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Breakout Players: Five Washington Commanders Poised to Take the Next Step

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Commanders Breakout Players 2023

The 2023 Commanders roster is about as well-constructed as it has been in recent memory. Terry McLaurin, Jonathan Allen, and Daron Payne are highly productive stars. Montez Sweat and Kamren Curl are established starters vying for lucrative second contracts. Chase Young and Sam Howell are the team’s ultimate wild cards. After them, a host of potential breakout players await their opportunity to elevate their game in 2023.

For the purpose of this article, a breakout player for the Washington Commanders will be defined as someone in their first three NFL seasons who has the chance to become a top-20 player at their position as early as this year.

Commanders Players Poised for a Breakout in 2023

WR Jahan Dotson

This is not a hot take. Jahan Dotson had an exceptional rookie season after being drafted with the 16th pick in the first round in 2022. He posted 35 receptions for 523 yards and 7 touchdowns in only 12 games, starting every game he played in. Reception Perception founder and receiver guru Matt Harmon gushed about Dotson’s route-running expertise.

Dotson’s 2023 preseason usage with Sam Howell and the starters was very encouraging. Against the Ravens in preseason Week 2, Howell connected with Dotson for five receptions and 76 yards in only one half. He scored Howell’s lone touchdown in Week 1 against the Browns. If Dotson stays healthy, he could exceed 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.

WLB Jamin Davis

The Commanders’ much-maligned 2021 first-round pick made significant progress in his second season. Davis struggled as a rookie but was always going to be a project that would need time to develop.

Defensive Coordinator Jack Del Rio was more creative with his usage of Davis last season, sending him on blitzes and avoiding matchups with quicker receivers to play to Davis’ strengths. With improvement in coverage, the Commanders’ athletic linebacker is a breakout candidate for his weak position group.

FS Darrick Forrest

The Commanders hit on quality safeties in the late rounds of back-to-back drafts, securing Forrest in the fifth round in 2021 after stealing Kamren Curl in the 7th in 2020. The duo have combined to form a reliable young combination that complements each other’s abilities well.

Forrest has the range and ball skills (four interceptions) necessary to cover the entire field as a free safety. After bursting onto the scene as a starter last season, he was durable for all 17 games and racked up 88 total tackles and two forced fumbles. Expect him to fight off Percy Butler and push those tackle numbers into the triple digits.

RG Sam Cosmi

Washington had been spoiled at the right guard position for several years. All-Pro guard Brandon Scherff locked down the spot until his departure in free agency after the 2021 season. Last year, however, the rotation of Trai Turner and Saahdiq Charles left a lot to be desired.

Insert Sam Cosmi, the former second-round draft pick who has manned the right tackle position for the previous two seasons. After the acquisition of Andrew Wylie from the Super Bowl champs this offseason, Cosmi switched to guard and has looked good so far. He may lose some money due to positional value, but the young lineman could be one of the Commanders’ breakout players at right guard in 2023.

CB Benjamin St.-Juste

The final member on this list comes from the deep 2021 rookie class. St-Juste emerged as a full-time starter last season and became Washington’s most consistent cornerback on the roster. He began the season as the team’s nickel corner before eventually shifting to the boundary as a result of William Jackson III’s poor performance.

At 6’3″ 200lbs, St-Juste has the prototypical size of a press man corner and allowed only 31 completions on 65 targets (47.7%) as a sophomore. He was often matched up against the opposing team’s best receiver.

After drafting ballhawk Emmanuel Forbes in the first round, St-Juste will return to the slot where he should be able to bully smaller receivers with his length and frame. Second-round Swiss army knife, Jartavius Martin, will serve as his immediate backup at nickel. The Commanders defense as a whole should be much more consistent, and St-Juste will be one of the breakout players from the secondary.

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Main Photo: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The post Breakout Players: Five Washington Commanders Poised to Take the Next Step appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.