ESPN’s Mike Clay did not exactly show much love to the Washington Commanders in his annual positional rankings ahead of the 2026 season.
Washington landed at No. 24 overall, and the breakdown by position was even rougher. The Commanders checked in at No. 8 at quarterback, but every other spot was pushed toward the bottom of the league.
That quarterback ranking makes sense on paper. Jayden Daniels gives Washington real upside, and Marcus Mariota gives the team a capable backup behind him. In a league where quarterback drives everything, a top-10 grade there is a strong mark for the Commanders.
The rest of the roster, though, took a beating.
Clay ranked Washington’s running backs No. 31, which feels hard to square with what the Commanders did on the ground last season. Washington finished in the top five in rushing yards and top 10 in rushing touchdowns, and Jacory Croskey-Merritt led the team in rushing yards. The Commanders also added Rachaad White as a new backup, giving them a duo that should have a chance to keep that run game moving.
The offensive line was also slotted at No. 31, and that one is easier to understand. Pro Football Focus had Washington’s line as the worst in the league, and the loss of left tackle Laremy Tunsil Jr for the majority of the season is a major reason why.
There have also been injury concerns around center Nick Allegretti during training camp. Unless the Commanders add depth before the season starts, this could be the unit that drags the offense down.
The wide receiver ranking was the other eyebrow-raiser. Washington came in at No. 22, even though the group has more juice than that slot suggests.
Terry McLaurin is still there, Stefon Diggs was added, and rookie Antonio Williams arrived in the draft. Luke McCaffrey remains on the roster as depth, too.
Deebo Samuel led the Commanders in receiving last season, but he is gone now. Even with age questions around McLaurin and Diggs, both are still elite receivers in this league.
That ranking also looks shaky when stacked against some of the teams ahead of Washington. The Arizona Cardinals, for instance, were placed above the Commanders even though their leading receiver last season was a tight end, and their top receiver on the roster is Marvin Harrison Jr., who has yet to live up to expectations coming out of college.
Taken together, Clay’s list paints Washington as a team that belongs near the bottom of the league, which is a harsh read for a squad that reached the NFC Championship in 2024 and still has key pieces from that run. The Commanders were also ranked last in the NFC East, behind the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 3, the Dallas Cowboys at No. 9 and the New York Giants at No. 23.
In Other News...
Commanders Suddenly Have A Tackle Depth Concern Before Week 1
The Commanders have already made a quiet change to their tackle room before Week 1, moving on from Foster Sarell just months after signing him in March as a depth option. Sarell had arrived from the Chargers with limited NFL playing time and was buried low on Washingtons depth chart, but his departure still trims an already thin group at one of the most important spots on the field.
Now Washington is left with only two tackles behind Brandon Coleman and right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. on the roster, a setup that adds a little extra pressure as the season opener approaches. It is the kind of roster detail that can disappear in the shuffle of final cuts, but for a team trying to protect its quarterbacks and settle the line, the lack of experienced depth is hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Have A Big D-Line Decision To Make
Johnny Newtons torn pectoral changed the Commanders defensive front almost overnight, and it has pushed the team into a search it probably would rather not be making this early. Newton was expected to be part of the rotation, but now Washington has to weigh whether it can absorb the loss internally or whether it needs to look beyond its current room for help.
Gervon Dexter Sr. has surfaced as one name worth watching because Chicago is reportedly engaged in trade talks involving the defensive tackle, and his profile fits the kind of opening Washington suddenly has. He started every game last season and is in the final year of his rookie deal, which makes him an intriguing possibility if the Commanders decide they need a more immediate answer, though no trade involving Washington has been confirmed. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Draft Buzz Centers On A Potential Answer At WR2
The search for a reliable second receiver has lingered around Washington, and ESPNs Jordan Reid is already projecting that need into the 2027 NFL Draft. In his preseason mock, Reid has the Commanders using the No. 10 overall pick on Indiana wideout Charlie Becker, a move built around the idea that Washington could still be looking for a true complement to its top target by then.
Beckers college production and fit are the hooks here, especially for a team that has spent plenty of time trying to stabilize the WR2 spot. It is only a mock, of course, and far from a finished plan, but the thought of Washington landing a possible answer at receiver gives the franchise another early storyline to watch as the draft buzz starts to build. [Read more 🡒]