The Commanders did a lot of work on this roster heading into 2026, patching up plenty of the spots that helped sink last fall’s 5-12 season. But one position still feels like a gamble, and it’s the kind that can quietly wreck everything if it goes sideways.
That spot is center.
Washington moved on from Tyler Biadasz, then missed out on the kind of big-name answer it seemed to be chasing, including Tyler Linderbaum. So now the job belongs to Nick Allegretti, and the team is betting he can make the switch work.
There’s reason to be cautious. Allegretti has started for Washington before, but that came at left guard in 2024, not at center.
And while he did step in for Biadasz over the final two games of the 2025 season, this is a different assignment altogether. Snapping to Jayden Daniels and handling the full-time responsibilities in the middle is a much bigger ask.
Still, the Commanders are giving him the runway to prove it. Outside of sixth-round rookie Matt Gulbin, there doesn’t appear to be much competition for the job. That means Allegretti has a real chance to turn what many fans see as a questionable offseason move into a smart one.
He’s not walking into this blind, either. Allegretti already has chemistry with Daniels, and that matters when the center is the one setting the tone for the offense. The former Kansas City Chief is also entering his eighth NFL season, and the Commanders are asking more of him now than they ever have before.
That includes leadership. Allegretti signed an extension with Washington this offseason, which makes the message pretty clear: the team expects him to be part of what comes next.
Of course, there’s a flip side to all of this. If the transition doesn’t take, Washington could be staring at a mess at one of the most important spots on the line. The comparison to the Brandon Coleman experiment at left guard last season hangs there for a reason.
For now, though, the path is obvious. Training camp is Allegretti’s chance to settle the noise, win over the doubters, and show that the center job can be a strength instead of a problem.
In Other News...
Commanders Lose Trusted Veteran At Worst Possible Time For Camp
A familiar piece of Washingtons special teams picture disappeared just as camp was about to get rolling, with linebacker Nick Bellore retiring after 15 NFL seasons. The Commanders moved him to the reserve/retired list as they made room for cornerback Rasul Douglas, a transaction that underscores how quickly the roster can change at this point in the summer.
Bellore had spent the last two seasons in Washington and carved out a trusted role as one of the teams most reliable special teams players, handling a heavy workload in that phase of the game. His departure leaves the Commanders with a notable hole to address moving forward, and it comes at a time when every practice rep matters even more than usual. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Have A Quiet QB Decision That Could Backfire Behind Jayden Daniels
Jayden Daniels is locked in as Washingtons starter, with Marcus Mariota set as the backup, so the only real quarterback question left in camp is the one at the bottom of the depth chart. Even so, it is a spot worth watching for a team trying to build a stable room around its young franchise passer, because the third quarterback can still matter when injuries, practice reps and weekly preparation start to pile up.
The decision comes down to who can settle into David Bloughs new offensive scheme and keep the ball out of harms way. Washington wants a developmental option it can trust, whether that means carrying him on the roster or trying to sneak him onto the practice squad, and the margin here is thin enough that a few clean practices or one rough stretch could swing the outcome. [Read more 🡒]
Former Commanders Receiver Finds New Home As WR Churn Continues
Chris Moore is back on the move as NFL training camps open, a familiar turn for a veteran receiver who has spent the past several seasons bouncing through the league. After stops with the Texans, Titans, Cardinals and Washington, Moore is now looking for his next opportunity after a brief run with the Commanders, where he was used in a supporting role and gave the offense some depth when injuries and roster turnover were in play.
For Washington, his departure fits the broader churn at receiver this offseason, with the room getting reshaped by additions such as Dyami Brown, Van Jefferson, Treylon Burks and Antonio Williams. Moore was not brought back after his contract expired, and his path back to Baltimore only underscores how quickly the margins can shift for a player trying to hold onto a spot in a crowded position group. [Read more 🡒]