The Washington Commanders are still early in the season, but the future is already starting to take shape. With college football rolling and the NFL calendar moving toward another evaluation cycle, the front office has enough early clues to begin mapping out what comes next.
That matters in Washington because the roster still has some unfinished business. The Commanders got a stunning upset over the Seattle Seahawks, but there are still questions hanging around, especially with star quarterback Jayden Daniels sidelined for at least another week.
General manager Adam Peters is keeping one eye on the present and another on the bigger picture, and he’s already said he’s saving money for upcoming contract extensions. Not everyone is getting one, though, and any departures will have to be replaced.
With Daniels also extension-eligible after the campaign, the draft is going to be a major tool for building this thing out.
Peters’ first three draft classes have been uneven. It’s far too early to judge the 2026 group, but 2024 has looked like a miss outside of Daniels, and 2025 is still unresolved. Whatever happens this season, the Commanders need a stronger spring.
Using the Pro Football and Sports Network simulator, Washington took an early look at where it could go in a seven-round 2027 NFL mock draft.
The first-round call landed on South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart at No. 11 overall. On paper, the fit makes sense.
Washington’s edge group looks solid right now, but that picture could change quickly by next offseason. K’Lavon Chaisson is on a one-year deal, which means Peters may not keep him if the price climbs.
Dorance Armstrong Jr. is also headed for free agency, and after a torn ACL, there’s no guarantee he’s back.
That opens the door for another pass rusher, and Stewart is the kind of talent worth gambling on if he slips. He’s explosive at the snap, sudden in tight spaces, and able to turn the corner on offensive tackles with ease. He also brings a relentless style that jumps off the tape.
There’s risk attached, too. Stewart is suspended until further notice and has been handed a one-game SEC ban after hitting Alabama tight end Josh Ford and refusing to come off the field.
NFL teams will notice that, and Washington values high-character players. Still, if the off-field concerns push him down the board and he handles the interview process well, the idea of pairing him opposite Odafe Oweh is a tempting one.
In Other News...
Commanders Got Pulled Into Jason Kelces Latest On-Air Awkward Moment
Jason Kelce found himself in another clumsy on-air moment during the NFL International Series game between the Commanders and the Colts, when he slipped and used Washingtons former team name. Dave Pasch quickly corrected him on the broadcast, keeping the moment from lingering too long, but it was the kind of live-TV stumble that instantly stands out when the whole audience catches it in real time.
Kelce has already had a few of these awkward broadcast miscues lately, including a separate slip on Monday Night Football when he referred to the Eagles as "we." For Washington fans, it was another reminder that even in a game with an overseas spotlight, the conversation can drift away from the action on the field and into the broadcast booth. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders London Game Suddenly Feels Very Different Before Colts Matchup
The Commanders trip to London just picked up a different kind of weight. What was already an unusual early kickoff against the Colts on Oct. 4 now has a new quarterback storyline attached to it, with Jayden Daniels sidelined and Marcus Mariota set to make the start. Washington is also carrying a mixed injury picture into the game, with Sam Cosmi and Nick Cross ruled out while Frankie Luvu and Chig Okonkwo are back in the fold.
For a team trying to keep its footing on an international stage, the ripple effects are hard to ignore. A morning kickoff alone can alter the feel of a game, but losing Daniels changes the way Washington will have to approach everything from protection to tempo against Indianapolis, even as a few injured pieces return to help stabilize the roster. The matchup still has plenty of intrigue, but it now looks like a very different kind of test for the Commanders. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Now Face A Brutal Problem Heading Into Division Games
The Commanders left London not just with a loss to the Colts, but with a deeper sense of urgency heading into the division stretch. Playing with third-string quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis after injuries sidelined Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota, Washington was already operating under difficult conditions before Indianapolis pulled away for a 30-13 win. Jonathan Taylor powered the Colts with two rushing touchdowns, and Daniel Jones added another on the ground even while his passing day never quite got going.
For Washington, the bigger concern is how thin the offense looked by the end of the trip. Wide receiver Jaylin Lane also exited with an ankle injury, adding another health issue to a unit that is suddenly scrambling for answers. With division games up next, the Commanders are facing a stretch where every missing piece matters, and the margin for error already looks painfully small. [Read more 🡒]