The Washington Commanders are looking to make more of an impression next season. Head coach Dan Quinn is under pressure to get things back on track, and the tempo was incredibly high throughout OTAs and mandatory minicamp before the pre-summer break.
Quinn is a respected leader. He never lost the locker room amid Washington's disastrous campaign. This belief gave him another shot in 2026, and the moves made throughout an eventful offseason saw risks taken in pursuit of improvements.
Everyone is fighting for relevancy. They are not lacking in motivation, and the competition for places is fierce. More importantly, everyone has bought into the new way of thinking, which was the minimum requirement before things get tougher over the summer.
Fans and experts are cautiously optimistic about the Commanders' hopes. It could all go horribly wrong, but there are growing signs that should give Washington a fighting chance.
With this in mind, here are six Commanders who are quietly forcing fans to rethink what this team could be during the 2026 campaign.
Washington Commanders quietly forcing fans to rethink what this team can be
Odafe Oweh - Commanders DE/OLB
The Commanders needed more pass-rushing prowess next season. Adam Peters recognized this, too, and he managed to get one of the top edge defenders on the free-agent market to Washington.
Odafe Oweh signed a four-year, $96 million deal. For someone who's been a situational edge rusher throughout his career, it's a big risk. However, he's got the physical gifts and outstanding athleticism needed to become a genuine game-wrecker for the Commanders.
Oweh is long and fast, with an elite bend that can trouble opposing offensive tackles. If he can evolve his game to become a legitimate three-down force, this will be money well spent.
Josh Conerly Jr. - Commanders OT
It was a rude awakening for Josh Conerly Jr. over the first few weeks of his rookie campaign. The No. 29 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft learned some harsh lessons, but he bounced back to put together a pretty solid season overall.
Conerly has avoided complacency. He spent the offseason working with Laremy Tunsil. He was on a strict strength-and-conditioning program, which gave him more definition and strength. The Oregon product made changes to his nutrition, and it's paying off handsomely.
He showed up to Washington's offseason program completely transformed. Conerly is fast, athletic, and ready to build on his first-year exploits. His relationship with Tunsil is blossoming, so this could become the bookend tackle tandem capable of giving quarterback Jayden Daniels more time in the pocket to go through his progressions.
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