Commanders rookie camp brings ties to Washington’s past and future together

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ASHBURN, Va. — The surrealness of his new football life finally kicked in for Trey Amos.

“It really just happened today, just now,” the Washington Commanders’ second-round pick said after Day 2 of the team’s rookie camp. Amos, part of a five-player draft class, knew his professional start would occur with last season’s NFC runner-up. Weather concerns pushed Friday’s session indoors, meaning the press cornerbacks’ initial work on an outdoor practice field began Saturday.

Though already schooled to stay in the moment, the Ole Miss standout and former Alabama transfer let the setting sink in. “Man, I’m really here.”

The individual stakes ranged for the draft picks, undrafted free agents signed at least for the summer and tryout players hoping to catch the staff’s attention during the three-day outing. The pinch-me sentiment is universal. First-round offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr.’s stated “dream come true” sentiment is understandable — and would exist no matter which of the 32 teams had selected the third-team All-American from the University of Oregon.

The same is true for Amos and fourth-rounder Jaylin Lane, who arrived ready to “dominate my role” while knowing his receiver/returner abilities and blazing speed will have him used in many ways. Emotions for Gabe Taylor, the younger brother of the late Sean Taylor, were linked to this specific parcel of planet Earth and the team’s burgundy and gold gear.

“I had to take a moment, take a deep breath,” said Taylor, engulfed by local reporters and a bushel of cameras. He was 6 years old when Sean, a rising NFL star safety, was shot and killed by intruders at his Miami-area home at the age of 24.

Gabe, a four-year contributing safety at Rice, followed in his brother’s positional footsteps. Now, the rookie-tryout hopeful would begin his professional football journey where Sean’s hard-hitting legacy remains central to Washington’s fans — the organization retired his No. 21 jersey in 2021 — and Gabe’s DNA.

“I looked at the helmet – it’s been the Washington Redskins, the Commanders all my life,” Taylor said. “I could have went somewhere else, but I chose here for a reason.”

Coincidentally, the 39-player rookie camp roster included 21 tryout players. Along with Taylor, veteran NFL quarterback Nathan Peterman, 2020 second-round defensive tackle Ross Blacklock and UCLA running back/returner Keegan Jones were among those executing drill work for the Commanders staff.

“Gabe and the other guys are here on a tryout. What a cool and golden opportunity,” coach Dan Quinn said. “I love seeing players like him and others really going for it. It’s been very worthwhile for him and the other guys to say, ‘OK, I’m seeing what (the Commanders) are, what they stand for.’ … Now, we start creating a list of who’s next, how do you utilize the guys? So, all those guys are off to a good start.”

Taylor’s chances of making an NFL roster are long — 5-foot-8 safeties aren’t standard, though this one had 10 career interceptions — but not everyone receives this tryout opportunity, certainly not one with this level of connection.

“Hopefully,” Taylor said, “I get to put (the helmet and uniform) on again.”

UDFA safety Gabe Taylor, brother of the late Sean Taylor, on being with Washington for rookie camp. pic.twitter.com/OaMUF2ZnOR

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 10, 2025

Here are eight additional thoughts and observations from Saturday’s open practice.

1. Quinn confirmed an ESPN report that a back issue popped up for teams during Amos’ pre-draft evaluations. Considered a potential first-round pick, the first-team All-SEC selection slipped to Washington at No. 61.

“Each team has their own medical report and how it goes,” Quinn said. “And so, from our club, it was something that we were comfortable with.”

Amos started all 13 of the Rebels’ games last season and joined his fellow rookie on the field for camp. He said the back “feels good. I’m out practicing, still competing.”

The 6-foot-1 corner with 4.43 speed (and an impressive grill) will contend for a starting outside job opposite Marshon Lattimore.

Dan Quinn confirms Trey Amos’ back came up during the pre-draft eval, but “it’s something we were comfortable with.” pic.twitter.com/qbKbI5p4Gi

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 10, 2025

2. Even among other NFL players, offensive tackles stand out for their frame and size. The 6-foot-5, 311-pound Conerly meets that measure, but his impressive physical traits, including a desired 34.5-inch arm length, turned him into a first-round selection. Padless rookie camp practices without complete 11-on-11 work won’t allow Washington’s possible starting right tackle to test his full skills.

Still, the speed at which Conerly threw hands and punches at practice dummies and shuffled his feet in front of line coach Bobby Johnson offered a glimpse of his athletic upside.

First round OT Josh Conerly Jr. (72) throwing hands at the practice dummy. Speed shows. pic.twitter.com/PUyRLVLPUq

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 10, 2025

Quickness also applies to learning the playbook and absorbing Washington’s internal vibes. Veterans recently began working out at the facility, and tight end Zach Ertz watched Saturday’s practice from the sideline, but most cleared out ahead of the rookies’ arrival. Conerly met some of his new teammates during a pre-draft visit and after traveling from his native Seattle to Northern Virginia the day after Washington selected him 28th.

Brandon Coleman, last season’s starting left tackle and possible starting right tackle and guard competition this year, gave Conerly a rundown of expectations for his first work on Washington’s practice field.

“For the ones I’ve been around, it’s always been great vibes and very welcoming,” Conerly said.

3. The 2025 NFL schedule will be announced Wednesday, with some marquee games announced earlier. That includes the international slate. Rumors swirled recently that Washington’s first since 2016 would occur in Madrid against the host Miami Dolphins. Quinn boned up on his Spanish in anticipation of any related queries.

“Sin comentarios,” the coach said. That translation? “No comment,” Quinn joked. “I don’t know what to tell you on that one,” he said with a laugh. “We’ll see on Wednesday, I guess, what happens.”

4. Quinn doesn’t expect Week 1 or even training camp-level work from the participants. He considers these three days “onboarding.”

“These are the standards. These are the things that are important to us. These are the ways that we go about (our work),” Quinn said. “It doesn’t just take place over one weekend. It takes place all the way up through here and into training camp. This is an excellent team to come be a part of, knowing that there are people here that are gonna help them be their very best.”

5. Lane’s 4.34 40-yard speed made the Virginia Tech receiver a coveted target for teams in the middle rounds. College highlights showed a player often receiving the ball out of the slot and near the line of scrimmage. That tracked with Lane’s usage in a few seven-on-seven drills, as did the burst upfield with the ball in his hands.

Finding ways to get Lane the ball beyond traditional route running feels like an early goal. That includes returning punts and kicks, which might be how he will contribute primarily as a rookie, along with gunner reps on special teams.

6. Sixth-round hybrid linebacker Kain Medrano ran the fastest 40-yard dash among linebackers at the combine. As another immediate special-teams contributor, Medrano’s speed and quickness potential showed in Saturday’s work. Whether he sees much action on defense will be determined by whether coaches think that speed and coverage element is a must-add for a group that ranked near the bottom of the league in several categories last season.

7. Then there is seventh-round running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who introduced himself as “Bill” to reporters. He looked bigger than his listed 5 feet 11, 208 pounds. At the same time, the shiftiness showed in drills as expected, without any hints of rust after eligibility issues caused him to miss the final 11 games of his career at Arizona.

Shifty seventh-round RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt under the watch of RB coach Anthony Lynn. pic.twitter.com/Mj6IcCOJz0

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 10, 2025

Washington retained its Brian Robinson, Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols rotation while keeping Chris Rodriguez and practice-squad player Michael Wiley. Croskey-Merritt offers a needed change-of-pace aspect to fit the bill for a room lacking a big-play element last season.

8. Two UDFA signings, cornerback Fentrell Cypress and offensive lineman Tim McKay (torn labrum), did not participate. McKay’s injury, suffered at NC State’s pro day, will likely keep the three-year college starter and guard prospect sidelined into training camp, possibly leading to a physically unable to perform designation.

(Photo: Luis M. Alvarez / Associated Press)

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