“Took the road less traveled” was a label General Manager Adam Peters placed on McCaffrey following the team’s third round selection of him in the 2024 Draft. The younger brother of All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey, Luke made a position change (from quarterback) and caught the attention of the Commanders coaching staff right away. While he was not a key focal point of the Jayden Daniels’ led passing attack (he ranked eight on the team in receiving), McCaffrey did start the season catching 11 of his first 12 targets and sprinkled in production throughout the year. It was telling that he did not get more than one target down the stretch of their playoff run (from week 17 through the conference championship). With that said, day two receivers especially are always likely to take a significant jump in both playing time and production in year two.
It is important to note Noah Brown was carted off the field after suffering a lower body injury in the team’s minicamp. Initial reports are that it is not serious, however. The competitive nature and physical play style he brings to the field has been noted by Head Coach Dan Quinn several times. The “dog-ass competitor” was signed from Dallas after he and Quinn were together, albeit on opposite sides of the ball, in 2021 and 2022. Familiarity and trust always has value in these intra-roster battles. Brown finished as the team’s number five receiver in 2024 and two receivers ahead of him, Dyami Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus, left in free agency,
Winner: McCaffrey
Brown’s injury, whatever the severity may be, is a part of the prediction but this goes a bit deeper. McCaffrey’s development plan likely included extra runway considering he came from a slightly lower level of college football and he was still somewhat new to the receiver position. His play speed is at a different level than Brown and Offensive Coordinator Kliff Kingsbury will always error towards the fast guy over the power guy. Brown will be a part of the offense, no question, but McCaffrey fits in better with what they want to do on offense.