Mike Sainristil has had a rocky 2025 start, with an overall PFF grade of 49.6 and 46.4 in coverage through four games. He’s been targeted 21 times with 17 completions for 166 yards and a touchdown, and his tackling remains his bright spot. Sainristil has only lined up in the slot, fueling debate about a potential move back outside and a reshuffle with Noah Igbinoghene to reclaim playmaking. Fred Smoot defends the process, highlighting a learning curve and Sainristil’s ball-hawking traits as reasons for optimism amid a struggling Washington secondary, with larger defensive pressures and pass rush gaps cited as backdrop for the turnaround.