Commanders' final 53-man roster prediction after dramatic preseason battles
Training camp is done. Preseason games are now confined to the history books. Those looking to make the Washington Commanders' 53-man roster cannot do any more in their quest to make the squad.
Some difficult decisions are upcoming for general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn. They'll probably have a good indicator of how things are going to look, although their judgment may have been swayed by how some performed in their final warmup contest against the Baltimore Ravens.
There's also the chance of Peters adding some new faces to the ranks. Good players are about to be released around the league heading into the cut-down deadline. The front-office leader also has another Day 3 draft pick to potentially use in a trade after shipping running back Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers.
It's the most torrid time of year on the NFL calendar. Dreams will be made or crushed. Even those who get a reprieve might not be on the squad for long, depending on who becomes available on the waiver wire. The Commanders will bring some who don't quite make the grade back onto the practice squad to continue their development. And it'll be fascinating to see what conclusions are made.
With this in mind, here is our final 53-man roster prediction fresh off Washington's last preseason clash.
Commanders' final 53-man roster prediction after dramatic preseason battles
Commanders' special teams roster
Matt Gay (PK), Tress Way (P), Tyler Ott (LS)
There is an odd sense of stability where the Washington Commanders' special-teams spots are concerned this summer. Just how long this remains is dependent on how kicker Matt Gay performs.
The Commanders thought Gay could provide an upgrade on Zane Gonzalez. Adam Peters gave him the most guaranteed money on a one-year deal for a kicker in NFL history, which is a sign of how much he believes in the veteran.
It's not been perfect from Gay this summer, but he's got enough proven production in critical situations to keep complications to a minimum. That is a major plus with the commanders entering the new season with raised goals.
Tyler Ott was a dependable long snapper last season. That was an overlooked yet important factor, especially after those who came before. And as for legendary punter Tress Way? He remains among the league's best on the field and a hugely respected figure in the locker room after getting a new one-year deal this offseason.
Washington could be in some tight games once again in 2025. This trio must perform according to or above expectations throughout.
