The Washington Commanders are heading into 2026 with plenty riding on a roster that was rebuilt around young, hungry additions, but the real swing factor might be one of their own draft picks. For Adam Peters, the organization’s hopes for a bounce-back season won’t just come from the outside help. They’ll also depend on whether the young players already in the building keep climbing.
That makes Josh Conerly Jr. one of the most important names on the roster.
The No. 29 overall pick out of Oregon had a rough introduction to the NFL. Questions about his build followed him into the draft, and those concerns didn’t disappear once the season started.
Early on in 2025, he looked overwhelmed at times and paid for it. Through the first eight games of his pro career, Conerly allowed six sacks.
After that, things changed fast. He gave up only two sacks the rest of the way.
That turnaround wasn’t accidental. Conerly’s progress was clear as the season wore on, and he benefited from lining up next to Laremy Tunsil. Since Conerly played left tackle in college, Washington shifted him to the right side because of the presence of the five-time Pro Bowler, who arguably should have made his sixth such game after a sensational first campaign in Washington.
Now Tunsil is locked up long-term, and the Commanders can keep building the edges of the line around him and Conerly as the bookends protecting Jayden Daniels. Conerly has already added a lot of muscle, and he’s now got a full NFL season of trial and error behind him. That kind of experience matters.
The upside here is obvious. Conerly should be at least an average starter in 2026, with Pro Bowl-level potential if the growth keeps coming.
He’s only 22, and he entered the league as a project, so the strides he made in Year 1 are a strong sign. Down the road, he has the tools to become one of the better right tackles in football.
For Washington, that kind of development is huge. Protecting Daniels is a priority, and Conerly is one of the team’s most important building blocks. If he keeps moving forward, the Commanders will feel good about where they’re headed.
What they can’t afford is a sophomore slump. Conerly has already done a lot to reduce that risk.
In Other News...
Commanders May Have Finally Found A Veteran WR Answer
Washingtons receiver room still looks thin behind Terry McLaurin, and the front office has not yet done anything to fully answer that need. The depth chart has been leaning on a group of young or unproven options, which is why the search for a veteran addition has lingered into the stretch before training camp.
One name now in the mix is Brandin Cooks, who has made it clear he wants to land with a team before camp opens and has also said Buffalo is his preferred destination. For Washington, the appeal is obvious: Cooks just showed he can still help a contender in a late-season run, and his brief stint with the Bills gave him a reminder that he can fit into a passing game quickly if the opportunity is right. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders May Already Have Their Answer Opposite Terry McLaurin
The Commanders spent a premium draft pick on a receiver who could change the look of their passing game almost immediately, and Antonio Williams already has the kind of profile that makes people around the league take notice. With Terry McLaurin still the centerpiece, Washington needed someone who could help lighten the load on the other side, and Williams arrives with enough buzz to make that conversation feel real before training camp even starts.
What happens next will matter just as much as the draft-night decision. If Williams shows he can handle the speed and physicality of the pro game right away, Washington may not feel much urgency to keep shopping for another veteran wideout, but if the transition proves bumpy, the team could be back in the market sooner than expected. For now, the Commanders at least have a promising answer in-house, and the summer will tell them how firm that answer really is. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Front Office Shakeup Just Added A New Twist
The Commanders personnel department is getting another reset, with veteran NFL executive Scott Fitterer leaving after two seasons in Washington. The move comes as the franchise continues to shape the front office around general manager Adam Peters, and it adds another layer to a group that has already been busy trying to build a more stable operation behind the scenes.
In his place, Washington has brought in former Vikings assistant GM Demitrius Washington as a senior personnel executive, giving the organization another experienced evaluator to lean on. The hire also reconnects him with Peters from their time together in San Francisco, a familiar tie that could matter as the Commanders keep refining how they identify and stack talent. [Read more 🡒]