If the Washington Commanders have grown accustomed to anything since trading for 4-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore last season, it’s not having him on the field after he missed 6 regular season games down the stretch in 2024.
Lattimore’s latest absence, during OTAs, appears to have begun paving the way for a rookie cornerback to start opposite him this fall after NFL.com’s Zach Selby reported second round pick (No. 61 overall) Trey Amos has already pushed second-year cornerback Mike Sainristil back to the slot corner position he played as a rookie and taken over one of the outside spots.
Bleacher Report’s Damian Parson singled out Amos as one of just a handful of 2025 rookies who are already “trending” toward being Day 1 starters after minicamp.
“Amos took advantage of veteran corner Marshon Lattimore’s absence at OTAs, showcasing his coverage skills and confident demeanor,” Parson wrote on June 20. ” … The hype for Amos is growing … This is the test the rookie needs to prove himself a bona fide starter in Dan Quinn’s defense. The latter’s defensive scheme has produced big seasons for playmaking cornerbacks like Trevon Diggs and Daron Bland.”
Quinn was truly a miracle worker with Diggs and Bland in 3 seasons as the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator from 2021 to 2023. Diggs was an NFL All-Pro in 2021, when he led the NFL with 11 interceptions, and a 2-time Pro Bowler.
Bland was an NFL All-Pro and Pro Bowler in 2023, when he led the NFL with 9 interceptions and set the NFL record with 5 interceptions returned for touchdowns.
Sainristil was one of his first draft picks after Quinn was hired as head coach and finished with 4 interceptions as a rookie — 2 during the regular season and 2 during the playoffs.
Trey Amos playing solid defense on Deebo Samuel 🔒
(🎥:@Commanders)
Commanders Raised for Landing Amos in Draft
Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski called picking Amos one of the “Best Value” moves of the entire 2025 draft.
“This year’s 61st overall draft pick is a physical 6’1″, 195-pound man-press corner who can immediately slot into the starting lineup,” Sobleski wrote. “Plenty of buzz existed prior to the draft that identified Amos as a late first-round possibility. Obviously, that scenario didn’t come to fruition. But the Commanders should be thrilled he was still on the board during the latter portion of the second frame because he fits nicely opposite Marshon Lattimore.”
According to reports from ESPN and The Athletic, the Commanders overlooked a major medical issue with Amos which came up before the NFL draft — something Quinn said the team “was comfortable with” before selecting him.
“Quinn confirmed an ESPN report that a back issue popped up for teams during Amos’ pre-draft evaluations,” The Athletic’s Ben Standig wrote on May 11. “Considered a potential first-round pick, the first-team All-SEC selection slipped to Washington at No. 61.”
Amos, Sainristil Represent Great Value as Starters
Amos could end up being an incredible value for the Commander if he establishes himself as a rookie starter — imagine Lattimore and Amos at the outside cornerback spots and Sainristil at slot corner.
Amos signed a 4-year, $7 million contract and Sainristil, also a second round pick, is in the second year of his 4-year, $7.7 million rookie contract. Lattimore is due $36.5 million over the next 2 seasons, which will bring his career earnings to approximately $123.2 million.
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