The preseason is right here. Final week, we had the annual Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame sport, the place the Carolina Panthers defeated the Arizona Cardinals. Now, it is time for the remainder of the NFL to take the sphere for the primary time after an extended offseason. For the Washington Commanders, meaning on Friday, after they host the Miami Dolphins within the preseason opener.
Within the NFL, anytime there’s a sport, there’s a depth chart. Through the common season, depth charts aren’t an enormous deal. However for preseason Week 1, they’re an enormous deal — to some. Washington head coach Dan Quinn stated what most NFL groups really feel about depth charts on Monday.
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“I’d say the unofficial depth chart is like as beneficial as preseason rankings,” Quinn stated.
He is proper, however the first depth chart continues to be attention-grabbing. And listed below are the 5 most attention-grabbing issues we realized from the Commanders’ first unofficial depth chart of 2026.
Somebody introduced up McCaffrey being WR3 to Quinn, which prompted the above quote. Nonetheless, Quinn did elaborate on McCaffrey.
“What I can touch upon is the intentional work by Luke in quite a lot of areas,” Quinn stated. “He actually kinda got here on as a knack as a kick returner final yr. In order that kinda speaks to his aggressive nature. He is improved releases off the road of scrimmage all through methods. And so, simply seeing him with extra time on job and like yr three on the place, it is easy to see his ascension going up.”
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Is McCaffrey WR3? It is laborious to know. McCaffrey had a superb second week of coaching camp. He is additionally taking part in with extra chippiness, which comes with confidence. Bear in mind, he had solely performed vast receiver for 2 years earlier than getting into the 2024 NFL Draft. McCaffrey’s greatest competitors for the No. 3 spot is Treylon Burks and rookie Antonio Williams.
When the Commanders drafted Athan Kaliakmanis within the 2026 NFL Draft, many believed that may ultimately finish Hartman’s time with the Commanders. Not so quick. Hartman and Kaliakmanis have every had some strong moments in coaching camp. For probably the most half, Kaliakmanis hasn’t accomplished sufficient to overhaul Hartman. However he’s a draft decide. The preseason will decide who the third quarterback is. It is fairly attainable that the Commanders preserve solely two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, and slip one or two to the observe squad. We would say Hartman and Kaliakmanis are operating neck and neck for now.
Allegretti and Good-Jones battling at heart?
That is the place you possibly can perceive Quinn’s level. This isn’t private towards Julian Good-Jones, however he is performed two entire NFL snaps in his profession. There is no such thing as a approach that Washington is strongly contemplating him because the starter this season, in such an vital yr for quarterback Jayden Daniels. That is to not say Good-Jones is not going to be the first backup, as he very properly may very well be. But when wholesome, Allegretti is the unquestioned starter. Whereas the Commanders would like to see him return and get extra time in with Daniels and his linemates, these snaps are a superb factor for Good-Jones and rookie Matt Gulbin.
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That is actual. For now, Reaves and Quan Martin are listed because the co-No. 1 at free security. Reaves has loved an exceptional offseason and coaching camp. Reaves simply continues to show to be an incredible story. He went from not making the preliminary 53-man roster in a number of seasons to being a core special-teamer to now changing into a possible beginning security. So, whenever you see Reaves atop the depth chart at security, that’s 100% actual. Reaves has began video games at security earlier than on account of accidents. Now, he is on tempo to start the yr as Washington’s beginning security alongside Nick Cross.
Chenal and Types co-No. 1 at linebacker
In the event you had been frightened about how Frankie Luvu would modify to this protection, you possibly can put your worries apart. From all indications, Luvu is having a wonderful season. He is on tempo to put on the inexperienced dot this season, whereas rookie Sonny Types and free-agent addition Leo Chenal share the opposite spot. That is extra an indictment on Luvu than it’s on Types or Chenal. That is a superb factor for Washington. Having Luvu return to the participant he was two years in the past may go a good distance for the Commanders. Regardless, all three will play a whole lot of snaps this season.
This text initially appeared on Commanders Wire: 5 takeaways from Commanders’ first unofficial depth chart