The Washington Commanders have hit the reset button after their disastrous 5-12 campaign in 2025 came woefully short of meeting playoff expectations. General manager Adam Peters has overhauled his roster with youth and depth, and Dan Quinn's coaching staff features new coordinators on both sides of the ball.
The Commanders will lean on returning contributors from years past to carry their banner, most notably stars Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin, and Laremy Tunsil, as well as long-time mainstays such as Daron Payne and Jeremy Reaves. They'll also be desperately looking for emerging pieces to step up into leadership roles both on and off the field.
One wide receiver already seems to be taking that onus upon himself.
Luke McCaffrey affirms the Commanders can't wait to leave last season behind them
Luke McCaffrey is entering his third season in the NFL, and he's still somewhat of an enigma. He didn't make much of an impact as a rookie but was quietly hitting his stride last time around until a broken collarbone ended his sophomore campaign. He, like everybody else in Washington, is eager to wash out that sour taste.
"We've got a new system, we've got a brand-new team, some new guys in the building and some old guys are gone, so we're having a lot of fun building that cohesiveness and forming our identity."
Where McCaffrey stands, he's in a prime position to be a major part of what Washington is building.
As long as Brandon Aiyuk and the San Francisco 49ers drag out their soap opera, the former college quarterback is locked in a battle with Treylon Burks and third-round rookie Antonio Williams to be one of the Commanders' starting wideouts.
McCaffrey can also help guide along younger additions to the receiver room, such as Williams and Jaylin Lane, who the Commanders will rely on to live up to their draft billing. Even in only his third season, the 2024 third-round pick has already been in Washington for a longer uninterrupted time than any other wideout besides McLaurin.
And he's taking it seriously.
As for McCaffrey's outlook on the season, it's one any other player who was part of the mess that was 2025 can echo. The NFL is a year-to-year league. Roster turnover and injury luck variance can be the difference between five wins and 12 wins, as the Commanders know all too well.
When Week 1 rolls around, Washington will be 0-0. McCaffrey is ready for the opportunity that a fresh start will bring.
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