Hype around the Washington Commanders’ defense is already building at training camp, and this time it’s coming from the right place.
Early camp sessions usually belong to the defense anyway, but Washington is showing something more than the usual first-week edge. Reports from those at practice say the unit looks faster, stronger, and far more connected than it did a year ago. That’s only a starting point, and the real test won’t come until the pads go on, but the early signs have been encouraging.
Even Terry McLaurin has had to concede that the defense is getting the better of the offense so far. It’s still the opening stretch of camp, and there’s a long road ahead, but the group is already showing the kind of cohesion Washington has been chasing.
A big part of that comes from the changes made this offseason. Dan Quinn moved on from Joe Whitt Jr. and handed the defense to Daronte Jones, whose scheme is expected to lean into versatility, aggression, and violent tendencies. Adam Peters also reshaped the roster at all three levels, using free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft to give the defense a different look.
Through two days of camp, that overhaul has shown up in the details. Washington has mixed up its alignments, gotten steady pressure from big-money signing Odafe Oweh, and seen sticky coverage plus takeaways from Mike Sainristil and free-agent addition Rasul Douglas. Up front, the defensive line has looked like a real problem for opposing offenses.
That’s a sharp contrast from last season, when Washington’s defense was arguably the league’s worst. Quinn had already taken over play-calling from Whitt, but the results never changed.
The unit was old, slow, and too easy to attack. Now the roster has been turned over, and there’s a real chance this group won’t resemble that version at all in 2026.
The strength of the defense starts in the middle. Washington’s linebacker group looks dynamic, with No. 7 pick Sonny Styles leading the way. On the edge, Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson could give the Commanders a dangerous pass-rushing combination, while Nick Cross adds a presence on the back end that helps set the tone.
There are still some weak spots that could cause problems, and Jones will have to get the most out of every piece. But the system is designed to do exactly that.
Washington’s offense is still working to find its rhythm, and so far most of the work has been red-zone focused. Even so, if the goal was to get an immediate defensive jolt at camp, the Commanders have gotten it.
And for a team that has spent too long waiting for its defense to click, that alone feels like a meaningful start.
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