Jayden Daniels looked like he was already running Washington’s new offense at training camp, and the Commanders gave him even more help when they added four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs. For a stretch, it seemed like Daniels had the best supporting cast he’s had since entering the NFL in 2024.
Then the injury hits started piling up.
Star left tackle Laremy Tunsil tore his triceps, forcing Washington to move Brandon Coleman back to left tackle from guard. Coleman had been expected to compete for the starting left guard job.
At the same time, the Commanders’ new center, Nick Allegretti, missed virtually all of camp. That left Washington with a shaky-looking offensive line and no clear backup plan at center, which fueled concern among fans after a joint practice with the Ravens, where one reporter said Washington’s offense was “inoperable ” because of the line problems.
That phrase spread fast, even though Washington was using the joint practice to try out different offensive line combinations. The team has still made its stance clear: it is 100% confident in the offensive line despite Tunsil’s injury.
So where does that leave Daniels? According to Greg Auman of Fox Sports, not nearly as high as some would expect.
In a new column laying out what success would look like for all 32 NFL teams in 2026, Auman placed Washington in the second tier from the bottom, labeled “Get that young quarterback a taste of meaningful football.” Daniels did get a real playoff taste as a rookie, but Washington’s fall from 12-5 to 5-12 last season clearly carried weight in the ranking. Daniels missing 10 games was part of the drop, but not the whole story.
Washington’s defense also slipped badly, finishing 27th in the league under Dan Quinn. The addition of rookie linebacker Sonny Styles could help, but the Commanders’ schedule doesn’t offer much early relief.
They went 3-3 in division games last year, and they’ll need to improve a lot outside the division if Quinn is going to stick around. Opening at Dallas, then at Philadelphia, then hosting Seattle, they can’t afford to stumble out of the gate 0-3.
Auman’s placement put Washington in the same tier as a pair of second-year quarterbacks, Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart. He did mention Daniels’ 2024 run, when he carried the offense despite limited top-end help beyond Terry McLaurin, but he did not note that Daniels led Washington to two playoff wins and an NFC Championship Game appearance.
Given that resume, it would have made sense to slot Daniels higher, maybe in tier 3, “win at least one playoff game,” or tier 4, “make it to the playoffs, at least.” Especially when other third-year quarterbacks like Drake Maye, Caleb Williams and Bo Nix were placed higher on the list, with Maye in tier 2, Williams in tier 3 and Bo Nix in tier 1.
That’s the NFL in a nutshell: what have you done lately? Daniels’ 2024 brilliance seems to have faded from the conversation, and his 2025 season was wrecked by injuries. Maye and Williams, meanwhile, were treated as bigger rising names, even if Maye’s Patriots run to the Super Bowl came despite him playing poorly in the playoffs, and Williams flashed big-time throws while still fighting accuracy issues.
For Auman, the bar for Daniels in 2026 isn’t a title run or even a big leap. It’s simply getting more experience. And after everything that’s happened, Washington’s 2026 season can’t arrive soon enough.
In Other News...
Commanders Quietly Added A Tackle Who Could Solve A Real Depth Concern
The Commanders roster cleanup after cutdown day included a little bit of housekeeping and a little bit of insurance, with Washington bringing back 12 players it had previously waived or released while also adding five outside players to the 53-man roster and practice squad mix. Among the new faces was veteran cornerback Isaac Yiadom, but the more intriguing addition for Washingtons depth chart may be offensive tackle Esa Pole, a name with a recent NFL trail and a clear path to matter if the line gets tested.
Pole arrived with a bit of experience already in his pocket, having spent time with the Chiefs and Jets before making his NFL debut last season. He got four starts at left tackle before being waived, and Washingtons decision to bring him in now points to how much the team values having another viable option at a spot where depth can disappear quickly. The Commanders are still sorting out the final shape of that room, and Pole gives them a player whose role could grow faster than most practice squad additions. [Read more 🡒]
Former Commanders Contributor Is Latest Reminder Of Washingtons Cornerback Turnover
Noah Igbinoghenes path is a useful snapshot of how much the Commanders have churned through their cornerback room in recent seasons. He appeared in 32 games over two years in Washington before reaching free agency, and since then his route has taken him from a one-year deal with the Seahawks in March 2025 to a release during final cuts and then another one-year contract, this time with Cleveland.
For Washington, the bigger story is the revolving door behind him. The team has continued to make defensive backfield signings and practice squad additions this offseason, another sign that the cornerback spot remains a moving target as the Commanders try to settle on a long-term mix. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Aiyuk Keeps Sending A Message Washington No Longer Needs
Brandon Aiyuk keeps putting Washington gear in front of his followers, a steady stream of social posts that has made it clear where his eyes have been aimed. The receiver remains under contract with the San Francisco 49ers, but the message from his corner has been hard to miss for a Commanders fan base that watched the offseason at receiver unfold with plenty of curiosity.
Washington, though, appears to have moved on long ago. The team never showed much interest in making Aiyuk a target, with the general manager making it clear Stefon Diggs had been the preferred veteran option from the start. Aiyuk has not applied for reinstatement, and with his NFL future still uncertain, the social media hints are starting to feel more like background noise than a path back to D.C. [Read more 🡒]