The Commanders are heading into training camp with a lot to prove and not much love from the people putting together NFL power rankings.
The Athletic dropped its latest preseason list ahead of the 2026 season, and Washington landed at No. 23. That’s a step up from No. 26 last time, but it still leaves the Commanders squarely in the middle of the league’s skepticism.
That reaction tracks with how the offseason was built. Washington spent heavily on the defensive side, signing 11 defensive free agents, and more than half of them are expected to start.
That kind of turnover tells you exactly where the organization thinks the problems were. The Commanders were 27th in the league last year in points allowed at 26.5, and the front office clearly believes that getting Jayden Daniels back to full health won’t matter much unless the defense becomes much better.
The Athletic’s ranking summed up the situation bluntly: “What’s new? The defense”
There’s also the reality that the unit is being pieced together almost from scratch. Along with the free-agent additions, Washington brought in Sonny Styles in the draft.
That means the challenge isn’t just learning the scheme. These players have to learn each other, too.
Communication, timing and trust all have to get built quickly, because this group has never operated as a whole before.
That process, at least according to the players who have spoken to the media, is already underway. Even before training camp opened, there was a sense that the defense was starting to click in small ways, and now the real work begins with live reps and daily practice.
Dan Quinn’s name came up in the power-rankings write-up, with The Athletic saying he enters the season on the hot seat. The article here would stop short of going that far, but the pressure is obvious.
If Washington doesn’t show real improvement in 2026 after a 5-12 season, questions about Quinn’s future are going to get louder. At the same time, context matters.
If injuries pile up the way they did in 2025, it’s hard to pin everything on the coach.
For now, though, the Commanders’ path is pretty clear. There’s work to do on both sides of the ball, but the defense is the part that will decide whether this season goes anywhere.
In Other News...
Wes Welker Might Be Shaping A Commanders Breakout Fans Will Notice
Wes Welkers latest stop has put him in a familiar kind of teaching role, and the Commanders are already seeing why it matters. Working with Washingtons tight ends, Welker has brought the perspective of a former elite receiver into a room that can benefit from sharper technique, cleaner routes and a more nuanced understanding of how to create separation. Chig Okonkwo, in particular, has emerged as a player drawing attention from the work, praising Welkers expertise and the new details he is absorbing.
For a Commanders offense looking ahead to the 2026 season, that kind of coaching can carry real weight even before the pads come on. Tight ends often become difference-makers in subtle ways, and Welkers background gives Washington a teacher who understands how to stress defenses from multiple angles. If Okonkwo keeps building on what he is learning now, he could become one of the more noticeable breakouts on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Luke McCaffrey Is Giving Commanders Fans A Reason To Watch Closely
Training camp has given the Commanders at least one young player worth tracking closely in Luke McCaffrey. The 2024 third-round pick arrived in Washington as a converted quarterback, and his early work at wide receiver has started to match the kind of developmental upside the team hoped for when it took him. Former Washington tight end Logan Paulsen pointed to McCaffreys growth as a receiver, returner and blocker, all areas that can help a young player carve out a real job once the pads come on for good.
For a Commanders roster with several young wideouts jockeying for playing time, McCaffrey does not need to be the finished product to matter. He just needs to keep stacking the kind of camp reps that suggest he is more than a curiosity from last summer. If he can keep building on what has shown up early, Washington may have a player who can force his way into a significant role this season rather than merely flashing in passing camp reports. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Still Have One Big Question Around Jayden Daniels
Training camp has opened with Washingtons defense getting the better of the early exchanges, while Jayden Daniels worked through a slow first day before looking sharper on day two. The bigger concern around the rookie quarterback has not been Daniels himself so much as the pieces around him, with Terry McLaurin once again standing out as the one proven target the offense can count on.
Elsewhere in the receiver room, the early returns have not inspired much confidence, and that has only sharpened the conversation about whether Washington needs to add another established pass catcher before the season gets rolling. For a team trying to make life easier on Daniels right away, the next move at wideout may end up being one of the most important storylines of camp. [Read more 🡒]