These are the Commanders’ most intriguing position battles in training camp

Even for the close observer of the Commanders, training camp will be a learning curve this year.

There will be many new faces arriving in Ashburn, Virginia, when camp begins next week. New coordinators, new position coaches and plenty of new players.

It means there will be more than a few positions up for grabs as Washington readies for its season opener in Philadelphia. Here are some of the most pivotal ones.

Edge rusher

With the hefty contract general manager Adam Peters handed to Odafe Oweh, there is no doubt who leads the edge rusher competition. Armed with a four-year, $100 million deal, Oweh is Washington’s answer to its pass rush woes in 2025.

But the Commanders need more than just Oweh to get after the quarterback. That was evidenced by their measly pass rush success rate last year (36%) and overall lack of sacks.

At the moment, Washington is trying to figure out who will back up Oweh.

Dorance Armstrong and Javontae Jean-Baptiste are angling for the job. In a normal year, Armstrong’s 5.5 sacks in 2025 would make him a near lock to be in the mix. But he tore his ACL midway through the year, and Washington needs to see his form in training camp. To make matters more complicated, it is a contract year for Armstrong — the final season of a three-year deal he signed in 2024.

On the other side of the defensive line, Washington has Javon Kinlaw and Ricky Barber as pass rush options. Throw in Drake Jackson and the Commanders have plenty of players with just a few spots.

Kinlaw might have said it best about Washington’s glut of edge rushers.

“We got some motherf-----s now,” Kinlaw said.

It will be a busy camp for getting after the quarterback.

Wide receiver

Another area where Washington has plenty of options but too little clarity is receiver.

Peters spent nearly all the offseason adding pass rushers and pass catchers. He signed receivers Dyami Brown and Van Jefferson to one-year deals. He drafted Antonio Williams from Clemson, hoping he could be more than just a slot receiver.

Peters is also banking on current players taking big jumps. He’s looking for Treylon Burks to live up to the lofty expectations as a former first-round pick. And head coach Dan Quinn said he was optimistic about Jaylin Lane coming into his own as a second-year player. Maybe even Luke McCaffrey can morph into more than a kick return threat.

Like the edge rusher spot, there is little doubt who the leader in the room is. Terry McLaurin is the only player on the team who had more than 500 receiving yards last year.

As for wide receivers two, three and four, that will be sorted out over the next four weeks.

Secondary

There will certainly be a battle in the secondary this August. There has to be after the Commanders’ passing defense allowed 242 yards a game last year. That ranked 28th in the league, something that desperately needs to change.

The Commanders didn’t add the depth to the secondary that they added to defensive line or wide receiver room. Even during the draft, Peters stayed put.

When asked about the team’s inactivity, the front office said the right options never presented themselves.

But what Washington lacks in depth, Peters made up for by signing starters. The Commanders added Nick Cross, potentially Washington’s top safety, and Amik Robertson, their nickelback in the slot.

Those two will pair with Mike Sainristil and Trey Amos manning the outside corner spots. Rasul Douglas and Ahkello Witherspoon could mix in there, too.

Sainristil and Amos are on rookie contracts. Douglas was just signed after minicamp, a veteran on a one-year deal.

But the Commanders clearly assessed that their two biggest needs were wide receiver and edge rusher. They are hoping the secondary can hang on without as much help.