Commanders training camp features rookie threatening to steal starting job

Washington Commanders training camp’s biggest surprise might just be the emergence of a rookie who looks poised to steal a critical, premium starting job.

The rookie is third-round pick Brandon Coleman and the job doesn’t get much more important—left tackle in front of quarterback Jayden Daniels, the second-overall pick.

Coleman continues to work with the first-team offense during practice, with Andrew Wylie and Cornelius Lucas dealing with issues that have kept them limited or absent.

At this point, The Athletic’s Ben Standig has even noted that Coleman might just have a lock on the left edge of the line, while the two veterans will fight it out for the starting spot at right tackle.

That certainly aligns with what Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has repeatedly told reporters, such as this note from JP Finlay of NBC Sports:

Before the draft, there was some debate as to whether Coleman was a guard or tackle at the next level. Clearly, the Commanders have made their own evaluation.

The fact that a third-round rookie is doing this against a stacked defensive front seven featuring the likes of Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen says quite a bit about just how well he’s doing, too.