The Washington Commanders spent their 2026 offseason tearing things down and rebuilding around a fresh staff and a new look on both sides of the ball. New offensive coordinator.
New defensive coordinator. More coaching and staffing moves.
Personnel changes. Scheme changes.
It was all aimed at getting the team back to the level it showed in 2024.
Even with all that turnover, ESPN analyst Mike Clay pointed to a position group that might not be the first one fans would expect.
His pick for the Commanders’ biggest weakness heading into 2026: cornerback.
That choice comes with some hard numbers behind it. Washington gave up a league-high 384.3 yards per game, and a big reason was a secondary that allowed a 59.2 QBR, which ranked second worst last season.
The Commanders are banking on better play from Mike Sainristil and a Year 2 jump from 2025 second-round pick Trey Amos in 2026. They also added Amik Robertson and Ahkello Witherspoon, both veterans who have mostly filled situational roles in recent seasons.
It’s a notable call because wide receiver has also been a major talking point. Questions have lingered about whether Washington did enough to support Jayden Daniels on offense, and those concerns still haven’t really gone away. Still, cornerback hasn’t drawn quite as much attention as the receiver room.
Right now, Trey Amos, Mike Sainristil and Amik Robertson are projected to start. The depth behind them includes recently signed Rasul Douglas, Ahkello Witherspoon and Darius Rush.
There isn’t a big-name star in the group, and there isn’t an obvious shutdown presence either. After the way the secondary performed last season, it’s fair to wonder how much better this unit really is.
Washington is hoping a new defensive scheme and a stronger pass rush can lift the entire secondary in 2026.
The receiver group has its own issues, too, with Terry McLaurin standing as the lone superstar. Both units remain largely unproven and both struggled in 2025, which is why either one could have been the answer. But Clay landed on cornerback, and given what Washington allowed last season, it’s not hard to see why.
In Other News...
Commanders May Have Found The Daniels Addition This Offense Needed
Washington added another back to the mix this offseason, and the fit makes sense on paper because of the familiarity already in place with Jayden Daniels. Rachaad White has a history with the quarterback from their Arizona State days, and that kind of built-in chemistry can matter in a new offense, especially for a team looking to make life easier on its young passer while sorting out the backfield.
White has also drawn positive attention during offseason work, which only adds to the intrigue around how Washington plans to use him. The Commanders are expected to lean on a committee approach, and White looks positioned to be more than just a depth piece, giving the offense a versatile option while the rest of the rotation takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Camp Could Force A Defining Jayden Daniels Decision
Training camp has a way of turning roster questions into roster decisions, and for the Commanders, the conversation around Jayden Daniels is already getting louder. ESPN analyst Jason McCourty said on First Take that Washington needs to add another dynamic weapon if Daniels is going to have a real chance to elevate the offense and keep the team competitive in the NFC, a reminder that the passing game still has to prove it can do more than lean on Terry McLaurin.
Adam Peters and Dan Quinn now have to sort through a receiving group that still feels unfinished, with the front office weighing whether to make a move or trust the current group to grow into the job. The options on the board include outside help and internal patience, and the way Washington handles that choice in camp could say plenty about how aggressively it plans to build around Daniels right now. [Read more 🡒]
Adam Peters Just Made Another Telling Move Behind The Scenes
The Commanders have continued to reshape their front office in quiet but meaningful ways, and the latest move adds another familiar voice around Adam Peters. After Scott Fitterer departed for Athletes First, Washington brought in a new senior personnel executive with a background that should fit the way Peters likes to build a staff.
What makes the addition notable is the connection behind it. The two had already worked together in San Francisco, giving Peters another evaluator he knows well as Washington keeps refining its personnel operation. It also comes after a recent shakeup in Minnesota, where Washingtons path opened up and created an opportunity for the Commanders to move quickly. [Read more 🡒]