Dallas Cowboys fans have spent the offseason taking plenty of victory laps, but the Washington Commanders may deserve a little more respect than they’re getting.
That’s the message from Dean Jones of Riggo's Rag, who offered a detailed look at Washington while speaking as part of a scouting series on Dallas’ 2026 opponents. His read on the Commanders suggests the Cowboys may be too quick to file them away as a team to breeze past.
The biggest name, of course, is Jayden Daniels. Jones said there will “always be concerns after last season,” but added that the signs around the quarterback are encouraging.
Daniels is healthy, he’s adjusted quickly to the new offensive scheme, and he approached the offseason with a different edge. Jones also said he’s “leading from the front, and everyone is following,” while noting that David Blough's system should help reduce injury risk.
Jones also pointed to the broader tone around Washington after last season’s run. In his view, the Commanders got a little too comfortable after reaching the NFC Championship game, and that showed in the summer.
Dan Quinn, he said, responded by pushing urgency and increasing the practice tempo during OTAs and minicamp. That change was well received, and Jones believes it should make Washington “much more competitive.”
There’s still plenty of talk around the Commanders and Brandon Aiyuk, but Jones made clear the situation is complicated. If Washington were getting the “2023 second-team All-Pro Brandon Aiyuk,” he said it would be an easy call.
But that’s not the reality, and he added that there is “just no telling what Adam Peters is thinking after his recent social media outbursts.” Washington will likely keep considering it, though Jones said Aiyuk’s connection to Daniels alone is not enough.
On the rookie front, Sonny Styles drew the strongest praise. Jones said Styles is “As advertised” and described him as the kind of player who “just looks the part.”
He highlighted Styles’ size, athleticism and football IQ, calling him a potential franchise cornerstone. Jones also said Styles is learning the defense well enough to get the green dot immediately.
Two more rookies also earned positive mention. Wide receiver Antonio Williams is drawing rave reviews, and sixth-round running back Kaytron Allen could turn into another Day 3 steal if he carries that momentum into the regular season.
Asked about Washington’s biggest offseason addition, Jones pointed to edge rusher Odafe Oweh. He said the Commanders’ pass rush was “beyond anemic” last season and noted that Washington paid a lot to bring Oweh in. The payoff could be significant if he delivers.
As for a weakness Dallas might target, Jones identified the receivers behind Terry McLaurin as a concern. That’s part of why Washington keeps getting linked to Brandon Aiyuk and Stefon Diggs. He also said the cornerback group could use more help, even if the Commanders believe a stronger front seven will make life easier on the back end.
Jones closed by flagging a strength that could be flying under the radar: the offensive tackles. He said that one is easy.
Laremy Tunsil, he said, played at an All-Pro level last season and “nobody noticed,” while Josh Conerly Jr. impressed over the second half of 2025 and has gotten his body right this offseason. Jones added that the two have built a strong mentor-student relationship, giving Washington what he described as a bookend tandem capable of taking the league by storm.
Dallas will host Washington at AT&T Stadium in Week 2 for a 3:25 p.m. CT kickoff. The Cowboys will then head to Washington, D.C. for the season finale in Week 18, with the date and time still to be announced.
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