NFL is a tough transition, maybe one of the toughest. The coverage is tighter and more physical, and better disguised that even guys from top programs are used to seeing. Then there’s multiple receiver positions to learn and timing to nail and unspoken communication to master.
That’s, well, a lot. It’ll be interesting to see how Williams handles all that, and how the coaches adjust to find ways to help him succeed early and improve throughout the year.
RB Kaytron Allen
Kaytron Allen got tons of post-draft hype. That’ll happen after someone demands to be called “Fatman.” The nickname’s a fad in terms of fan interest. His Penn State highlight reel is not. The school’s all-time leading rusher can bring it, with a physical, slashing style that should play well in the pros.
He was still available in sixth round for a reason, though late-round running backs can make an impact. Bill Croskey-Merritt’s an example of that, a seventh-round pick who looked good right away. Allen will battle with Croskey-Merritt and veteran Rachaad White for snaps and carries. Keep an eye on Allen when the pads come on, both as a rusher and a pass protector. Snaps are hard to come by if you can’t block, and that’s a tough transition to the pros.
K Drew Stevens
Drew Stevens is an undrafted free agent, but Washington entered him into a position battle with Jake Moody, a former third-round pick and the first kicker taken in 2023. The Iowa product has a big leg and an accurate one, with a career 80% field-goal success rate in college. He was at 87% as a junior and reportedly looked good during his first NFL offseason program.
Kickers don’t work every day, but coaches will put Stevens in high-leverage situations whenever possible, in camp practices and preseason games, before seeing whether he can unseat Moody for the right to be the 2026 Commanders kicker. It’ll be a fun position battle to watch as the summer progresses.
EDGE Joshua Josephs
Joshua Josephs was the third Commanders draft pick. It also happened to come in the fifth round. Like WIlliams, that’s creates some confusion about what’s possible in Year 1. Josephs had a successful run at Tennessee, with 9.5 sacks and 22 tackles for a loss during his college career. His RAS falls in line with what the Commanders like, even if his listed 242 pounds seems a bit light.
The Commanders spent big on frontline edge rushers in Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson but need help in the rotation. If Josephs can join that group and be productive when called upon and be a core special teams player, that’s a win. Anything beyond that is gravy.
He’s another one to watch when the pads come on and, in the preseason, when he should play a ton. Flash plays are important but run defense and playing fundamental football is what earns snaps.
WR Jaden Bradley
Not sure if you heard, but there’s opportunity in the receiver room. That’s true higher on the depth chart and possibly on the bottom if the Commanders keep six receivers. Even that bottom spot may be tough to crack with both presumptive returners, Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane, in the position group.
There are two intriguing undrafted receivers in camp, with LSU’s Chris Hilton and Nevada-Las Vegas’ Jaden Bradley. We’ll focus on Bradley here, as an intriguing prospect in the mix.
Head coach Dan Quinn singled Bradley out for a strong offseason program. McLaurin has mentored him a bit. Those are signs of potential identified. Bradley had a massive senior year at UNLV, with 931 yards and four touchdowns.
Practice-squad spots are also coveted, and Bradley could at least earn one of those with a camp where he’s able to earn first- and second-team reps and prove capable in preseason games. That would represent a good start, much more than some catches highlighted in camp hype videos.
Which rookies will you be keeping an eye on during training camp? Let us know in the comments below.
