— Where will Sainristil play? The Commanders drafted Sainristil out of Michigan to be a starting slot cornerback. They tried to keep him there during his rookie season but were forced to move him to the outside, where he played well against some of the best receivers in the division. They tried to move him back into the slot in 2025 but were once again forced to move him back outside because of injuries to their perimeter cornerbacks. Sainristil was competent at the spot for a second straight season, which has forced some to wonder if the Commanders should just keep him there. The Commanders will have a new defensive coordinator in 2026, and they will surely bring in new ideas on how to best use Sainristil as he goes into his third season. The good news for Sainristil is that he’s proven he can play both spots, which offers the new staff more flexibility.
— Is more help on the way? The Commanders have some foundational pieces at cornerback in Sainristil and Amos, but there are several questions at the rest of the position. Lattimore’s torn ACL means that he is likely to miss at least a portion of the 2026 season, and backup players like Jones and Igbinoghene are scheduled to be free agents. The Commanders want to get younger at several spots, and while cornerback isn’t a position connected to Washington’s first-round pick yet, there are some young free agents who could give them a boost in talent. Head coach Dan Quinn has a history with free agent Trevon Diggs, but players like Alontae Taylor, Riq Woolen and Greg Newsome are all under 30 years old and projected to be available. It will be up to Quinn and general manager Adam Peters to determine which, if any, are the right fit for the Commanders as they retool their defense.