Three Commanders Players Who Might Not Survive Roster Cuts After Minicamp

The Washington Commanders have a lot of bodies in camp right now. That’s mostly a good thing for Dan Quinn’s staff. But it means some guys are going to get squeezed out when the roster gets trimmed to 53.

A few positions are just overcrowded. The backfield has too many backs. The receiver room is suddenly deep. And the edge rusher group got a serious overhaul this offseason. Here are three players who look like they’re on the wrong side of that math.

Jeremy McNichols, Running Back

McNichols has been kicking around the league since 2017. He’s played for six teams. Last year was actually his busiest season, and he only touched the ball 69 times. That tells you something.

He’s 30 years old now. That’s old for a running back who isn’t a starter. And the Commanders have a real logjam in the backfield. They’ve got Jacory Croskey-Merritt listed as the projected starter, with Rachaad White, rookie Kaytron Allen, and Jerome Ford all ahead of McNichols on the depth chart. ESPN doesn’t even have him on the four-deep. Undrafted free agent Robery Henry Jr. is also reportedly turning heads in camp.

McNichols does have some value on special teams. That’s his only real path to sticking around. But it’s a narrow one.

Van Jefferson, Wide Receiver

When Washington signed Van Jefferson, a lot of people scratched their heads. The six-year veteran hasn’t topped 50 catches since 2021 with the Rams. Since then he’s bounced between the Rams, Falcons, Steelers, and Titans. There’s not much there.

The contract is cheap. It’s just $1.4 million for one year. But the Commanders have younger options who might be better. The current starting group is Terry McLaurin, Luke McCaffrey, and rookie Antonio Williams. Treylon Burks is in the mix too. Behind him are Dyami Brown, Jaylin Lane, and a bunch of other guys like Jacoby Jones, Nick Nash, Jayden Bradley, and Chris Hilton Jr.

If Washington carries six receivers, Jefferson probably isn’t one of them. He’s looked decent in camp. Made some plays. But the coaching staff also knows they could still add someone like Stefon Diggs or Brandon Aiyuk before the season starts. If that happens, Jefferson is done.

Javontae Jean-Baptiste, Edge Rusher

Jean-Baptiste was a seventh-round pick in 2024. He started one game last year and had exactly one sack. Then he tore his pectoral muscle in Week 4 and needed surgery. That was basically his season.

The Commanders didn’t exactly wait for him to come back. They went out and signed free agents Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson. They drafted Joshua Josephs. They added Charles Omenihu, who can play inside or outside. And they still have Dorance Armstrong, Deatrich Wise, Drake Jackson, Andre Carter II, DJ Johnson, and TJ Maguranyanga on the roster.

That’s a lot of competition. Sports Illustrated’s Philip Hughes put it this way: Jean-Baptiste’s path isn’t about becoming a top pass rusher. It’s about showing he can set the edge, give the new defensive coordinator some rotational snaps, contribute on special teams, and make enough plays in preseason that the team doesn’t want to risk losing him on waivers.

That’s a tough ask. But it’s probably his only shot.