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Some players for the Washington Commanders are fighting for their jobs. And it’s not out of the question for the team to pursue preseason trade options. But here are three Commanders’ hidden gems you need to know on the 2025 roster.
Washington has made no secret of its desire to get one game further in 2025. The Commanders made it to the NFC Championship game, but couldn’t match up against the Eagles. However, they’ve made a flurry of offseason moves in an attempt to close the gap.
And if that gap gets closed, the Commanders will likely do it on the strength of impressive performances from a pair of rookies and a veteran.
Commanders general manager Adam Peters has received plenty of criticism for the contract the organization gave to Kinlaw. The 49ers drafted him with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. But Kinlaw hasn’t lived up to the billing.
He has great size at 6-foot-5 and 319 pounds, and Peters is banking on Kinlaw reaching his potential in DC, according to a post on X by Nicki Jhabvala.
“Javon Kinlaw is a tone-setter,” Peters saide. “He’s explosive, he’s physical. We think he’s going to be a great Commander.”
Also, Peters spoke positively about Kinlaw, according to a post on X by Ben Standig.
Adam Peters on Javon Kinlaw’s freaky size. Said he can play at any weight, but 320 would be good for how the team plans to use him inside and on the edge.
“His best football is in front of him.”
Also, Peters said fighting through injuries made Kinlaw tougher, according to commanders.com.
“To his credit, he fought through and came back even better, which was really impressive,” Peters said. “And how much he played two years ago in San Francisco and how much he played last year, those are like his first two years, in essence. And he’s got the hunger to get better and better. We like that just as much as anything about him.”
Kinlaw’s presence in the middle of the defense, combined with Daron Payne and Jer’Zhan Newton, gives the Commanders an underrated interior that could be the surprise unit of the team.
Furthermore, Peters fired back about giving big money to Kinlaw, according to nytimes.com.
“(Javon) had a major injury (knee reconstruction in 2021),” Peters said. “To his credit, he fought back and came back even better, which was really impressive. How much he played two years ago in San Francisco and how much he played last year (with the New York Jets), those are like his first two (NFL) years, in essence. And he’s got the hunger to get better and better.”
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