After a humbling 5-12 campaign in 2025, the Washington Commanders are ready to turn the page and embrace a fresh start. With a brief three-day minicamp on the horizon next week, the team will soon take one final extended break before the NFL calendar revs up for training camp in late July.

This quiet stretch is the ideal time to look at the breakout candidates who must take the next step for Washington to find success this season. We already know that Jayden Daniels and Laremy Tunsil will ultimately steer the offensive ship, and that Sonny Styles is primed to be a standout anchor on defense. But who are the under-the-radar players with something to prove? Whether they are bouncing back from an injury, finding their footing in the league, or settling in as high-upside new arrival, a star needs to step in DC.

If Washington is going to make a legitimate push for the playoffs, the progression of these three key factors will lead the way.

2025 Statistics: 511 defensive snaps, 24 solo tackles, 4 pass breakups.

When the Commanders selected Trey Amos in the second round (61st overall) of the 2025 draft, film junkies immediately pegged him as a potential steal. While he was discussed in some draft circles as a late-round flyer, his standout All-SEC tape at Ole Miss made his slide to the late second round a massive blessing for Washington. By mid-season, he looked every bit the part of a starting NFL cornerback, quickly locking down a perimeter boundary spot and showcasing the sticky, physical press-man traits required to survive on the outside.

However, just as his rookie campaign was trending upward, disaster struck in Week 10 against the Detroit Lions. A fractured fibula completely derailed his season, leaving him with a modest 58.8 PFF coverage grade that really doesn’t represent the effectiveness of his overall play. Similarly, the 108.1 passer rating opposing quarterbacks logged when targeting him is heavily skewed by early rookie learning moments and the limitations (and deficits) of the previous defensive scheme.

Why the Breakout? Amos will enter his sophomore year fully healthy and locked in as a foundational piece of the secondary opposite Amik Robertson and Mikey Sainristil. At 6'1" with high-end short-area explosiveness, Amos is the purest boundary corner on the roster. He fits like a glove in Daronte Jones’ defensive system, which champions length on the outside and relies heavily on aggressive shell coverages.

In this scheme, cornerbacks are repeatedly asked to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage, disrupting the timing of the route by just a half-second. That minor hesitation forces the quarterback to hold the ball longer, allowing the front seven to hit home with exotic blitz packages and trigger poor decisions, bad throws, or sacks. Amos's natural instincts and physical tools have already flashed; now, he’s in a system that maximizes his strengths. With a full year of NFL conditioning under his belt and a chip on his shoulder, expect those four pass breakups to transform into turnovers. If Amos establishes himself as a true lockdown corner, it unlocks the ceiling of this entire defense.

2025 Statistics: 1,054 offensive snaps, 13 penalties, 8 sacks allowed.

There is no tougher baptism by fire in professional sports than starting 17 games at tackle as a true rookie. And boy, did he feel it early. In Conerly’s first three games alone, he had to square off against a brutal gauntlet of edge rushers: the Giants' heavy platoon featuring Pro Bowler Brian Burns, All-Pro Micah Parsons, and Max Crosby—arguably the best defensive end in football not named Myles Garrett. Securing the edge as the 29th overall pick out of Oregon was a massive task, but Conerly's rare athletic ceiling and basketball-player footwork flashed constantly.

The NFL is a cruel league, and a lack of functional power gave him fits early on. Conerly surrendered 43 total pressures, including eight sacks and three quarterback hits, finishing with a 57.8 pass-blocking grade. Power rushers quickly realized they could test his anchor with a straight bull-rush if his initial punch missed.

However, I never lost faith in Conerly, and his growth during the second half of the season was undeniable. After giving up four sacks in the first two weeks, he adjusted beautifully, allowing just four more over the remaining 15 games. It was a massive testament to his resilience and coachability.

Why the Breakout? This year's breakout is driven by a serious physical transformation. Conerly spent the offseason noticeably re-shaping his frame — leaning out, adding functional muscle mass to his core, and refining his hand placement alongside elite veterans.

ESPN’s John Keim noted that Conerly spent a significant chunk of the spring training with elite left tackle Laremy Tunsil in Alabama, and the duo plans to link up again before training camp. By connecting with a dietitian back in Oregon, Conerly dialed in his nutrition to convert lingering baby fat into lean muscle. At just 22 years old, the sky is the limit; in fact, if he had finished a traditional four-year college track, this would be his rookie season.

Where Conerly shines brightest is his quick feet, recovery, and work ethic. Now that his upper-body strength has caught up to his elite athletic traits, he has the tools to form a dominant, bookend tandem opposite Tunsil. Keeping Jayden Daniels clean is Priority No. 1 in Washington, and a refined Conerly is the ultimate insurance policy.

2025 Statistics: 56 receptions, 560 receiving yards, 10.0 YPC, 2 touchdowns.

Arriving in Washington as a major free-agent acquisition, Chig Okonkwo brings a dynamic athletic profile back to the DMV, where he previously starred for the Maryland Terrapins. Though he was frequently underutilized in a stagnant, run-heavy passing game during his final year in Tennessee, Okonkwo still quietly manufactured a career-high 56 catches for 560 yards last season.

While the national media might view Okonkwo as a "solid" veteran addition, his athletic profile suggests an explosive matchup nightmare just waiting for a creative play-caller to pull the trigger. If history is any indication, he is poised for a heavy volume of targets both between the 20s and inside the red zone. Jayden Daniels has always shown a comfort level relying on his tight ends as quick outlets and chain-movers. Daniels shared a special connection with Zach Ertz in the past, but Okonkwo offers significantly more athletic upside.

Why the Breakout? Washington's offense under David Blough relies heavily on a dominant, outside-zone rushing attack. When defenses are forced to hyper-focus on stopping the ground game and spying Daniels' rushing threat, the intermediate middle of the field opens up completely. Blough will undoubtedly draw from his Detroit Lions roots, utilizing Okonkwo in the same featured, high-volume role that unlocked Sam LaPorta.

During his time in Tennessee, Okonkwo proved lethal when touches were specifically drawn up for him—including tight end screens, whip routes, and quick-game targets that maximized his run-after-catch (RAC) ability. He is a nightmare assignment for linebackers and safeties in space, and his career 10.8 yards-per-catch average proves how dangerous he is on the move. Expect the Commanders to leverage him heavily on play-action boots, leak concepts, and deep seam routes. By catching the ball with momentum, Okonkwo is poised to elevate from a steady safety blanket into a focal point of the entire passing game.

In a hyper-competitive NFC, the Commanders are going to need their unsung heroes to take a major step forward.

On the offensive line, Conerly’s development should provide rock-solid protection to let our franchise quarterback cook, while his mobility serves as a major weapon in the outside-zone and screen game to push piles and create chunk plays.

Over the middle, Okonkwo is the perfect complement to the passing attack, giving defenses a legitimate secondary threat to worry about alongside WR1 Terry McLaurin. I fully expect Chig to finish second on the team in catches and touchdowns, quickly becoming a fan favorite.

Most importantly, Washington needs Trey Amos to step up and become a true difference-maker in the secondary. If he can consistently lock down his assignment on the outside, it will allow the front seven to play with maximum aggression, keep the defense in games, and put the ball back in Jayden Daniels' hands to win them.

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