Commanders Young Corner Called 'Best-Kept Secret' in NFL

Mike Sainristil helped alter the Washington Commanders defense morph into one of the best in the league last season.

Of all the rookie players to make an impact on the Washington Commanders last season, the top player on that list was second overall pick and quarterback Jayden Daniels.

That doesn't mean he was the only player to make a positive impact from that draft, though.

Michigan cornerback Mike Sainristil was thrust into the starting lineup as a second round pick last year and more than held his own against some of the league's best. It's one of the reasons why Bleacher Report writer Matt Holder called the young corner the team's "best kept secret" going into the 2025 season.

"College football fans know Sainristil well since he was the MVP of the Big Ten Championship and had the game-clinching interception in the National Championship during Michigan’s 2023-2024 postseason run," Holder wrote.

"In his lone NFL season, the former Wolverine proved to be a valuable addition to the Commanders’ secondary, lining up at nickel and outside cornerback. He also recorded 14 passes defended with two interceptions during the regular season, and added two more picks and four PDs during the playoffs."

There are many elite receivers in the NFC East. A.J. Brown, Malik Nabers, CeeDee Lamb, and DeVonta Smith have made life miserable for average corners.

The Commanders are hoping that Sainristil will be able to dominate at a high level moving forward. And it could be the difference between the team taking a step back in 2025, or jumping among the elites for another season.

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Kiều Linh - 05/23/2025

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