Did these Commanders players deserve a longer look under the new regime?
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There was obvious excitement surrounding the Washington Commanders heading into their preparations for the 2024 campaign. However, one could forgive players for feeling a little on edge regarding their respective futures after some monumental alterations to the team's infrastructure.
Adam Peters came into the franchise with a ruthless, aggressive mentality to give this squad a much-needed makeover. Previous standing or where players were drafted didn't matter to the progressive young general manager. Anyone not pulling their weight or not fitting into the team's new way of thinking wouldn't last long.
Washington's roster heading into Week 1 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks almost unrecognizable from that which concluded the 2023 campaign - the last under head coach Ron Rivera. That's not a bad thing by any stretch of the imagination, but there are a few players no longer around who might have been worthy of a longer look.
With this in mind, here are five players the Commanders perhaps gave up on too soon during a memorable 2024 offseason.
Players the Commanders gave up on too soon this offseason
Braeden Daniels - Commanders OL
There didn't seem much hope around Braeden Daniels heading into the offseason. The fourth-round selection spent his rookie campaign on injured reserve - which was a blessing in disguise after his torrid adjustment last summer. He faced a stiff test of his credentials this time around with a new regime coming into the fold harboring no emotional attachment to those drafted by previous head coach Ron Rivera.
It took time for Daniels to get going. This was expected considering how much football he missed during the previous campaign. However, there were signs of life from the offensive lineman over the Washington Commanders' preseason slate.
Daniels deserves credit for the way he applied himself, but it didn't change his fate. The former Utah star was waived in favor of guys like Trent Scott, who might have more experience but come with far less long-term upside attached.
Time will tell. But it was evident Daniels was always fighting a losing battle no matter how well he performed.
Tariq Castro-Fields - Commanders CB
Tariq Castro-Fields' offseason with the Washington Commanders was a mysterious one. Things looked incredibly promising for the cornerback once upon a time. He made a good opening impression on the coaching staff and got plenty of reps with the first-string defense over the first half of training camp to further raise optimism.
Then, something changed.
Just why Castro-Fields fell out of favor is anyone's guess. He needed to stand out considerably during the preseason, which never materialized. Those in power let him go despite some serious questions surrounding their outside cornerback options.
Castro-Fields wasn't disheartened for long. The former Penn State standout was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers and secured an interception during his first practice with the team. They're not blessed with great depth, so gaining prominent reps in 2024 is well within his capabilities if the same trend continues.
Depending on how Castro-Fields fares and how Washington's cornerbacks perform throughout the campaign, this particular departure could be regrettable when it's all said and done.
Martavis Bryant - Commanders WR
Martavis Bryant was always facing an uphill battle after arriving so late into Dan Quinn's squad., The veteran wide receiver is looking for a second opportunity after losing most of his prime to suspension. He got his foot back in the door in 2023 with the Dallas Cowboys, but no other offers arrived before the Commanders came calling.
In fairness to Bryant, he maximized his short time with the organization. He looked the part physically, displaying assured hands, and was a high-quality outside blocker on running plays. These strong practice traits came across in the preseason, where he also caught a touchdown in Washington's preseason finale against the New England Patriots.
This wasn't enough for Bryant to get a reprieve. He was cut by the Commanders and didn't even make it onto their practice squad, which represents a body blow to the player's chances of fighting his way onto an NFL roster again.
Keeping Bryant around in the event injury struck might have been wise. But from a developmental standpoint, the decision-makers thought Mitchell Tinsley and Brycen Tremayne came with more upside.
K.J. Henry - Commanders DE
There weren't many surprises when the Washington Commanders began to whittle down their roster from 90 players to an initial 53. One stood out above all else.
The Commanders decided to waive edge rusher K.J. Henry despite his encouraging progress throughout the offseason. He was comfortably Washington's best pass-rusher during the preseason. This was in keeping with the way he applied himself to training camp drills.
Unfortunately, that was not an opinion shared by those in power.
Washington's new regime valued the guys they brought into the organization more. That's the long and short of it because, on production alone, Henry's name should have been on the 53-man squad.
Although it was disappointing for Henry, everything worked out well. He was expected to draw interest on the waiver wire and got claimed by the Cincinnati Bengals. The former Clemson star landed on a potential Super Bowl challenger in Year 2 of his professional career, so it'll be interesting to see how he fares.
Jahan Dotson - Commanders WR
Jahan Dotson was a first-round selection expected to be the perfect complimentary piece opposite Pro Bowl wide receiver Terry McLaurin. The Washington Commanders didn't have much consistent production under center to speak of over his first two seasons in the league. However, hopes remained high that he could firmly establish himself and break out under the new regime.
Dotson's production over training camp was decent enough, but the Commanders didn't see the Penn State product as a good fit within Kliff Kingsbury's offense. Couple this with the emergence of veteran free-agent signing Olamide Zaccheaus and third-round rookie Luke McCaffrey, those in power decided to remove him from the equation entirely.
The Commanders traded Dotson to the Philadelphia Eagles together with a fifth-round pick for their third-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. Moving him to a division rival was strange, although it's also worth remembering that Adam Peters has done business with Howie Roseman already this offseason.
Perhaps giving Dotson a chance to shine during the regular season would have been beneficial. If things didn't work out, there was always the option of trading him before the 2024 deadline.
Peters decided to act now. Whether he comes to regret it or not remains to be seen.
