Sam Cosmi has become the Commanders’ best interior offensive lineman, and now the question is whether he can play his way onto a national list that currently leaves Washington out in the cold.
ESPN on Sunday rolled out its top 10 interior offensive linemen, a group that covers both guards and centers, after polling NFL executives, coaches and scouts. Washington didn’t place anyone on the list, didn’t land an honorable mention and didn’t even get a vote for an interior lineman. That’s a pretty clear sign of where the unit stands heading into 2026.
Cosmi, though, gives the Commanders at least one building block. The right guard has been the best second-round pick Ron Rivera made during his four seasons in Washington as head coach and head of all player personnel, draft and acquisitions. Rivera missed badly on his first-round choices, but Cosmi has been steady and dependable for the Commanders.
The top of ESPN’s rankings was loaded with familiar names. Tyler Smith of the Dallas Cowboys checked in at No. 1, with Quenton Nelson of the Indianapolis Colts at No. 2 and Creed Humphrey of the Kansas City Chiefs at No.
- Quinn Meinerz of the Denver Broncos came in at No. 4, followed by Joe Thuney of the Chicago Bears at No.
Chris Lindstrom of the Atlanta Falcons landed at No. 6, and one veteran NFL defensive coach made his case for him plainly: "He doesn't get enough recognition -- he's been really good for a long time," a veteran NFL defensive coach said.
Kansas City’s Trey Smith was next at No. 7 after allowing zero sacks in 389 pass-block attempts in 2025. Tyler Linderbaum, now with the Las Vegas Raiders, came in at No. 8 after the Commanders pursued him hard in free agency in March but were outbid when the Raiders reset the center market with a three-year $81M deal. Peter Skoronski of the Tennessee Titans was No. 9, and Aaron Brewer of the Miami Dolphins rounded out the top 10.
Brewer drew a strong endorsement from one NFC executive: "Most underrated player in the league," an NFC executive said.
Washington will see several of these players up close. The Commanders face Tyler Smith twice every season, will play Quenton Nelson and the Colts in London on October 4, host the Falcons and Lindstrom on December 20, and already learned the hard way about Meinerz when Denver piled up 402 yards against them in their 2025 game. ESPN also noted that Humphrey was a major reason the Commanders struggled to get pressure on Patrick Mahomes, pointing to his 98.5 pass block win rate in 2025.
For Washington, the list is a reminder of the gap in the middle of the line. But with Cosmi now fully rehabbed from his ACL tear and surgery, the Commanders can at least hope 2026 is the season he forces his way into that conversation.
In Other News...
Stefon Diggs Just Sent The Commanders Another Message They Can't Ignore
Stefon Diggs keeps finding ways to keep Washington in the conversation, and the latest hint came through social media again. He liked and commented on a Washington-related Instagram post showing Wale training with the Commanders in Los Angeles, another small but noticeable signal from a player who has already made clear he is interested in joining the team.
For the Commanders, the intrigue is obvious, even if the path is not. General manager Adam Peters has not made any official move or announcement about Diggs, and the whole situation remains speculative for now, with no agreement in place. Still, Diggs has given Washington plenty to think about, especially if his preference is to get closer to home and make the move happen sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders May Have Found The Stability Jayden Daniels Needed Most
The Commanders spent the offseason reshaping their offensive staff, and one of the quieter hires may end up mattering most for Jayden Daniels. D.J. Williams, brought in as quarterbacks coach, has already built a positive working relationship with the young quarterback and is viewed inside the building as a steadying presence as Daniels adjusts to a new support system around him.
That matters more now because Daniels has seen key allies move on, leaving him with fewer familiar voices as he settles into the next phase of his development. Williams arrived with some outside skepticism because of his family name, but the staff believes he earned the job on merit, and head coach Dan Quinn backed the move as the kind of qualified hire that can help bring some needed stability to the position. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Just Made A Jayden Daniels Change Fans Need To Watch
Jayden Daniels is getting a new voice in the room as Washington reshapes its offensive staff, with David Blough now elevated to offensive coordinator and set to work directly with the quarterback. The move gives the Commanders a clearer hand on the steering wheel as they continue building around Daniels, and it also reflects how much trust the organization is placing in a coach who has already spent time around the young passer.
Bloughs rise adds another layer to the offseason conversation because this is not just about a title change, but about how the offense will be built and who will help shape it. Daniels has already been working closely with him, and now the next question is how that partnership translates once the Commanders start putting the pieces together on the field. [Read more 🡒]