#washington-commanders

#washington-commanders

Last season, the 29-year-old was one of the worst starting cornerbacks in the league with 27 tackles and one interception in nine games, before suffering a torn left ACL. [Marshon] Lattimore still has one year left on his contract, but there's no guaranteed money, so the Commanders could easily cut him. If he wants to continue playing in the NFL, he would be better off putting his time in Washington behind him.

The Washington Commanders will have no shortage of holes to fill this offseason. One of them will be complementing Terry McLaurin in the receiving game. For the Commanders, there could be a strong candidate hiding right in plain sight. The Commanders' contract with Deebo Samuel Sr. has now voided. It doesn't change much, as the 2026 dead cap will be there whether he re-signs or not. However, it seems unlikely that the former San Francisco 49er will be back in Washington on a new deal.

The Miami Dolphins' new power duo of general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley is not messing around. Just a few short weeks after their respective appointments, they ruthlessly wielded the axe on several top performers as part of a significant roster cull that sent a strong message of the changing tide. All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill, two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Bradley Chubb, veteran offensive lineman James Daniels, and wideout Nick Westbrook-Ikhine were all let go by the Dolphins.

When the Washington Commanders gave wide receiver Treylon Burks a second chance after his abrupt departure from the Tennessee Titans, nobody was expecting too much. He's never come close to reaching his first-round billing. The injuries that eventually led to Burks' release from the Titans only further tempered expectations. Burks flashed brief moments of promise, but nothing more. That puts the Commanders in a dilemma with the wideout before he gets the chance to test free agency.

The Washington Commanders are embarking on a crucial offseason that will define this regime's tenure. This ambitious project took a massive step back in 2025 after reaching the NFC Championship game in the first campaign under head coach Dan Quinn. Changes are underway, and the time for half-measures is over. Pressure is building. Quinn replaced both prominent coordinators, and several other changes have been made to the coaching staff.

The 2024 second-team All-Pro began his seventh year in Washington as a no-show in training camp and preseason during a dramatic contract standoff with general manager Adam Peters. The matter was resolved in time for the regular season, but he started slowly and then suffered a quad/hip flexor injury in Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders. McLaurin missed seven of Washington's next eight games, eventually finishing the season with 582 receiving yards and three touchdowns from 38 receptions.

As the offense continues to build around Jayden Daniels, the Washington Commanders will continue to search for ways to add speed, flexibility, and mismatch potential to the middle of their offense. With an expected emphasis on spacing, pre-snap disguise, and forcing defenses into unfavorable personnel decisions from offensive coordinator David Blough in 2026, Washington profiles as a strong landing spot for an athletic tight end who can function as a movable chess piece.

The Commanders used two linebackers - Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu - on almost every snap. They usually had three defensive linemen and a standard two-corner/two-safety secondary on the field. That leaves two other defenders who floated. More often than not, those players were edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr., who was often tabbed as a linebacker, and big nickel safety Jeremy Chinn. Both could shift into the linebacker role, creating a de facto 3-4 front.

It appears as though no matter what the Washington Commanders end up doing in the 2026 NFL Draft, their first pick at No. 7 overall is going to be spent on the best defensive player available to give Dan Quinn's unit the shot in the arm it needs. One such standout is Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. It takes quite a lot for a safety to be picked in the Top 10, and Downs appears to be locked into that range.

Everyone within the Washington Commanders seems to be in agreement about what the most pressing offseason need is to get this franchise back among the contenders. General manager Adam Peters must fix the pass rush, and he must do it urgently. Peters took heat from fans last year for not prioritizing the defensive edge. He kept faith with the options available while adding aging veterans to one-year deals.

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the Carolina Panthers are hiring Darrell Bevell as associate head coach/offensive specialist. He was being touted to the Commanders because of his prior association with Quinn and his coaching of Blough with the Detroit Lions. The respected coach also has a strong bond with Dave Canales, who considers him a mentor. That was enough to tip the scales in the NFC South club's favor.

Head coach Dan Quinn has already made changes to his staff this offseason. Nobody expected anything less after the Washington Commanders failed to meet expectations in 2025, but it was a drastic roll of the dice that can hopefully lead to improved fortunes moving forward. Both coordinators have been replaced. Daronte Jones will lead the defense, and David Blough will spearhead the offense.

Nobody needs to go over how Dan Snyder botched the rebrand. His interest in the club had diminished almost completely by this point, and the Commanders' downward spiral to rock bottom or worse was gradual and depressing in equal measure. Harris has no such lack of enthusiasm, and even though the repair job is far from complete, this organization is on the right track.

General manager Adam Peters decided to prioritize the protection in front of quarterback Jayden Daniels during the 2025 offseason. These investments paid off, with the Washington Commanders' offensive line emerging as a real bright spot amid the misery, but it did mean fans had to say goodbye to one of their favorites along the way. And after one season away from Washington, Cornelius Lucas could be watching his career come to a close.