WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

OFF SEASON CHANGES

The front office responded to a disappointing season with a defense-first approach, signing edge rusher Odafe Oweh and drafting linebacker Sonny Styles at No. 7 overall in the draft. Washington was fourth in red-zone touchdown rate last year even amid the injuries, so they’re confident that their offense can click especially with Jayden Daniels returning to full health. They signed RB Rachaad White to give extra depth behind Jacory Crokey-Merritt and he should be a solid veteran addition. They’ll be hoping for third-round pick Antonio Williams to provide a boost as a wide receiver too.

QUATERBACKS

It was chalk and cheese when talking about Daniels’ rookie season compared to last year. He topped 3500 yards and 25 touchdowns with 891 rushing yards as a rookie, before a completely different, injury-shortened 2025 in which he played just seven games. The talent is undoubtedly there and the Commanders will be hoping he can recapture that rookie form with another pre-season under his belt and a clean bill of health. New OC David Blough plans to get Daniels under center far more often, a real schematic shift from a league-high 92.9% shotgun rate through his first two seasons.

RUNNING BACKS

If there’s an offensive weakness for the Commanders, it’s probably this RB room. Jacory Croskey-Merritt had a very solid rookie season with 805 yards, 8 touchdowns and 4.6 yards per carry, but it remains to be seen if he’s a true workhorse RB1. The Commanders signed veteran Rachaad White from the Bucs who is a solid addition. He’s got a different skill set to JCM and is a better pass catcher in my opinion. We can’t forget that Jayden Daniels adds so much rushing upside on his own – with 891 rushing yards in his rookie season. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Daniels and JCM finish with similar rushing yardage totals come the end of the season.

RECEIVERS

Washington's skill-position talent beyond Terry McLaurin is a little shaky. Van Jefferson and newly-signed tight end Chig Okonkwo are the only other pass-catchers on the roster with even 2,000 career receiving yards and 100 career receptions combined. The third-round pick used on Antonio Williams this year is the most significant draft capital spent on a receiver or tight end in the previous two draft classes combined, underscoring how thin this room has been. McLaurin himself missed four games to injury last season. A fully healthy Daniels distributing to even a modest supporting cast should meaningfully lift this passing attack, but the receiver room's lack of proven depth beyond one name remains a real, structural concern for Washington's offensive ceiling this season. They’ll also be hoping for a third-year jump from Luke McCaffrey, the brother of Christian. He’s super athletic but hasn’t quite put it together on the field yet.

DEFENCE

Washington completely overhauled its defense, signing Odafe Oweh, K'Lavon Chaisson, and Leo Chenal while drafting Sonny Styles in the first round to replace Bobby Wagner's leadership role. The run defense was a bottom-five unit in 2025, ranking 25th in yards per rush, explosive-play rate, and yards before contact allowed, and this offseason's investment is aimed squarely at fixing that specific weakness.