The entire Washington Commanders roster and coaching staff is set to undergo some serious scrutiny this offseason. Nobody will be immune.
It should reveal some ugly truths about the franchise, including what players they may have previously thought could help moving forward who cannot.
One of those players could be second year cornerback and 2024 second round pick Mike Sainristil, who has been objectively bad this season after a bravura rookie campaign.
“I feel awful saying this because I love Mike Sainristil as a dude (and as a player for that matter).” 106.7-FM The Fan’s Grant Paulsen wrote on his official X account on November 16. “There’s been no bigger regression or larger disappointment this season than the step backwards he has taken. I still feel good about his future but his 2024 and 2025 seasons are night and day different. People forget. He was so good last year.”
The Commanders are currently on a 7-game losing streak and dropped to 3-8 overall with an overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 11. That all of this comes one year after making the NFC Championship Game makes it all the more disappointing.
“There’s really no hope for this Commanders season,” Commanders superfan and Pardon My Take co-host Eric “PFT Commenter” Sollenberger said on November 16. “Commanders are one of the 3 or 4 teams who are finalists for season from hell … and there is one thing I’m concerned about. It’s Mikey Sainristil. Awesome rookie season. He hasn’t been very good this year at all.”
Sainristil’s Struggles on Full Display Against Miami
Sainristil muffed a punt with under 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter of the loss to the Dolphins that cost Washington a much-needed possession.
He’s also struggled at cornerback, where his 55.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus puts him at 88th out of 108 eligible players at his position. While Sainristil is second in the NFL with 3 interceptions, he’s also second in the NFL with 43 receptions allowed for 490 yards.
Sainristil was one of 3 second round picks from 2024 who has failed to produce at a high level in their second season alongside defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton and tight end Ben Sinnott.
“(General Manager) Adam Peters and the Commanders don’t get enough shit for whiffing on all three second-round picks last year,” Commanders fan account Wommanders wrote on its official X account. “Newton, Sainristil, and Sinnott are all bums.”
“It’s time to have an uncomfortable conversation about Mike Sainristil,” Kalshi Sports’ I Am John W wrote on his official X account.
Sainristil Shocked Commanders With Rookie Year
Sainrisil’s regression comes after a rookie season in which he started 16 of 17 regular capped off by his spectacular playoff performance in an upset of the No. 1 seed Detroit Lions in the NFC Divisional Round — a game in which Sainristil had 2 interceptions.
ESPN’s Ben Solak singled Sainristil out as one the NFL’s “Most Important Second Year Defender” headed into 2025.
“As (Sainristil) moves inside following the drafting of Trey Amos and signing of Jonathan Jones, I expect his numbers to better reflect his talent in 2025,” Solak wrote on August 6. “The fact that he has some versatility might even become handy when the Commanders want to match him on the outside with shiftier receivers against whom he aligns more naturally.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post NFL Insider: Commanders CB Mike Sainristil ‘Largest Disappointment’ on Roster appeared first on Heavy Sports.