What the Washington Commanders are really building toward in 2026

The Washington Commanders enter 2026 as one of the league’s more difficult teams to project. This is not due to a lack of direction, but rather to the violent swing in their recent momentum.

In 2024, this was a roster competing in the NFC Championship game, ahead of schedule and brimming with belief. In 2025, injuries gutted the group, derailed continuity, and exposed how thin the margins still were.

Now, with a new offensive play-caller hired and a defensive coordinator pending, Washington finds itself recalibrating rather than rebuilding. And at the center of everything is still Jayden Daniels.

The 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year is as foundational a young quarterback as there is in the NFL. His arm talent, intelligence, and unique creativity outside of structure fundamentally change how defenses have to play Washington. Entering a pivotal Year 3, the question is no longer about his ceiling, but about availability.

Commanders roster is in flux as head coach Dan Quinn fights to retain his identity

Daniels' ability to stay healthy will ultimately determine whether the Commanders are a playoff-caliber team or drift back into the lower tier of the NFC.

New offensive coordinator David Blough inherits a rare asset in the signal-caller. His task will be to build an offense that maximizes Daniels’ movement skills without overexposing him, a question Kliff Kingsbury has faced in his scheme over the last two years.

Up front, Washington has quietly stabilized what was once a liability. The acquisition of Laremy Tunsil gave the Commanders a true cornerstone at left tackle, and an extension feels inevitable. Tyler Biadasz provides reliability at center. Sam Cosmi has developed into one of the game's elite right guards, both as a pass protector and tone-setter in the run game.

There is still fluidity at left guard, where Chris Paul could return, or Brandon Coleman could step into a larger role as he did in spurts after starting nearly every game at left tackle in his rookie year. First-round pick Josh Conerly Jr. took meaningful steps forward at right tackle as the year progressed, particularly in pass protection. His athletic profile and development trajectory suggest he will be a long-term piece rather than a short-term solution.

The skill positions remain a work in progress, as they seemingly have been for years.

Terry McLaurin is still the clear alpha of the receiving corps and one of the most respected route runners in the league. And as long as he's healthy, he remains a focal point.

Beyond him, uncertainty defines the room. Deebo Samuel Sr.’s future is unresolved. While Treylon Burks flashed at times after arriving from the Tennessee Titans, he has yet to establish himself as someone the offense can rely on behind McLaurin.

Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane both showed real value in the return game, but the offense needs more from them in 2026. Blough needs at least one of them to develop into a reliable WR3 or WR4 who can be dependable in key moments. Still, additional investment at wide receiver feels inevitable as the front office continues to build around Daniels.

At tight end, the need is even more pronounced.

Zach Ertz is all but gone after a nasty season-ending injury, leaving John Bates as the lone true core piece. Washington hasn't had the receiving impact from Ben Sinnott that they hoped for, a second-round pick in 2024. As it stands, more athleticism and versatility at the position are needed.

The backfield was one of the few bright spots in 2025.

Washington leaned on a committee, but Jacory Croskey-Merritt emerged as one of the league’s better success stories. While not a perfect ball-carrier, the rookie seventh-rounder showed vision, toughness, and just enough burst to seize the RB1 role for stretches of the season.

In Blough's new scheme, which may lean more into wide-zone concepts, his ability to press the edge and cut decisively could make him a long-term contributor and potential No. 1 option heading into 2025. Behind him, Chris Rodriguez Jr. remains a useful complementary piece, giving the room physicality and depth.

Defensively, the outlook is far murkier. Many of the veteran stopgaps brought in to stabilize the unit are unlikely to be part of the future.

Second-round rookie Trey Amos looked like a legitimate building block at corner before an injury cut his season short. Mike Sainristil continues to be one of the few consistent playmakers, capable of playing both nickel and outside, and his ball production stands out among recent draft classes. He ranked behind only Houston Texans safety Calen Bullock in interceptions among all defenders drafted in 2024 before the playoffs began.

Beyond the secondary, questions dominate.

Decisions loom on veterans like Daron Payne and Marshon Lattimore, particularly with significant salary-cap savings available. Johnny Newton, a second-round pick in 2024, needs to take a step forward as an interior disruptor despite his three-sack outing against the Dallas Cowboys.

Linebacker Jordan Magee deserves an expanded role in the middle. Kain Medrano remains a projection after shockingly receiving a grand total of zero defensive snaps amid a lost campaign. Working behind an excellent tandem is one thing, but both Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu regressed mightily this year. Keeping the UCLA product on the fringes was one of the more head-scratching decisions from Dan Quinn.

Up front, Dorance Armstrong Jr. stands out as the most reliable piece, having been among the NFL's sack leaders before injury. Beyond him, it's a barren cupboard when searching for reliable contributors, where Von Miller continues to age, Drake Jackson remains a project, and the same can be said for Javontae Jean-Baptiste, who missed a majority of 2025.

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This offseason is not about tearing it all down for Washington. It is about clarifying the vision.

With a franchise quarterback, a stabilized offensive line, and select young defenders, the Commanders have a foundation. Whether that turns back into contention will depend on health, player development, the contributions of added talent, and aligning the roster with a coherent identity on both sides of the ball.