Commanders Sign Second-Round Pick Mike Sainristil
The Washington Commanders have inked a deal with second-round cornerback Mike Sainristil, marking the signing of one of their three second-round picks. Sainristil, who transitioned from wide receiver to cornerback during his collegiate career at Michigan, had a standout season in 2023, earning first-team All-American honors.
During his time at Michigan, Sainristil was a versatile player, excelling in both offensive and defensive roles. As a wide receiver in 2021, he caught 22 passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns. After switching to cornerback in 2022, he quickly became a key defender, amassing 102 tackles, three sacks, and seven interceptions over the past two seasons. His performance included six interceptions during Michigan’s National Championship-winning season.
Selected with the 50th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Sainristil is expected to contribute in the slot for the Commanders, a position he played predominantly at Michigan. He joins fellow 2023 second-round pick Quan Martin, who will provide competition for the slot cornerback role.
Sainristil is the fifth player from the Commanders’ 10-man draft class to sign a rookie contract. The Commanders’ entire draft class includes quarterback Jayden Daniels (Round 1), defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton (Round 2), tight end Ben Sinnott (Round 2), offensive lineman Brandon Coleman (Round 3), wide receiver Luke McCaffrey (Round 3), linebacker Jordan Magee (Round 5), wide receiver Ainias Smith (Round 5), safety Dominique Hampton (Round 5), and EDGE Javontae Jean-Baptiste (Round 7).
The signing of Sainristil is a key step as the Commanders build their roster ahead of the 2024 season.
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