Nick Allegretti - Commanders OL
Strengthening the offensive line was Adam Peters' biggest priority above all else this offseason. The Washington Commanders were found wanting in the trenches when it counted. That proved to be the major difference between Dan Quinn's squad and the Philadelphia Eagles, who bullied their way to a convincing Super Bowl triumph.
The Commanders were aggressive in pursuit of achieving this objective. Peters traded for five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil. He also used the No. 29 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft on Josh Conerly Jr., who's expected to shift into the right tackle slot. That involves some shuffling around for others, so urgency will be high across the board.
Nick Allegretti's status as the starting left guard is not assured by any stretch of the imagination. The Commanders could slot Brandon Coleman there, given his long-term promise. Sam Cosmi's injury might be the ex-Kansas City Chiefs star's saving grace, but he must perform well throughout the summer to cement his status.
Brian Robinson Jr. - Commanders RB
The Commanders gave Brian Robinson Jr. a supreme vote of confidence this offseason. Most fans were clamoring for a fresh injection of explosiveness in the running back room with one of Adam Peters' first draft selections. The general manager had another idea, waiting until the seventh round to take Jacory Croskey-Merritt instead.
While Croskey-Merritt brings more intrigue than most Day 3 picks, expecting him to accumulate significant carries immediately is unfair and unrealistic. That puts the onus squarely on Robinson to make the improvements needed in a contract year.
Robinson regressed last season. That came in for some unfair criticism, but the Commanders believe the former Alabama standout has more to give with the improvements made to the offensive line. And the backfield force isn't lacking incentive with a new deal up for grabs when the 2026 offseason arrives.
What comes next is down to Robinson. The Commanders placed a lot of faith in him. Failing to meet expectations is not an option.
Luke McCaffrey - Commanders WR
The Commanders made some useful additions to the wide receiver room this offseason. Adam Peters drafted Jaylin Lane at No. 128 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. They brought Michael Gallup out of retirement. Washington also sent a fifth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers for Deebo Samuel Sr., so the competition for places is fierce.
This raises the stakes for Luke McCaffrey. Last year's third-round pick got plenty of reps last season without the targets to show for it. Fans were expecting a breakout at any moment. This came as a kick returner, not as a dependable presence on the wide receiver rotation.
This is a big offseason for McCaffrey. He'll likely get special-teams duties once again, although Lane also thrives in this area. If the required improvements don't arrive, the former Rice standout could be buried down the depth chart when push comes to shove.
Last season's experience should serve him well. But McCaffrey must hit the ground running this offseason to raise confidence in his future outlook.