Commander Country

Washington Commanders Rookie OT Named Team's 'X-Factor'

Brandon Coleman could play a massive role for the Washington Commanders this season.

Jeremy Brener

Mar 3, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas Christian offensive lineman Brandon Coleman (OL12) during the 2024 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas Christian offensive lineman Brandon Coleman (OL12) during the 2024 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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The Washington Commanders have already officially named one of their rookies to the starting lineup in first-round quarterback Jayden Daniels, but they may have another member of his class join him on the offensive side of the ball.

Third-round pick Brandon Coleman is in consideration for the starting left tackle job, but he has had an up-and-down training camp dealing with injuries.

Bleacher Report writer Kristopher Knox named Coleman as the team's "X-factor" for the upcoming season.

"Exactly who will protect Daniels' blindside remains a bit of a mystery. The Commanders listed rookie third-round pick Brandon Coleman as the starter in their unofficial preseason depth chart, but Coleman is dealing with a pectoral strain and may not be ready for the start of the season," Knox writes. "If Coleman can't start Week 1, the Commanders will likely lean on veteran swing tackle Cornelius Lucas, which is less than ideal. He allowed three sacks in only 231 snaps last season, according to Pro Football Focus. Lucas is a serviceable stopgap option, but he doesn't possess the upside of the rookie. The timing of Coleman's return, and his play as a first-year starting tackle, will likely play a large role in Daniels' performance in his rookie season."

READ MORE: 'He Will Slide': Commanders QB Jayden Daniels Protecting Body Crucial to Success

If Coleman can emerge and become Daniels' starting left tackle and keep him upright, the Commanders may have one of the best rookie classes in the NFL this season.

Stick with CommanderGameday and the Locked On Commanders podcast for more FREE coverage of the Washington Commanders throughout the 2024 season.

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Jeremy Brener

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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