Despite most of the noise surrounding Washington Commanders training camp focused on Terry McLaurin’s contract, Mike Sainristil has done his best to draw in his own attention.
The second-year cornerback is coming off an impressive rookie season in 2024, where he started 16 of 17 games and played in 90 percent of the Commanders’ total defensive snaps.
Through the first week of camp, Sainristil has flashed in both individual drills and when battling against the offense. The 24-year-old has continued to showcase his mechanics and athleticism, coming away with possibly the most impressive play of the summer so far in Washington.
vids or it didn’t happen https://t.co/XrZ0uAEoTV pic.twitter.com/E7wqF9VtsZ
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) July 27, 2025
Confidence is a big part of playing cornerback successfully, having to truly believe you can lock down the other team’s weapons at one of the hardest positions on the field.
Despite his non-flashy 5-foot-10, 182-pound frame, Sainristil’s confidence in himself continues to grow with each productive day of camp that passes.
2024 saw Sainristil come in ninth place in AP Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, in a year where he tallied two interceptions and 14 passes defended.
After being a pivotal piece to an NFC Championship caliber defense during his rookie campaign, Sainristil isn’t getting complacent any time soon.
The young defender has taken every opportunity to learn from the veterans around him, such as Marshon Lattimore, while also taking everything he can from the receivers he’s lining up against.
Deebo Samuel came over from the San Francisco 49ers this offseason, and Sainristil knows the veteran wideout can be a great asset to learn from.
I asked Mike Sainristil what he’s seen competing against Deebo Samuel through a week of training camp:
“Every rep is to get me better, to get him better. That’s what I needed, to have someone like him who’s going to push me and help me get better.”
🎥 via @Commanders pic.twitter.com/V8QNJp4F9H
— Ethan Cadeaux (@Ethan_Cadeaux) July 29, 2025
As a former second-round pick and national champion with the Michigan Wolverines, Sainristil knows what it takes to reach the top, and understands there’s always room to grow.
Although some seem to be skeptical of Washington’s secondary, it seems at least one piece of the puzzle will be a consistent playmaker. Sainristil and Dan Quinn seem to be very comfortable with one another, hoping to put together another great year defensively.
