Adam Peters had a primary goal in mind this offseason. He wanted to heighten the sense of urgency and increase competition for places. Everything must be earned this summer, and previous reputations no longer count for anything after such a poor 2025 campaign.
It's brought a positive response from the players. The Washington Commanders heightened the tempo of practices over their early offseason program, and it had the desired effect. Expect this to rise further over training camp, but the positive foundations have been laid.
Washington's franchise cornerstones set the tone, and others willingly followed their lead. Head coach Dan Quinn got a good look at everyone throughout OTAs and minicamp, and some caught the eye enough to suggest they could force a rethink if things continue trending positively when the tests get more challenging.
With this in mind, here are six Commanders long shots who could provoke strong conversations when the time comes to finalize their 53-man squad.
Washington Commanders long shots with a sneaky path onto the 2026 roster
Timothy McKay - Commanders OL
The Commanders' offensive line dynamic is interesting. Three of the starting five spots are locked up. Competitions are going on at left guard and center. This should bring out the best in everybody, but depth can always be improved.
Adam Peters may look to expand the options at some point during the offseason. Andrew Wylie, sixth-round rookie Matt Gulbin, and perhaps even Trent Scott are the likeliest to go through. The loser of the left guard battle between Chris Paul and Brandon Coleman will also be a useful asset in the event of injury.
While he's become something of an afterthought after dealing with significant injury problems last season, the Commanders still see something in Timothy McKay. The formidable interior presence is a powerful presence when healthy. If he gets a clear run throughout the summer, the North Carolina State product can shake things up.
D.J. Davidson - Commanders DL
With Daronte Jones projected to switch his defense to a 3-4 base, the trenches will be more important than ever before. Daron Payne, Javon Kinlaw, and free-agent signing Tim Settle Jr. are slotted to start right now. Johnny Newton is drawing plaudits for his offseason work, and he could become a bigger factor in Year 3 of his professional career.
That won't be enough. And though little is expected of D.J. Davidson, he's got a shot to stake a real claim.
Davidson was used sparingly over his four years with the New York Giants. The 2022 fifth-round pick out of Arizona State has flashed quality moments, but it's hard to know what his consistency could become without extended playing time.
Washington would be wise to get Davidson some prominent reps in the preseason to get a broader indication. But with only Shy Tuttle, Jeffrey M'ba, and Ricky Barber as legitimate competition, the new signing should fancy his chances.
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