The Washington Commanders are coming off a 2025 season that went off the rails for more than one reason, but the mood around the team this offseason has been a lot more upbeat. Washington added impact players in free agency and the draft, and the hope is simple: get healthier, and the whole operation looks different.
Still, the NFC East doesn’t offer many soft landings. The Eagles and Cowboys are viewed as contenders, and the Giants are expected to take a big step forward. With that kind of competition, one national prediction has the Commanders sitting at the bottom of the division again in 2026.
Garrett Podell of CBS Sports recently projected last place in every division, and for the NFC East he landed on Washington.
"CBS Sports colleague Zach Pereles watched the Commanders' joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens back on Aug. 26, and he said Washington "didn't even belong on the same field" as Baltimore," Podell said. "Their defense will be much improved after all the additions they made in the draft and free agency, but that offensive line could doom 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year quarterback Jayden Daniels in 2026."
Podell pointed to that rough practice as part of the case against Washington, though it’s a thin reed to hang an entire season on. He did acknowledge that the defense should improve, and that unit was the biggest issue in 2025.
The offensive line is the bigger concern. Laremy Tunsil being out matters a lot, and Nick Allegretti is also dealing with an injury.
"There's a good chance Washington struggles in 2026 because Daniels doesn't get the support he needs from his offensive line," Podell added.
That’s a fair warning if Daniels isn’t protected. Even so, the roster still looks too talented to confidently pencil in a last-place finish. The last time Daniels was healthy, Washington reached the NFC Championship Game, and that makes a repeat of the 2025 collapse feel unlikely.
In Other News...
Commanders Edge Depth Takes Another Hit After Camp Comeback Ends
Washingtons edge rotation took another step back late in camp when the Commanders placed linebacker/defensive end Drake Jackson on injured reserve Aug. 25, then moved on with an injury settlement. Jackson had come in as a low-risk comeback attempt, the kind of flyer teams take on a former second-round pick who still has some name value and pass-rush upside, especially after a lost year spent rehabbing a torn patellar tendon from training camp.
Jackson did get back on the field with Washington last season, appearing in three games, but this latest setback has now left him without a roster spot and looking for a new landing place. For a Commanders defense already trying to sort through its edge depth, it is another reminder of how thin that group can get when a promising reclamation project never gets fully off the ground. [Read more 🡒]
Adam Peters Just Dropped A Big Clue About Washington's Core
Adam Peters gave Commanders fans a clear sense that the organization believes it has turned a corner. Speaking at a public event, Washingtons general manager said he feels better about the teams 2026 roster than he did in previous seasons, a notable vote of confidence for a franchise that has spent years trying to rebuild its identity. He also steered clear of taking shots at former head coach and GM Ron Rivera, keeping the focus on where the team is headed rather than where it has been.
Peters went a step further by suggesting the current roster could outperform outside expectations, and he paired that optimism with a hint that more roster work is coming. The Commanders are planning multiple contract extensions, a sign they want to reward pieces they believe in while continuing to stabilize the core. He also pointed to the organizations improved connection with fans, another reminder that Washington is trying to sell something more durable than a short-term reset. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders May Have Found A Fast-Rising Answer To A Growing WR Question
Washingtons scouting department has a new name to keep on the radar after Texas wide receiver Ryan Wingo opened the season with a performance that turned heads. Wingo finished with seven catches for 121 yards and a touchdown, the kind of early-season production that can quickly push a player into draft conversations and force evaluators to take a longer look.
For the Commanders, the timing matters just as much as the stat line. Several of their wide receivers are in contract years, leaving the team with real uncertainty about its long-term receiving picture, so a fast-rising prospect like Wingo is worth tracking closely even this early in the college season. The question now is whether his opener was just a strong start or the beginning of a broader rise that could put him squarely in Washingtons future plans. [Read more 🡒]