When the Washington Commanders drafted rookie cornerback Trey Amos, many assumed heâd be a developmental player who would help add solid depth with future potential. But after a standout offseason and early signs in minicamp, the buzz is real: Amos might just be ready to make an immediate impact. And if history is any indicator, look no further than 2024 rookie sensation Mikey Sainristil for a model of what Amos could become.
Sainristilâs stellar rookie campaign turned heads across the league with the Commanders, showcasing what an instinctive, physical, and versatile corner can do right away. If Amos can follow a similar trajectory in 2025, the Commandersâ cornerback group, already bolstered by the addition of veteran Jonathan Jones and a healthy Marshon Lattimore, has the potential to become one of the NFLâs best.
From Slot Star to Outside Force: Amos and Sainristil Share the Same DNA
Sainristil burst onto the NFL scene last season by playing with tenacity beyond his size and experience. Despite being slightly undersized for a typical outside corner, Sainristil dominated at times, showing elite awareness, ball-tracking, and toughness in coverage and run support. He finished with 4 interceptions (two in a playoff win over the Detroit Lions), double-digit (14) pass breakups, and consistent sticky coverage against both slot receivers and bigger pass catchers.
Amos, though physically longer and more prototypical in frame, shows many of those same traits. At Ole Miss, Amos played with discipline and physicality, rarely getting caught out of phase. He doesnât shy away from contact and has shown a natural ability to mirror receivers across all levels of the field. Like Sainristil, Amos displays strong football IQ, understanding leverage, spacing, and route concepts well beyond most players entering the NFL.
Where Amos may differ, in a good way, is his ability to contribute as an outside corner from day one. While Sainristil excelled in the slot, Amos has the athleticism and length to thrive on the perimeter against bigger receivers. That gives Washington flexibility, especially if they want to move Sainristil, Lattimore, Jones, or Noah Igbinoghene into the slot in certain packages.
The key for Amos will be confidence and trust from the coaching staff. If the game slows down for him early, his impact could mirror Sainristilâs, if not surpass it in some categories.
Washingtonâs CB Room Has Potential to Be Among NFLâs Best
A year ago, cornerback depth was a major concern in D.C. Today, itâs a strength. Jones brings championship pedigree and elite short-area quickness. Lattimore, a four-time Pro Bowler, is back healthy and looking like his old self again after a nagging hamstring derailed much of his 2024 campaign. Sainristil should be even better in his second NFL campaign and be more of a vocal leader. Igbinoghene is a player who improved as the season went on and is a versatile cover. Add Amos into the mix, and the Commanders have a quartet that blends youth, experience, and playmaking at all three levels of the passing game.
If Amos can hold his own, something the coaching staff believes is within reach, Washingtonâs secondary becomes incredibly hard to attack.
What makes this group even more intriguing is the versatility. All five players are capable of rotating between inside and outside coverage, giving Defensive Coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. the kind of schematic flexibility few defenses can afford. Blitz packages, disguised coverages, and press-man alignments suddenly become much more effective when talent like what the Commanders now have is on display.
Donât be surprised if Amos becomes one of the NFLâs surprise rookie standouts this fall, just like Sainristil was a year ago. The tools, the mindset, and now the opportunity are all aligned. His emergence could elevate Washingtonâs cornerback group to elite status.
For a team looking to make another playoff push, having four legitimate corners and a potential rising rookie in Amos could be the difference in tight divisional matchups and deep postseason runs. If you havenât been watching the Commandersâ cornerback room, nowâs the time to start paying attention.
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