Hogs Haven
Editor’s note: Each day, Hogs Haven compiles a collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, with a sprinkling of other stuff. Enjoy!
Riggo’s Rag
There will also be some adjustments to the Commanders’ safety room. For one player who fans have been clamoring to see in a consistent role, this could finally be his big chance.
The Commanders’ defensive backfield still isn’t exactly a strength, with significant trust placed in young cornerbacks Mike Sainristil and Trey Amos. Washington also signed Amik Robertson and Ahkello Witherspoon to provide depth.
Owens received some cult hype as an undrafted free agent over the 2024 offseason, making Washington’s 53-man roster and appearing in 12 games as a rookie. He has mostly contributed on special teams throughout his two-year career, but it hasn’t stopped fans from screaming to give him a proper chance.
From the sound of it, that chance might come in 2026 — just not necessarily at safety.
With Sainristil moving back to the outside cornerback position, where he probably belongs, Robertson figures to be Washington’s starting nickel. The team will need others to step in occasionally, and Jones has been experimenting with both Owens and Martin taking reps in the slot.
It’s an intriguing dynamic that will have fans paying close attention to how it unfolds.
Pro Football Focus
The lone consistent force on Washington’s offense for a considerable period, McLaurin has haunted defensive coordinators throughout the bulk of his career.
Since 2019, the Ohio State alum is eighth in WAR at the position, and his 91.0 PFF receiving grade sits 14th. While his game is well-rounded, McLaurin’s best asset could be his contested catch ability — where he leads the league with 114 since 2019.
McLaurin’s slight inconsistency and injuries, coupled with his higher draft slot than Nacua and St. Brown, ding his candidacy a bit. Still, he’s returned outstanding value for the Commanders by playing his whole career in the DMV.
Commanders Roundtable
[A]fter suffering through inconsistent quarterback play before Cam Ward showed signs of becoming part of the next wave of young quarterbacks during his rookie season, Okonkwo headed to free agency looking for a team that could maximize his touches. For a team like Washington that was in dire need of adding an athletic, YAC machine at a position lacking a true receiving threat, Okonkwo pointed to the Commanders as the best fit with a chance to thrive in David Blough’s new offense.
“That’s the plan for me is to take that next step of my career and...
