The Washington Commanders head into 2026 with a roster that feels like it could go either way in a hurry. There’s talent here, no doubt, but there are also enough soft spots to make the season wobble if the wrong pieces fail to hold. With the NFC East and the rest of the conference tightening up, Washington can’t afford to lean on one or two players to carry the load.
That’s why the internal growth matters so much. Dan Quinn believes in this group, Adam Peters does too, and the Commanders are going to need several players to take real jumps if the season is going to tilt in their favor. Among the names most likely to see their value spike are a pair of young contributors who already showed flashes of becoming much bigger factors.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt is first on that list. Washington got a lot more out of the running back than most teams do from a seventh-round pick, as he turned into a productive force in the backfield last season. Repeating that kind of rise in Year 2 won’t be simple, but he’s set to remain a major part of the offense under new coordinator David Blough.
Croskey-Merritt spent the offseason adding bulk, and that should help him in the areas where he can still improve, especially as a pass blocker and in the passing game. But his biggest calling card remains the same: he brings juice.
The Commanders appear headed for a committee in the backfield, with Croskey-Merritt and free-agent addition Rachaad White forming the top two options. With Blough expected to lean into a more balanced approach, the No. 245 pick from last year has a clear path to even more production.
Mike Sainristil is another player who could see his stock rise fast if things click. Washington is leaning on him more than it probably wanted to after Trey Amos landed on injured reserve with an ankle issue, a setback that only adds to the complications around the secondary. That puts even more pressure on the Michigan product entering Year 3.
Sainristil has been a fascinating case through his first two seasons. He has a knack for creating turnovers, but he has also given up too many explosive plays.
The hope is that new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones can help smooth out those rough edges. Sainristil’s ability to play inside and outside gives Jones plenty to work with, and the early signs from summer have been encouraging.
If that trend continues, Washington’s secondary could look a whole lot sturdier.
In Other News...
Commanders Quietly Added A Tackle Who Could Solve A Real Depth Concern
As the Commanders wrapped up their 53-man roster and practice squad, they also spent the back end of roster-cut day bringing back familiar pieces and hunting for help from outside the building. Washington re-signed 12 players it had waived or released, then added five newcomers, a group that included veteran cornerback Isaac Yiadom and offensive tackle Esa Pole.
Pole is the more interesting addition for the line conversation because he has already been through a bit of a whirlwind. The former Chiefs and Jets blocker made his NFL debut last season, started four games at left tackle, then was waived before Washington brought him in, giving the Commanders another tackle option at a spot where depth can disappear fast. The real question now is whether he can turn that opening into something bigger once the season starts. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Aiyuk Keeps Sending A Message Washington No Longer Needs
Brandon Aiyuk has spent part of the summer sending Washington a message in plain sight, showing up on social media in Commanders gear and making it clear where he would like to land. For a while, that kind of public courting might have at least sparked a real conversation in Ashburn, especially with a talent like Aiyuk still under contract with the 49ers and looking for a path to a new team.
Instead, Washingtons side of the equation has been settled for some time. The Commanders have not shown interest in signing him, and general manager Adam Peters has already made it clear veteran Stefon Diggs was the preferred option all along. Aiyuk still has not applied for reinstatement, which leaves his NFL future hanging in the balance while the team he keeps signaling to has moved on. [Read more 🡒]
Adam Peters Is Forcing A New Commanders Roster Debate
Adam Peters has opened the door for undrafted free agents in a way that has started to change the conversation around how Washington should build its roster. Under the Commanders current approach, those players are getting more real chances to compete than they were in previous years, and a few have already turned that opportunity into roster spots or meaningful roles.
The broader point is what makes the debate interesting. Washington is being viewed more like the Ravens now, a team with a long track record of finding contributors after the draft, and that has complicated the old argument that the Commanders needed to stockpile more late-round picks and UDFAs. Peters is giving the franchise a different kind of depth strategy, and the question is whether it can keep producing enough hidden value to matter once the roster gets tighter. [Read more 🡒]