The Washington Commanders‘ secondary was dreadful last season. They struggled to stop virtually everything. And players who appeared to be building blocks took major steps in the opposite direction.
Cornerback Mike Sainristil and safety Quan Martin struggled last season. Both were very good in 2024. Former defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. said last summer that he believed Martin could become one of the NFL’s best safeties.
Whitt is gone, but Sainristil and Martin are back. They have a new coach in defensive coordinator Daronte Jones. Jones, a Maryland native, comes to the Commanders from the Minnesota Vikings, where he spent the past few years as the secondary coach. Sainristil and Martin were two players Jones mentioned in his introductory press conference.
The addition of Jones, plus potential bounce-back seasons from Sainristil and Martin, give Washington reasons for hope in 2026. So does an improved pass rush. There are also newcomers, such as Amik Robertson and Nick Cross.
As we continue with our positional previews, let’s look at Washington’s cornerbacks and safeties ahead of training camp.
On the roster
Cornerback
- Mike Sainristil
- Amik Robertson
- Trey Amos
- Ahkello Witherspoon
- Rasul Douglas
- Antonio Hamilton Sr.
- Tre Hawkins III
- Darius Rush
- Car’lin Vigers
Safety
- Percy Butler
- Nick Cross
- Will Harris
- Qwuantrezz Knight
- Quan Martin
- Robert McDaniel
- Tyler Owens
- Jeremy Reaves
- Malik Spencer
Robertson, Cross, Douglas and Witherspoon highlight the newcomers. Robertson is expected to start at one of the corner spots, probably in the slot, while Cross will start at one of Washington’s safety positions. Sainristil and Amos figure to be the Commanders’ starting outside cornerbacks, while Harris and Martin will vie to start opposite Cross at safety.
Roster locks
- Mike Sainristil
- Trey Amos
- Amik Robertson
- Nick Cross
- Quan Martin
- Will Harris
- Jeremy Reaves
We were tempted to make Witherspoon and Douglas roster locks. There’s probably a 90% chance that both make the 53. The Commanders need reliable veteran depth at corner, and both can provide that. Safety is a bit different. Cross, Martin, Harris and Reaves all should be considered a lock. Washington loves Owens. He’s a phenomenal athlete and stars on special teams. The coaches want to see him more involved on defense. Percy Butler is another outstanding special teams player. It’s hard to imagine the Commanders keeping six safeties.
Training camp battle to watch
- Starting safety opposite Nick Cross
It will be either Martin or Cross, and both have their strengths. Right now, I’d lean toward Harris. Washington liked how he played before his injury early last season. He’s an excellent communicator and provided a physical presence on the back end. But does his style of play overlap with Cross? Martin can play a number of positions, but he must show that last season was an outlier. The Commanders could go with Cross and Harris, and use Martin in more of a hybrid role. Make no mistake, Washington still believes in Martin.
One burning question
- Can Mike Sainristil get back on track?
We could ask a few questions here. Can Sainristil get back on track? What about Martin? Will Trey Amos be ready for Week 1? But Washington needs Sainristil to play as he did as a rookie in 2024. He showed he could handle playing inside or outside as a rookie. He didn’t look comfortable anywhere last season. It wasn’t a total wash, though, as Sainristil’s four interceptions led the Commanders. Sainristil is competitive. He’s physical and works incredibly hard, on and off the field. Washington coaches haven’t wavered in their belief in Sainristil.
Outlook
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders 2026 training camp preview: Cornerbacks and safeties
