The Philadelphia Eagles have dominated the NFC East for years. But now, the Washington Commanders may have found their version of what made a bitter rival so dangerous.
General manager Adam Peters had one major priority this offseason. The Commanders took some big swings in free agency and bet on some ascending players. This was desperately needed, and the same trend continued early in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Washington got a stroke of good luck when linebacker Sonny Styles dropped out of the top five and into their laps. The Commanders rated the Ohio State product highly. His exceptional athleticism and leadership look tailor-made for the culture head coach Dan Quinn has built. Coupled with the other new arrivals and the scheme Daronte Jones is projected to run, it would be deeply disappointing if defensive improvements didn't arrive.
The Commanders are taking a page out of the Eagles' book, too.
While much has been made of Philadelphia's offensive line and running back Saquon Barkley as the catalyst behind their most recent Super Bowl triumph, their defensive prowess also played a significant role in their success. Speed and dynamism were at the forefront, making the Eagles a three-level, sideline-to-sideline obstacle that very few could overcome.
Conversely, the Commanders were old, slow, and predictable defensively last season. They couldn't stop anybody, and game-planning against them was straightforward. The script has now slipped after an eventful offseason, and Styles will spearhead everything.
Styles and free-agent signing Leo Chenal will give the defensive second level the injection of energy desperately needed alongside Frankie Luvu. The edge rushing room now has Odafe Oweh, K'Lavon Chaisson, Charles Omenihu, and Joshua Josephs to go alongside Dorance Armstrong Jr. Tim Settle Jr. is a vibrant addition to the defensive front, and Nick Cross is the tone-setting safety Washington hasn't had since Jeremy Chinn left.
The Commanders won't be a pushover next season. Jones wants to be creative and aggressive. Peters did his part by enhancing the personnel, so it'll be fascinating to watch these pieces mold together in the weeks and months ahead.
Washington opted to meet fire with fire. The Eagles will be strong, but they are more vulnerable than ever. The New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys have also improved drastically this offseason, making the race for division supremacy all the more intriguing. But make no mistake; the Commanders will not be going down without a fight this year.
And if this team is more competitive than expected, fans can thank Peters' willingness to move with the times.
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