Commanders’ rookies to watch as training camp, preseason nears

By Liam Griffin - The Washington Times - Wednesday, July 22, 2026

The Washington Commanders’ rookies report to training camp on Friday.

Many of them — including first-round linebacker Sonny Styles — are looking to hit the ground running as they vie for spots in the starting lineup and on the final 53-man roster.

Styles is obviously the headliner. But he’s one of 15 rookies — six draftees and nine undrafted free agents — launching an NFL career. They’ll have their hands full on a reloaded Washington roster that will feature steep competition throughout the depth chart.

The race for roster spots is only clouded by Washington’s new coordinators, who are bringing fresh schemes to the Commanders. No NFL team signed more free agents than Washington either, leading to a series of training camp battles that could allow rookies to make an early impact.

Styles joins free-agent acquisition Leo Chenal and returning players Frankie Luvu and Jordan Magee in the linebackers room. The highly touted rookie is likely to become a Day 1 starter for new coordinator Daronte Jones. Where he lines up — and whether he calls the defense’s plays in the huddle — remains to be seen.

The first-rounder wore the green dot as the defensive signal-caller during June’s mandatory minicamp. Before the team parted ways for a brief summer break, Styles said he’d be hard at work studying film from the offseason workouts to maximize his impact early in training camp.

“I think what you’ll find with him is he’s thoughtful, but when it’s time to turn it on, he absolutely will do that in terms of voice, loud and command,” coach Dan Quinn said of Styles last month.

He’ll be competing for snaps with Chenal, who also described himself as a middle linebacker during a discussion with NFL Network last week.

“As a ’Mike’ linebacker, being in the middle, you go each way, come downhill, you’ve got so much flexibility as a linebacker in this defense,” the former Kansas City Chief said.

Throughout the offseason, questions about the wide receiver group have plagued Commanders general manager Adam Peters. Analysts have tied the team to disgruntled San Francisco 49ers pass catcher Brandon Aiyuk and free agent Stefon Diggs — a Maryland product — but the Commanders haven’t added to the wide receiver room since the draft.

Third-round rookie Antonio Williams could establish himself enough during training camp to end the ceaseless questions about Diggs and Aiyuk on the District’s many sports radio shows.

The Commanders enter training camp with little clarity behind Pro Bowler Terry McLaurin in the wide receiver room. The group features veterans Van Jefferson, Dyami Brown and Treylon Burks alongside Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane, who Washington selected in the 2024 and 2025 drafts.

But Williams earned rave reviews during offseason workouts. The coaching staff has started calling the Clemson product “Sade,” because — like the band’s 1984 hit song — he’s a “smooth operator.”

“Antonio’s been great stepping in, learning the system and he’s made some plays out here too, which has been exciting,” new offensive coordinator David Blough said during June’s organized team activities.

A strong training camp could allow Williams to surge past Brown, Lane, McCaffrey and Jefferson to join McLaurin as Washington’s every-down receivers.

Styles and Williams are obvious breakout contenders as the Commanders’ top two picks. But rookies without the same pedigree will also have a shot at Washington’s final roster.

Center Matt Gulbin, a sixth-rounder, is expected to compete with veteran Nick Allegretti for a starting spot on the Commanders’ offensive line. Edge rusher Joshua Josephs will split snaps on a deep defensive line that features new signees like Odafe Oweh, K’Lavon Chaisson and Charles Omenihu.

But the closest competition through the offseason program isn’t on offense or defense. It’s in the oft-overlooked special teams group. Undrafted rookie Drew Stephens is locked in a tight contest with returning veteran Jake Moody to be the Commanders’ kicker this season.

Stephens, an Iowa product, appeared to have a slight edge during the offseason program. Both kickers struggled with consistency, but the rookie flashed a stronger leg that comfortably connected on kicks from more than 50 yards out.

The veterans will join the rookies at Commanders Park on Tuesday. The first preseason game — a home matchup against the Miami Dolphins — is set for Aug. 14.