Nobody will want to remember the recently concluded season for too long. The Washington Commanders entered the campaign with dreams of going deep into the playoffs after reaching the NFC Championship Game in 2024. What followed was a 5-12 record and head coach Dan Quinn parting ways with both coordinators.
It was a capitulation of epic proportions. The constant stream of injuries to key personnel didn't help, but it was clear from pretty early on that something was off. Everyone could feel it, and it showed up on the field as the Commanders fell way short of expectations.
However, there were some shining lights amid the doom and gloom. They were hard to find, but it's something for fans to hold onto throughout an offseason when wholesale changes to the playing personnel are anticipated.
The Commanders have already promoted David Blough to replace Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator. Quinn is taking more time to find the right defensive guru, with big names such as Brian Flores and Jonathan Gannon being interviewed for the job. It's an anxious time for the players, but the efforts of several fledgling stars won't go unnoticed when the time comes to evaluate their futures.
With this in mind, here are five massive Commanders' surprises that are giving fans something to believe in.
Massive Commanders' surprises that are giving fans something to believe in
Josh Conerly Jr. - Commanders OT
There were a few eyebrows raised when the Washington Commanders selected offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. with the No. 29 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Adam Peters had already traded for five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil, so this was a clear sign that protecting quarterback Jayden Daniels was the team's primary objective.
That didn't happen. Daniels spent more time on the shelf than on the field. However, this had nothing to do with the production of Washington's new bookend tandem.
Conerly faced a difficult transition over to the right tackle spot throughout the summer, but he won the starting spot convincingly. His reward? A gauntlet of the league's most ferocious edge rushers over the opening month of the campaign.
The former Oregon standout found it difficult to find his feet early. Conerly kept plowing forward, focusing on improvements and adjusting to the NFL's faster pace. His improvement in consistency in the second half of 2025 was immensely encouraging and will only serve him well moving forward.
There were very few bright spots from Washington's disastrous campaign. Conerly was one of them, which didn't look possible earlier in the year.