The Washington Commanders enter the next stage of their offseason with one clear message hanging over everything: last year’s slide can’t be repeated. The early work has carried a sharper edge, and that’s been noticeable across OTAs and mandatory minicamp. Players and coaches have talked and worked like a group that knows the bar slipped too far, and the response has been more urgency, more competition, and less of the drift that showed up after the team’s run to the NFC Championship game.
That reset has also been helped by the additions general manager Adam Peters made this offseason. The roster looks deeper, the tempo has been higher, and if the injury luck swings back in their favor, Washington should be a much tougher opponent in 2026. Even before training camp opens, a few players are already making it clear they want bigger roles.
One of the most encouraging names is Johnny Newton. The Commanders need more from their 2024 draft class, and Newton is firmly in that group.
Dan Quinn is expecting a jump from the defensive lineman, and he’s already seen encouraging signs during the early offseason workouts. Newton put in serious work away from the team, focusing on getting his body right and adding strength.
That doesn’t guarantee a breakout, but it does give the No. 38 overall pick from 2024 a better foundation heading into the summer.
For Newton, the biggest step is simply staying on the field. A full offseason without injury issues would be a major boost, especially with a real chance to expand his role if he improves against the run.
The Commanders are also projected to shift into a 3-4 base front under Daronte Jones, which should shape how the defensive line rotation works. Daron Payne, Javon Kinlaw, and free-agent signing Tim Settle Jr. are expected to start, but Newton has a path to more snaps if he keeps flashing the right traits.
The big unknown is whether he can grow into a three-down presence. That question is still open. But right now, Newton is showing the kind of approach Washington wants to see, and he’s doing it early enough to matter.
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 🡒]