Entering the 2025 season, Washington Commanders’ second-year cornerback Mike Sainsristil was seen as a foundational piece of an improving defense.
As a rookie, the Michigan product lived up to his second-round draft pedigree, finishing top 10 in the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year balloting.
Sainristil's prospects looked very good. He had been forced to play out of position during his rookie campaign. For the 2025 season, Washington had prototypical perimeter corners in Marshon Lattimore and Trey Amos slated to start, allowing him to move back to his more natural slot position.
At least that was the conventional wisdom.