The Washington Commanders are officially out of the playoff picture at 3-9, and with that, the focus shifts squarely to the future. For general manager Adam Peters, that means it’s time to pivot.
The veteran-heavy approach made sense when this team looked like it was ready to compete. But now?
It’s about getting younger, faster, and building something sustainable.
And that starts with the 2026 NFL Draft - a draft where Washington has just six picks, only two of which fall in the first four rounds. That’s not much ammunition to reload a roster that clearly needs help in several key areas.
The limited draft capital is a direct result of the team’s aggressive moves to bring in cornerback Marshon Lattimore and Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil. One of those trades has paid off.
The other? Not so much.
That’s part of the game. But it also raises the stakes for Peters heading into a critical offseason.
The Draft Board and a Top-10 Pick
The Commanders currently sit at No. 6 overall in the draft order - prime real estate for a team in need of a foundational piece. If they stay put, they’ll have a chance to land a blue-chip prospect, assuming no trade-down opportunities materialize. And while the roster has holes all over - especially on defense - there’s a growing belief that this offseason should be about surrounding quarterback Jayden Daniels with the tools he needs to take the next step.
That’s where Arizona State wideout Jordyn Tyson enters the picture.
A Potential Game-Changer at Wide Receiver
In a recent 2026 NFL mock draft, analyst Nicholas Rome projected Washington to select Tyson with their first-round pick. The thinking is simple: Daniels needs weapons. And Tyson, when healthy, has the kind of all-field ability that can open up an offense.
Tyson’s had his battles with injuries, but when he’s on the field, he’s a threat at every level - short, intermediate, and deep. He brings a different flavor to the receiver room, and pairing him with Terry McLaurin could give Washington a dynamic one-two punch. Add in the possibility of signing Brandon Aiyuk to a team-friendly deal, and suddenly, Daniels would have a trio of targets that could rival any in the league.
That’s a big “if,” of course. But it’s not hard to see the vision.
Balancing Needs: Defense Still Demands Attention
While the offensive firepower is tempting - and arguably necessary - the Commanders can’t ignore the defensive side of the ball. This unit needs help, particularly on the edge, at linebacker, and throughout the secondary.
Free agency will play a role here, and not every veteran is guaranteed to walk. But with so many question marks - including the contract statuses of Noah Brown, Deebo Samuel Sr., and Treylon Burks - there’s a lot for Peters and his staff to sort through.
The challenge is real: fill critical gaps, develop young talent, and do it all with limited draft picks. That’s the task in front of Washington’s front office.
Looking Ahead
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution here. Peters will need to thread the needle - balancing long-term development with short-term competitiveness. That means making the most of every draft pick, finding value in free agency, and giving Jayden Daniels the support he needs to grow into the franchise quarterback the team hopes he can be.
If that means taking a swing on a high-upside receiver like Jordyn Tyson at No. 6, so be it. But every move from here on out carries weight. The rebuild is on - and how the Commanders approach this offseason will go a long way in determining how quickly they can climb out of the NFC basement.