The Washington Commanders did get to the quarterback last season. The problem was that the rest of the defense often didn’t line up with that number.
Washington finished with 42 sacks, a total that ranked 14th in the league and was tied with two other teams. On paper, that doesn’t look broken.
In practice, the picture was messier. There were stretches when the pass rush flashed, but too many drives stayed alive anyway, and the defense never quite found a rhythm.
The broader numbers tell the story. Washington allowed 451 points in 17 games and surrendered 6,533 total yards, including 4,122 net passing yards and 2,411 rushing yards.
Opposing quarterbacks threw for 33 touchdowns, which was fourth worst, while teams added 18 more on the ground. TeamRankings.com had the Commanders at a 7.22 percent defensive sack rate and just a 1.48 percent interception rate.
Then there was the turnover margin, which really exposed how often the defense and offense worked against each other. Washington finished minus-13 in 2025, with eight interceptions and two fumble recoveries for 10 takeaways.
The offense gave it away 23 times, including 12 interceptions and 11 lost fumbles. That minus-13 differential ranked 31st in the league and helped explain why there are new coordinators on both sides of the ball.
That’s why Adam Peters spent the offseason reshaping the defense instead of just adding depth. Odafe Oweh, Nick Cross, Amik Robertson, Leo Chenal, K’Lavon Chaisson, Tim Settle, and first-round pick Sonny Styles all arrived with a purpose.
This wasn’t about filling out a roster sheet. It was a reset.
Now the hard part begins. Training camp has to show whether all that new talent actually fits together.
Oweh is the obvious place to start, because Washington is treating him like a major answer up front. PFF credited him with 51 pressures last season, including the playoffs, broken down into 31 hurries, 11 sacks, and nine quarterback hits.
He also ranked 10th in ESPN’s Edge Pass Rush Win Rate Rankings with 34 wins on 204 plays, a 17% win rate. At 27, Washington is betting there’s more in there.
Camp will show how he handles it when protections are built to find him.
Chaisson is the wild card. His 2025 production, according to PFF, was eye-catching: 74 total pressures, 44 hurries, 18 quarterback hits, and 12 total sacks in 21 games including the playoffs.
His 85.9 coverage grade also stands out. Washington gave him a one-year deal for a reason - they want to find out whether last season was a real leap or a perfect contract year.
Styles may be the clearest test of all. He was the easiest prospect for Washington to evaluate in the draft process, a sculpted athlete with obvious traits.
Versatile is the label that follows him, but if he’s going to step into Bobby Wagner’s spot, camp has to define him. The Commanders need more than a projection.
Chenal brings a different kind of puzzle. Washington wanted more thump at linebacker, and he gives them that.
But his arrival doesn’t solve everything. Frankie Luvu isn’t coming off the field.
Sonny Styles was drafted too high to just wait around. So camp has to sort out where Chenal fits, how much he plays, and whether his role clarifies the defense or simply squeezes someone else into a smaller one.
That’s the real issue with this defense. Washington didn’t need another collection of names.
It needed a unit that made sense. The sack total from last season showed that pressure by itself wasn’t enough.
Training camp will determine whether this group is actually better, or merely looks better on paper.
In Other News...
Commanders Finally Made The Uniform Change Fans Have Been Waiting For
The Commanders are leaning into a look their fans have wanted back for years, moving their Super Bowl-era throwback design into the primary uniform role for 2026. Along with the refreshed standard set, the team is adding a new all-black alternate called the Hail Raiser, a sharper, more modern look that still fits the franchises recent push to connect its present-day brand with its past.
Owner Josh Harris framed the changes as a way to honor the teams heritage while updating the overall identity, and the early reaction has been strong enough to draw national notice. Sports Illustrated even placed Washingtons 2026 uniform set at No. 8 in the league, a sign that this makeover is landing well beyond the fan base that had been waiting on it. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders May Have Finally Fixed One Of Their Most Frustrating Problems
The Commanders have spent enough time searching for small offensive edges that a better screen game almost feels overdue, and this weeks additions are aimed squarely at that problem. Bringing in Rachaad White and Chig Okonkwo gives Washington two athletic options who can stress defenses in ways the unit has not consistently done, especially in the short passing game where the team has needed more help from its backs and tight ends.
For a young quarterback like Jayden Daniels, the appeal is obvious because cleaner, faster answers can help the offense stay on schedule and force defenses to defend every blade of grass. ESPNs John Keim has pointed to the possibility that these moves could make the attack more diverse, but the real test will come when Washington starts finding out whether those new pieces can turn a long-frustrating area into a reliable part of the plan. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Have A Tough Decision On A Rising Fan Favorite
The Commanders went into the offseason looking for more speed and flexibility at linebacker, and the additions of Sonny Styles and Leo Chenal under Daronte Jones have changed the shape of the room in a hurry. With Jones planning to lean on a 3-4 look, Washington appears set to build around Frankie Luvu and Styles, while Chenal gives the staff a useful piece it can move around depending on the down and the package.
That leaves Jordan Magee in a far different spot than the one many imagined when he emerged late last season as a fan favorite and a possible breakout candidate. The fifth-round pick is still expected to make the roster and be part of the group, but the path to steady defensive snaps is suddenly crowded, and the role that once looked like a clean runway to Bobby Wagners old middle linebacker job now feels a lot less certain. [Read more 🡒]