5 massive Commanders surprises giving fans something to believe in

Treylon Burks - Commanders WR

When the Washington Commanders took a chance on wide receiver Treylon Burks, most fans thought this was a short-term arrangement to compensate for the injury problems being navigated in the room. This was the fresh start he was looking for, and the flashes should be enough to get another financial commitment from the franchise this offseason.

Burks was a first-round pick by the Tennessee Titans. They hand-picked him as the man to replace A.J. Brown after he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, which was too much pressure to put on the former Arkansas standout. Injuries held him back, and the AFC South club eventually gave up on him.

The Commanders felt there was something to salvage. Burks' blocking, ability to stretch the field, and body control in the red zone caught the eye. Washington got him more involved down the stretch, and his phenomenal touchdown catch against the Denver Broncos was a clear sign that his confidence may be rising when all hope seemed lost.

Although Burks managed just 130 receiving yards and one touchdown from eight games — three of which he started — it's a solid foundation from which to build. With a full offseason to further develop and pick up David Blough's enhanced scheme, coupled with Jayden Daniels' return to health, it would be surprising if more improvements didn't arrive.

Chris Paul - Commanders OL

The Commanders had some moving around to do on their offensive line interior. Brandon Coleman was switched to the left guard position after Laremy Tunsil's arrival. Nick Allegretti was chosen to fill in for Sam Cosmi at the right guard spot to begin the campaign. However, it didn't last long.

Coleman and Allegretti were benched after just two games. Andrew Wylie was installed on the right-hand side until Cosmi returned. Chris Paul, a seventh-round pick who'd been barely used in Year 1 under the new regime, came in at the left guard position.

This was Paul's final shot at firmly cementing his status with the club. He took full advantage, never giving up his spot, thereby considerably improving his chances of securing another contract.

Paul's run-blocking needs serious refinement to take the next step. His pass protection was exceptional, with his 78.2 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus ranking fifth among 81 qualifying guards around the league.

Most fans had given up on Paul before this. But as countless high-end draft picks from the Ron Rivera era fell by the wayside, the former Tulsa prospect has done more than enough to carve out a significant role for himself in 2026 and potentially beyond.