The Washington Commanders are entering a pivotal season in 2026, and if new head coach Dan Quinn wants to steer this franchise in the right direction, the defense has to take center stage. After finishing near the bottom of the league in several key categories last year, it's clear: this unit doesn’t just need a tune-up - it needs a full-on identity shift.
And that identity? Aggression.
Let’s start with the obvious: turnovers. The Commanders forced just 10 in 2025 - second-worst in the NFL.
That’s not just a red flag, it’s a flashing neon sign that something has to change. But turnovers don’t happen by accident.
They’re the byproduct of pressure, deception, and a defense that plays on the front foot rather than the back.
Aggression is the theme here, but it’s not about reckless blitzing every down. It’s about calculated chaos - the kind that keeps quarterbacks guessing and offensive coordinators scrambling to adjust.
Take a page from the 2025 Minnesota Vikings. They led the league in blitz rate at a staggering 48%, a full 15% higher than the next closest team.
That wasn’t just aggressive - it was disruptive. And it worked.
The Commanders, by comparison, sat in the middle of the pack - tied for 15th in blitz rate at 26.6%. That’s not going to cut it.
If Quinn and new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones want to reshape this defense, dialing up the pressure is step one. And considering Jones is coming from one of the most blitz-happy systems in the league, expect that philosophy to be front and center from Week 1.
But blitzing more often doesn’t automatically solve everything. Pressure without purpose can backfire - especially if the back end isn’t ready to capitalize.
That’s where turnovers come in. You can’t just pressure the quarterback; you have to take the ball away.
The Bears and Vikings showed different ways to do it in 2025 - Chicago led with 23 interceptions, while Minnesota forced a league-best 13 fumbles.
Washington? Brace yourself: just two fumble recoveries all season.
That’s not a typo. Two.
Over 17 games. The next-worst team had double that.
It’s not just a statistical anomaly - it’s a symptom of a defensive mindset that wasn’t aggressive enough in the right ways.
That’s where Jones’ coaching comes into play. He’s known for teaching techniques like the “Stab Drill,” where defenders target the ball when attacking from the front side.
It’s a small detail, but those are the kinds of micro-skills that lead to game-changing plays. For a defense that was allergic to takeaways last season, that kind of coaching emphasis could be exactly what they need.
Now, aggression isn’t just about scheme or technique - it’s also about personnel. If the Commanders are serious about revamping their defense, they need to invest in the right kind of players. That means speed, youth, and guys who can get after the quarterback.
Free agency offers some intriguing options, starting with edge rusher Jaelan Phillips. At 27, he’s in his prime and brings the kind of versatility that fits perfectly in a modern, aggressive scheme.
He’s long, athletic, and disruptive - traits that showed up in his stint with the Eagles last season, where he racked up two sacks and 27 pressures in limited action. Over his five-year career, he’s totaled 28 sacks and 150 pressures - solid production that suggests he’s only scratching the surface.
If Phillips slips through their fingers, Odafe Oweh from the Chargers is a solid fallback. Also 27, Oweh has been building a strong résumé and fits the mold of a high-upside pass rusher who could thrive in a more aggressive system.
But free agency alone won’t fix everything. The Commanders need to nail the draft, especially when it comes to adding another edge rusher.
Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. is the name to watch. He’s explosive, disruptive, and could be the perfect complement to a signing like Phillips.
Some mock drafts have Washington passing on Bain in favor of Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles - but that would be a mistake. The Commanders need to prioritize pass rush, and Bain fits that need better than anyone else on the board.
If they can’t land Bain, Texas Tech’s David Bailey is a strong alternative. Some scouts even prefer him to Bain, so the drop-off wouldn’t be dramatic. Either way, Washington needs to come out of this offseason with a young, high-motor edge rusher who can help transform the front seven.
And it’s not just about adding one or two stars. The entire defensive roster needs an injection of speed.
Too often in 2025, the Commanders looked a step slow - literally. You can’t play fast, aggressive defense if you’re constantly five yards behind the play.
That means cutting ties with slower veterans, targeting faster free agents, and drafting players who can fly.
Yes, that speed-first approach might leave them vulnerable to power running games. But that’s where smart roster construction comes in.
Keep your core run-stoppers, and surround them with speed at every other level. Speed allows for aggression.
Aggression creates pressure. Pressure forces mistakes.
That’s the formula.
If the Commanders want to flip the script in 2026, it starts with a mindset shift - one that prioritizes speed, deception, and relentless pursuit. Dan Quinn has the pedigree.
Daronte Jones has the blueprint. Now it’s about execution - and the right personnel to make it all work.