David Harrison · Apr 28, 2026
Harrison projects the Washington Commanders' initial 53-man roster if it had to be set today, naming 26 offensive players, three specialists and 24 defenders, and also assigns depth-chart slots at quarterback, running back, the offensive line, the interior defensive line, and the return/specialist jobs.
“We've got 26 players that I believe will make the initial 53 if the initial 53 had to be set today.”
said on air, transcribed by us · Locked On Commanders (podcast) · read the original →
72 checkable claims from this
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt to make the roster
“So Corey Kroske, Merritt, second year player, seventh round pick out of Arizona last year. He comes back as one of those running backs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Kaytron Allen to be 3rd on the depth chart
“I think is gonna make this list as probably your third back, looking like your power back”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Jerome Ford to make the roster
“And then Jerome Ford, the other veteran that they signed this year”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Jerome Ford to be 4th on the depth chart
“I think he's gonna round out that fourth spot”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Robert Henry to make the roster
“Robert Henry junior, undrafted free agent brought in out of UTSA, most likely headed to the practice squad”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Terry McLaurin to make the roster
“in the receiver room. I'm keeping six guys. Terry McLaurin”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Jaylin Lane to make the roster
“Jalen Lane in his second season”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Dyami Brown to make the roster
“De'Ami Brown returning to the team”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Chig Okonkwo to make the roster
“Tight end position, I got four guys coming in on the 53. Chigga Conquo”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Ben Sinnott to make the roster
“Chigga Conquo, John Bates, Ben Sennett, and Colson Yankoff, are the four”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Laremy Tunsil to make the roster
“And then 10 offensive linemen, Larabee Tunzel, Brandon Coleman, Nick Allegretti, Sam Cosme, Josh Connerly Junior”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Laremy Tunsil to be 1st on the depth chart
“Larabee Tunzel, Brandon Coleman, Nick Allegretti, Sam Cosme, Josh Connerly Junior. Those are the five starters as I see it today.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Brandon Coleman to make the roster
“10 offensive linemen, Larabee Tunzel, Brandon Coleman, Nick Allegretti”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Brandon Coleman to be 1st on the depth chart
“Those are the five starters as I see it today... Brandon Coleman just has that upside to him”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Nick Allegretti to make the roster
“Larabee Tunzel, Brandon Coleman, Nick Allegretti, Sam Cosme, Josh Connerly Junior”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Roster Spot CallsSam CosmiWashington CommandersApr 28, 2026
Sam Cosmi to make the roster
“Larabee Tunzel, Brandon Coleman, Nick Allegretti, Sam Cosme, Josh Connerly Junior”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Depth Chart CallsSam CosmiWashington CommandersApr 28, 2026
Sam Cosmi to be 1st on the depth chart
“Those are the five starters as I see it today”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Josh Conerly Jr. to make the roster
“Larabee Tunzel, Brandon Coleman, Nick Allegretti, Sam Cosme, Josh Connerly Junior”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Andrew Wylie to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Andrew Wiley comes out, as a swing tackle.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Roster Spot CallsChris PaulWashington CommandersApr 28, 2026
Chris Paul to make the roster
“Chris Paul, of course, is gonna be in the mix”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Matt Gulbin to make the roster
“Matt Golden, the sixth round center taken out of Michigan State”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Depth Chart CallsTress WayWashington CommandersApr 28, 2026
Tress Way to be 1st on the depth chart
“I think, again, trust way is gonna be your punter.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Depth Chart CallsTyler OttWashington CommandersApr 28, 2026
Tyler Ott to be 1st on the depth chart
“long snapper, Tyler Otts”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Roster Spot CallsJake MoodyWashington CommandersApr 28, 2026
Jake Moody to make the roster
“We do have three specialists, Tresway, Tyler Ott, and then, I guess, Jake Moody.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Daron Payne to be 1st on the depth chart
“Deron Payne, Javon Kinlaw, your primary two interior defensive linemen as I see it right now”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Javon Kinlaw to make the roster
“we've got Deron Payne, Javon Kinlaw, your primary two interior defensive linemen”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Javon Kinlaw to be 1st on the depth chart
“your primary two interior defensive linemen as I see it right now”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Roster Spot CallsOdafe OwehWashington CommandersApr 28, 2026
Odafe Oweh to make the roster
“Adafe OA, Dorrance Armstrong”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Dorance Armstrong to make the roster
“Adafe OA, Dorrance Armstrong, again, presuming that his injury recovery is still on track”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Roster Spot CallsTim SettleWashington CommandersApr 28, 2026
Tim Settle to make the roster
“Johnny Newton, Tim Settle providing some depth on the interior”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Deatrich Wise to make the roster
“Dietrich Wise Junior, a big edge”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Charles Omenihu to make the roster
“Charles and many hue rounding out that list of 10 names, for the defensive front”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Frankie Luvu to make the roster
“Sonny Styles, Frankie Luevue, Leo Chanal, Jordan McGee, and I do have Kane Medrano”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Jordan Magee to make the roster
“Sonny Styles, Frankie Luevue, Leo Chanal, Jordan McGee, and I do have Kane Medrano”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Mike Sainristil to make the roster
“Four cornerbacks, Trey Amos, Mikey Sandersdale, and then the newcomers”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Ahkello Witherspoon to make the roster
“the newcomers, Amiek Robertson and Akello Witherspoon”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Will Harris to make the roster
“Nick Cross, Will Harris, Quan Martin, Jeremy Reeves, and Percy Butler”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Jeremy Reaves to make the roster
“Nick Cross, Will Harris, Quan Martin, Jeremy Reeves, and Percy Butler”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Jayden Daniels to be 1st on the depth chart
“Jaden Daniels, the franchise quarterback, coming back healthy”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Marcus Mariota to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Marcus Mariota, the veteran backup”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Jaylin Lane to be 1st on the depth chart
“Your punt returner is gonna be Jalen Lane”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Luke McCaffrey to be 1st on the depth chart
“I think kick returners right now, you're looking at the roster. Luke McCaffrey and Jerome Ford are probably your kick returners.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Jerome Ford to be 1st on the depth chart
“Luke McCaffrey and Jerome Ford are probably your kick returners”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Joshua Josephs to make the roster
“Joshua Joseph's, the draft pick”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Jayden Daniels to make the roster
“we're gonna start it all off with the quarterback position. Of course, Jaden Daniels, the franchise quarterback”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Rachaad White to make the roster
“Rashad White's the new veteran. Three down. Third down specific running back comes back.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Kaytron Allen to make the roster
“Caitron Allen, the rookie running back out of Penn State, I think is gonna make this list”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Antonio Williams to make the roster
“Antonio Williams, third round pick this year”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Roster Spot CallsNick CrossWashington CommandersApr 28, 2026
Nick Cross to make the roster
“Safety, we've got five of those guys, Nick Cross, Will Harris, Quan Martin, Jeremy Reeves, and Percy Butler”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Daron Payne to make the roster
“We started all off with the defensive line, and we've got Deron Payne, Javon Kinlaw”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Jer'Zhan Newton to make the roster
“Johnny Newton, Tim Settle providing some depth on the interior”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Marcus Mariota to make the roster
“Marcus Mariota, the veteran backup”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Luke McCaffrey to make the roster
“Luke McCaffrey and Trey Lynn Burks. Those are the six receivers that I'm keeping”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Treylon Burks to make the roster
“Luke McCaffrey and Trey Lynn Burks. Those are the six receivers that I'm keeping on there on the roster”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Roster Spot CallsJohn BatesWashington CommandersApr 28, 2026
John Bates to make the roster
“Chigga Conquo, John Bates, Ben Sennett, and Colson Yankoff, are the four”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Colson Yankoff to make the roster
“Chigga Conquo, John Bates, Ben Sennett, and Colson Yankoff, are the four that I think we're carrying into the initial 53”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Trent Scott to make the roster
“Trent Scott, Matt Golden, the sixth round center taken out of Michigan State, and then Tim McKay”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Roster Spot CallsTress WayWashington CommandersApr 28, 2026
Tress Way to make the roster
“We do have three specialists, Tresway, Tyler Ott, and then, I guess, Jake Moody.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Roster Spot CallsTyler OttWashington CommandersApr 28, 2026
Tyler Ott to make the roster
“We do have three specialists, Tresway, Tyler Ott, and then, I guess, Jake Moody.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Sonny Styles to make the roster
“Linebackers, we have five of them. Sonny Styles, Frankie Luevue, Leo Chanal, Jordan McGee, and I do have Kane Medrano”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Roster Spot CallsLeo ChenalWashington CommandersApr 28, 2026
Leo Chenal to make the roster
“Sonny Styles, Frankie Luevue, Leo Chanal, Jordan McGee, and I do have Kane Medrano”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Andrew Wylie to make the roster
“Andrew Wiley comes out, as a swing tackle.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Timothy McKay to make the roster
“and then Tim McKay, assuming he's now healthy”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
K'Lavon Chaisson to make the roster
“Kayla Moncheison coming over after his really great season with the New England Patriots last year”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Kain Medrano to make the roster
“I do have Kane Medrano, rounding out that linebacker group”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Roster Spot CallsTrey AmosWashington CommandersApr 28, 2026
Trey Amos to make the roster
“Four cornerbacks, Trey Amos, Mikey Sandersdale, and then the newcomers, Amiek Robertson and Akello Witherspoon”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Amik Robertson to make the roster
“the newcomers, Amiek Robertson and Akello Witherspoon”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Quan Martin to make the roster
“Nick Cross, Will Harris, Quan Martin, Jeremy Reeves, and Percy Butler”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Percy Butler to make the roster
“Nick Cross, Will Harris, Quan Martin, Jeremy Reeves, and Percy Butler who is, absolutely loved”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Nick Allegretti to be 1st on the depth chart
“Those are the five starters as I see it today”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Athan Kaliakmanis to be 3rd on the depth chart
“seventh round pick, Ethan Kaliak Manis, who, a lot of people, myself included, expect him to beat out Sam Hartman for that third quarterback job”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Josh Conerly Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart
“Those are the five starters as I see it today”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.