DeAngelo Hall didn’t hesitate when asked to build his all-time Mount Rushmore of NFL defensive backs. He left himself out, but the list still came with plenty of star power: Darrell Green, Deion Sanders, Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu.
“I’m not going to put myself in”, said Hall. Even though I tell everybody, if I had to pick one corner to go against any receiver, I’m so confident in my ability that I’m always going to pick myself.
But if we’re talking about Mount Rushmore, I have to put Darrell Green in there. I also have to include Ed Reed.
Hall added that Sanders had to make the cut as well.
“Deion Sanders has to go in because when I got to the Falcons, I wanted to be like Deion in Atlanta. I’m going to be fair and go with two corners and two safeties. So, the other safety would be Troy Polamalu.
So, that’s my Mount Rushmore of NFL DBs. Darrell Green, Deion Sanders, Ed Reed, and Troy Polamalu.”
For Hall, Green’s inclusion carries real weight. He grew up in Virginia’s Hampton Roads area watching Green on Sundays, then later got the chance to connect with him while with the franchise. That connection makes the choice feel natural, and Hall clearly understands Green’s place in Washington history and in the broader story of the league.
Elsewhere around Washington, there’s no shortage of training-camp chatter. Footage of Jayden Daniels working with teammates before camp has already started making the rounds, and the Commanders’ running-back battle remains a talking point. The team also put out a Q&A with seventh-round quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, while the latest Mailbag dives into the fiercest roster fights heading into camp.
John is back from vacation and weighing in on the latest Commanders news, including the addition of Rasul Douglas and the latest on Jayden Daniels.
There’s also growing buzz around Rachaad White after a strong start to offseason work. Head coach Dan Quinn singled him out more than once while wrapping up minicamp, saying, “Rachaad White was one I thought, you know, jumped out,” and later pointing to White’s fit in the team culture and his value as a teammate.
White has also been mentioned as an underrated signing who could fill, and maybe even top, Austin Ekeler’s old role. Some around his former team have noticed the early signs too, and one writer thinks he could be in line for a 1,000-yard season.
The Commanders’ offense, though, still needs a back who can handle dual-threat duties if it’s going to reach its ceiling.
That fits with the kind of system Blough is expected to bring pieces of from Ben Johnson’s scheme, one that leans into explosion, versatility and running backs who can be true receiving threats in motion and on screens. The big question is whether Bill Merritt or Rachaad White becomes that player for Washington in 2026.
Around the league, ESPN continues rolling out its position rankings, with quarterbacks up Monday. That also raises the obvious Commanders questions: was Jayden Daniels included after last season, and will Laremy Tunsil be joined by any other Washington players on those lists?
On defense, Nick Cross is drawing attention as a potential tone-setter. Fans may have expected more urgency at safety, but new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones should help maximize the defensive backs.
Cross brings speed, instincts and physicality, and while his coverage had some rough edges with the Indianapolis Colts last season, his run defense was among the best in the league at the position. For a defense that gave up rushing yards too easily a year ago, that kind of presence could matter right away when camp opens.
Adam Peters has also spent the offseason reshaping the roster in a big way. After Washington’s 5-12 follow-up to its NFC title game run, the general manager stayed busy with 17 free-agent signings, eight re-signings, six contract extensions, six draft picks and nine undrafted additions.
One of those moves brought back Deatrich Wise Jr. after a brief and frustrating first stint. Wise signed a one-year deal last year, won a starting job on the edge, and showed enough against the run to leave people optimistic.
But a season-ending quad injury in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers cut that short. Even so, Peters gave him another chance.
In Other News...
Commanders Backfield Crunch Could Force Adam Peters Into An Early Move
The Commanders entered the summer with a backfield that suddenly looks crowded, and Jerome Ford is part of the reason why. After the offseason additions, Washington has more running backs than obvious roster spots, which has turned training camp into an early sorting exercise for Adam Peters and the front office. Ford was brought in as part of that mix, but he is now sitting low enough on the depth chart that his name has already started surfacing in trade chatter.
That kind of surplus usually forces a team to make a choice before final cuts, whether it means moving a player, keeping him as insurance, or risking a release. Washington also has other backs competing for the same limited room, so the next few weeks could reveal whether the Commanders see Ford as a useful depth piece or as an asset they can turn into something else before the roster gets trimmed. [Read more 🡒]
What New Coordinator Sees In Jayden Daniels Should Matter To Commanders Fans
Jayden Daniels enters the 2026 season with a different kind of pressure on his shoulders, and David Blough thinks that matters. Washingtons offensive coordinator said Daniels was frustrated with how 2025 unfolded after the high standard he set the year before, but also made it clear the quarterback has not been dwelling on it. Instead, Daniels has leaned into the new offensive system and the fresh concepts that come with it, a sign the Commanders are hoping his next step comes as much from mindset as talent.
Bloughs read on Daniels is the part Washington fans will want to keep an eye on, because the transition is not just about terminology or play design. The offense is expected to look different this year, and Daniels appears to be adapting well to what the staff is asking of him. If that progress holds, the Commanders could be looking at a quarterback who is not only motivated to answer for last season, but also positioned to do it in a scheme that fits him better. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Fans Already Feared How This Tyler Biadasz Move Could Age
Tyler Biadaszs exit from Washington was always going to be one of those moves judged in real time, and the early returns from Los Angeles are the sort that make a decision age quickly. After being released by the Commanders, Biadasz landed with the Chargers and has reportedly settled in well, drawing positive reviews from the coaching staff during early offseason workouts as he gets acclimated to a new system.
For Washington, the center spot now shifts to Nick Allegretti and rookie Matt Gulbin, a combination that puts the focus squarely on how the line holds up without the veteran presence Biadasz provided. If he keeps trending up with the Chargers, the conversation around the Commanders choice to move on from him is only going to get louder, especially with the position still in the middle of its own reset. [Read more 🡒]