Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn said Tuesday was the hardest day for NFL teams: cutdown day. The Commanders, along with the rest of the league, trimmed their 90-man preseason rosters down to 53 players, with Washington unexpectedly parting ways with several Ron Rivera draft picks from last year: third-round guard Ricky Stromberg, fifth-round edge rusher K.J. Henry, fourth-round offensive tackle Braeden Daniels and seventh-round defensive lineman Andre Jones Jr.
The cuts amounted to the latest teardown of the roster constructed by former coach Ron Rivera.
“Once I took the job, [Rivera’s draft picks] were my guys, too,” Quinn said Tuesday. “I just make what I think is the best decision for the team. That’s our obligation. There’s no ‘ours’ or ‘theirs’ or any of that stuff.”
The annual cutdown day included a handful of surprising moves around the NFL. A pair of former first-round picks — Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney and Titans cornerback Caleb Farley — were cut on Tuesday after failing to live up to their draft status.
Here is where the Commanders’ 53-man roster currently stands:
Quarterbacks: Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota and Jeff Driskel
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The Commanders hope they’ve found the quarterback of the future in Daniels and a solid mentor in Mariota. Driskel was inconsistent throughout the preseason but will provide extra insurance for the two scramblers ahead of him on the depth chart. Undrafted rookie Sam Hartman was waived Tuesday, but he appears likely to return on the practice squad after dealing with injuries during the preseason.
Running backs: Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols
Robinson and Ekeler will split the bulk of the opportunities next to Daniels in the backfield. McNichols, who beat out Chris Rodriguez and Michael Wiley for a roster spot, provides depth at the position.
Wide receivers: Terry McLaurin, Dyami Brown, Olamide Zaccheaus, Luke McCaffrey, Jamison Crowder and Byron Pringle
A spot opened up on the depth chart after the Commanders traded wide receiver Jahan Dotson to the Eagles last week. Veterans Crowder and Pringle, who bring special teams prowess and plenty of NFL experience, will fill those spots. Big-bodied targets Martavis Bryant and Brycen Tremayne stood out during the preseason but were left off the initial 53-man roster. The pair could stick around on Washington’s practice squad.
Tight ends: Zach Ertz, John Bates, Ben Sinnott and Colson Yankoff
Cole Turner was the fourth tight end throughout camp for the Commanders. Washington solicited trade offers for the 2022 fifth-round pick, but he was waived when a deal didn’t materialize. Turner’s departure opened a spot on the roster for undrafted rookie Yankoff.
Offensive line: Brandon Coleman, Nick Allegretti, Tyler Biadasz, Sam Cosmi, Andrew Wylie, Cornelius Lucas, Chris Paul, Michael Deiter and Trent Scott
Washington’s offensive line lacked any shocking moves on Tuesday. The front office tried to trade Stromberg but cut him after failing to find a trade partner, according to multiple reports.
Defensive line: Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Jer’Zhan Newton, Jamin Davis, Javontae Jean-Baptiste, John Ridgeway III, Dorance Armstrong, Phidarian Mathis and Clelin Ferrell
Former first-round pick Jamin Davis found his way onto the 53-man roster after converting from his natural linebacker position this offseason. The Commanders continued to move on from the Rivera era by parting ways with Henry and Jones, though the pair could return on the practice squad if another team doesn’t add them through the waiver wire.
Linebackers: Bobby Wagner, Frankie Luvu, Dominique Hampton, Dante Fowler Jr. and Mykal Walker
The Commanders have welcomed turnover throughout the roster, but the linebackers (and quarterbacks) have experienced the most dramatic shift. None of Washington’s five listed linebackers were on the roster last season. Rookie Jordan Magee will likely join the group after he recovers from a knee injury.
Cornerbacks: Benjamin St-Juste, Emmanuel Forbes, Mike Sainristil, Michael Davis and Noah Igbinoghene
There were no major surprises in Washington’s cornerback room this offseason. Rookie Sainristil appears primed to make an immediate impact in the slot. Veterans Benjamin St-Juste and Michael Davis will cover the outside.
The real intrigue for the Commanders’ defensive backs will lie in their deployment. Will 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes live up to his draft status and secure a starting spot by season’s end? He was listed as a backup on Quinn’s unofficial depth charts throughout the preseason.
Safeties: Jeremy Chinn, Percy Butler, Quan Martin, Darrick Forrest, Tyler Owens and Jeremy Reaves
NFL teams usually select four or five safeties for the active roster. The Commanders opted to keep six players at the position after the group had an impressive preseason. Undrafted rookie Tyler Owens headlines the group; he earned an unlikely roster spot after shining on special teams and defense throughout training camp.
Specialists: long snapper Tyler Ott, punter Tress Way, kicker Cade York
Ott and Way were solid throughout the preseason while the Commanders scrambled to find a kicker who could regularly put the ball through the uprights. The front office sent a conditional seventh-round pick to Cleveland for York, who earned a spot on the roster by converting two field goals and a pair of extra points during the preseason finale.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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