It's not hard to see why Washington Commanders fans are already prioritizing the offseason. Head coach Dan Quinn's squad is 3-10 after reaching the final four last season. Attention is on what comes next, and general manager Adam Peters faces a tenure-defining few months when his third recruitment period commences.
Peters has to take stock. He'll have a good lay of the land right now. He should know what more is needed, and which players are going to come along for the ride. And fans are anticipating drastic roster alterations before preparations for the 2026 campaign begin.
How the Commanders improve the squad is debatable. The available funds are plentiful, but Peters has only six picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. And only two of those are in the first four rounds.
Insider believes Commanders could spend big on defense in the 2026 NFL Draft
Some significant maneuvering is needed. And Dan Graziano of ESPN wouldn't be surprised if the Commanders allocated most of their draft assets on the defensive side of the football after another woeful campaign.
"The Commanders need pass-rush help, linebacker help, secondary help ... all of it. I wouldn't be stunned if they devoted most of their draft resources to the defense, though they don't have any picks in the second or fourth rounds because of the Laremy Tunsil trade."Dan Graziano
Obviously, much will depend on who is retained or which targets are acquired in free agency, but no fan would be complaining if Peters' draft strategy centered on defensive enhancements.
This unit is old and slow. The young players expected to break out have regressed, and there have been very few bright spots. Pressure is building. Peters is in no position to wait around in case those under contract make the desired progress. Drastic action is needed, and the Commanders must adopt a ruthless approach to turn things around.
The Commanders could end up having a top-five pick if their losing run continues. Peters would explore trade-down opportunities for additional capital, or he'd be in line to take a blue-chip prospect with the potential to become a franchise cornerstone. The possibilities are endless, but there is a lot to figure out before then.
Peters hasn't lost the good graces of fans just yet. Getting the Commanders to the NFC Championship game in Year 1 of his tenure gives him the benefit of the doubt for now. But if he cannot rectify some glaring issues next spring, the team's passionate fan base might not be as lenient.
A massive offseason awaits. And it's well past time for Peters to start planning for the future.