The Washington Commanders require value plus at all positions, which means that if you can’t do one thing well, you must be able to do several things well.
In this scenario, cornerback and special teams standout Christian Holmes failed not make the cut and was waived by the Commanders on August 4.
Holmes was best recognized for making a game-winning special teams play against the Chicago Bears as a rookie in 2022, recovering a muffed punt at the Bears’ 6-yard line to set up the winning touchdown in a 12-7 victory.
After cutting Holmes, the Commanders made another move on August 4: they signed veteran defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth. Stallworth joined the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina in 2018 and has since played for eight different clubs over the course of seven seasons.
Commanders drafted Holmes in 2022.
Holmes spent the first four years of college at Missouri and the last two at Oklahoma State, reserving his best performance for his last season. In 2021, Holmes was awarded All-Big 12 after leading the Cowboys to the Big 12 Championship Game.
Holmes worked his way into the draft, with the Commanders selecting him in the seventh round (No. 240 overall) of the 2022 NFL draft.
While Holmes made spectacular plays on special teams as a rookie, when the Commanders saw what he could do at cornerback, the results were less impressive.
Holmes played two games at cornerback as a rookie in 2022 and struggled tremendously, being targeted eight times for seven receptions, 106 receiving yards, and one score.
Commanders are addressing issues at cornerback.
The Commanders’ new coaching staff is unlikely to be patient with a player like Holmes, who may serve a function on special teams but would be unsuitable for their current position.
To that reason, Washington appears to have gone out and recruited replacements for Holmes in the draft and elsewhere.
According to Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine, Commanders rookie cornerback Chigozie Anusiem is the only undrafted player who he believes has a chance to make the 53-man roster this season. In the second round, the Commanders selected Michigan cornerback Mike Sainristil.
The Commanders signed Anusiem to a three-year, $2.8 million contract with $350,000 in guaranteed money, the largest contract signed by any UDFA in the NFL in 2024. Sainristil is already projected as Washington’s starting nickelback as a rookie, having guided the Wolverines to a College Football Playoff national championship as a senior in 2023.
“It’s not hard to see why Anusiem was worth the investment for Washington,” Ballentine noted in an email. “He has a great build for the position (6’1″, 200 pounds) and a physical presence with long speed to contribute on special teams.” Add in the fact that the Commanders’ cornerback room still lacks depth, and Anusiem has a solid chance of making the squad.”
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