#washington-commanders

#washington-commanders

The Washington Commanders' defense has been nothing short of abysmal in 2025. It's been a significant reason they've failed to reach the heights of their shockingly impressive 2024 NFC Championship game run. Addressing that side of the ball must be at the top of general manager Adam Peters' to-do list this offseason. Washington has a glaring need and is armed with the sixth-most projected cap space in 2026. With that in mind, why not pony up for one of the NFL's premier pass rushers, Trey Hendrickson, if/when he becomes available?

Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw illustrate Commanders' culture issue in the worst way After a Jahmyr Gibbs touchdown gave the Lions a 20-3 lead, defensive tackle Payne punched wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown in the helmet for reasons unknown. His linemate, Javon Kinlaw, then also got involved in the scrum, making contact with a referee and drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that allowed Detroit to move closer to the goal line for a successful two-point conversion attempt.

With the Washington Commanders playing for nothing much other than pride over their final seven games of the campaign, the coaching staff needs to try new things. Adam Peters also needs to assess what he has on the roster before a crucial offseason, and throwing his fledgling stars into the fire is the best way to do so. The Commanders are dealing with serious injury problems, no more so than in the wide receiver room.

The more time that goes by, the more the Commanders' magical 2024 campaign looks like a perfect storm of momentum and good fortune, without any actual long-term growth being established. They brought in a new coaching staff, a new general manager, and a rookie quarterback. Everything they touched turned to gold. In retrospect, it all seemed too good to be true.

The first half went as badly as fans feared. Washington was outmatched, failing to generate any positive offensive momentum. As for the defense? They were nothing short of an abomination once again. Detroit got whatever it wanted. They score touchdowns on their first three possessions, effortlessly moving the football downfield and bullying the Commanders at all three levels of the field. Frustrations boiled over, and running back Jahmyr Gibbs was carried about eight yards into the end zone after receiving contact from Washington's defenders.

The Washington Commanders signed Von Miller late into the summer. They had grave concerns about their edge rushing unit, so general manager Adam Peters acquired a future first ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer who could provide some short-term relief as a rotational presence. Miller has flashed moments of quality. He's not the dominant game-wrecker of previous years, but nobody expected him to be. And the fact that Washington is dealing with so many health problems in their pass-rushing unit isn't exactly helping matters either.

If Washington wants to find a reliable, every-down runner without breaking the bank, Zack Moss should be the top target. Moss has proven he can carry the load when healthy. He has the durability and a physical running style tailor-made for winter football. Moss also wouldn't command a massive contract, making him a low-cost, high-reward signing for a team that needs to allocate cap space across multiple positions. His bruising style also complements Daniels' dual-threat skill set.

A senior White House source said there have been backchannel communications with a member of the Commanders ownership group, led by Josh Harris, to express Trump's desire to have the domed stadium in the nation's capital bear his name. The new stadium is being built on the old RFK Stadium site that served as the team's home from 1961 to 1996.

In Ron Rivera's final season as coach, the Washington Commanders had the worst defense in the NFL. It was not a close competition. It was so bad in 2023 that Rivera fired his defensive coordinator and secondary coach during the season. The team was dead last in points allowed (30.5) and yards allowed (388.9). Dan Quinn wishes his Commanders could match those miserable 2023 numbers right now. This would constitute an improvement over the last four games.