The Washington Commanders made their defensive priorities clear when they hired former Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as their new head coach in February 2024. Since then, Quinn has worked to bolster the defense, adding talent through both free agency and the NFL Draft.

Now, as the Commanders prepare for their preseason opener against the New York Jets on August 10, two of their rookie safeties—Dominique Hampton and Tyler Owens—are emerging as key players to watch, according to Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema.

“It was really interesting when the Commanders drafted both Dominique Hampton and Tyler Owens. These are super-sized safeties whose body type and athleticism give them positional flexibility. Washington also brought in Jeremy Chinn this offseason, who fits a similar mold. I’m excited to see how Dan Quinn deploys them,” Sikkema said.

Hampton and Owens Bring Size & Athleticism to Washington’s Secondary

One of the most striking aspects of both Hampton and Owens is their physical profile.

• Dominique Hampton (6’3”, 220 lbs) ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and played a school-record 57 games at the University of Washington. In his senior year, he recorded 109 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 7 pass breakups, helping lead the Huskies to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
• Tyler Owens (6’2”, 213 lbs) was one of the most explosive athletes in this year’s class. Before suffering a groin injury at the NFL Combine, he posted the highest vertical jump of any safety (41 inches) and a broad jump of 12 feet, 2 inches—just one inch short of the all-time record. He was projected to run a 4.2-second 40-yard dash before his injury.

Did Owens’ Draft Stock Plummet Over a Controversial Interview?

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Despite his elite athleticism, Owens went undrafted, leading some to speculate that an unusual interview at the NFL Combine may have played a role in his slide.

During the interview process, Owens reportedly expressed belief in the flat Earth theory and stated that he did not believe in the existence of other planets.

This was reminiscent of NBA star Kyrie Irving’s infamous flat Earth comments in 2018, which led to widespread criticism before he later walked back his remarks. Bleacher Report’s Matt Fitzgerald suggested that Owens' statements could have turned off NFL teams.

“NFL locker rooms aren’t full of Boy Scouts—some seriously questionable characters make millions playing this game. But you don’t have to be a genius to succeed in the league, either. Still, giving credence to Flat Earth theory and insisting there is no space or other planets? That’s a bridge—no, a galaxy—too far,” Fitzgerald wrote.

A Training Camp Battle to Watch

Regardless of how he got to Washington, Owens now has an opportunity to prove himself alongside Hampton and veteran Jeremy Chinn in Quinn’s new-look defense. Given their size, athleticism, and versatility, both Hampton and Owens could push for playing time early—and perhaps even develop into key pieces for the Commanders' secondary.

With training camp underway, the battle between these big-bodied safeties will be one to watch as Washington’s preseason kicks off on August 10.

What do you think—can Hampton and Owens make an impact in year one? Let us know in the comments!