#washington-commanders

#washington-commanders

It quickly became a brutal reality check, with the Commanders crashing back to earth after reaching the NFC Championship game the previous season. Nothing much went right. Injuries didn't help, but Washington's problems ran far deeper. Winning five games is not going to cut it moving forward, so there is a significant amount of work ahead for head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters this offseason.

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.

His first season in Washington was a godsend. Luvu was signed on a bargain after stops with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, and he became the heart and soul of the Commanders' defense in 2024. The formidable linebacker had eight sacks, 14 quarterback hits, and was named a second-team All-Pro while helping lead the team to the NFC Championship game.

The Washington Commanders must be aggressive this offseason to put the right defensive pieces in place to help Daronte Jones maximize his new opportunity. There is money to spend in free agency, but there could be another daring trade to consider if general manager Adam Peters believes it can provide the catalyst for immediate improvements. There are growing murmurs around media row at the Super Bowl about a five-time Pro Bowler who could be looking for a fresh challenge elsewhere.

Daronte Jones decided that he had no use for Ryan Kerrigan on his defensive staff. His status in Washington Commanders folklore will always be remembered fondly as a player and coach, but this scenario was always likely under a new regime. Kerrigan survived when head coach Dan Quinn replaced Ron Rivera. The assistant linebackers coach and pass-rush specialist wasn't as fortunate when Jones took charge, and his illustrious stint with the franchise has now come to an end.

The Commanders have already made significant alterations on the defensive side of the ball. Daronte Jones will lead the unit after impressing during the interview process, replacing fired coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. Several assistant coaches have been let go, and Jason Simmons has taken a job with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This could merely be the tip of the iceberg. Peters must aggressively attack free agency, especially with only two selections in the first four rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Multiple sources said that defensive coordinator Brian Flores' unusual decision to let his contract lapse, before signing a new deal that will pay him more than $6 million per season, was based in part on his unease with the direction of the front office. When asked last month if he wanted to remain with the Vikings, Flores noted that he loved working for the Wilfs and with O'Connell, and loved living in Minnesota, but did not mention Adofo-Mensah.

Quinn took a supreme leap of faith by making David Blough their offensive coordinator. He's got no play-calling experience and was only a position coach for a few weeks. However, the Commanders believe he can provide the modern-day concepts needed to help take quarterback Jayden Daniels' game to new heights. New defensive coordinator Daronte Jones fits into a similar mold. He's also a first-time play-caller. But unlike Blough, his coaching credentials are vast and revered in equal measure.

Daronte Jones has already begun to implement his strategy for the Washington Commanders' defense. Several assistants, including team legend Ryan Kerrigan, have been made surplus to requirements on the staffing side. There will also be numerous changes to the playing personnel in the weeks and months ahead. Not many should be guaranteed a place in the plans. Washington's defense was nothing short of abysmal in 2025, leading to Joe Whitt Jr.'s firing.

There is a lot going on with the Minnesota Vikings right now. They shocked the NFL world by firing general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah extremely late in the hiring cycle, and they will not be seeking a permanent replacement until after the 2026 NFL Draft. Not the conventional approach, but those in power believed it was necessary. Rumors of a disconnect on how to move forward at the quarterback position were rife in the firing's immediate aftermath.

Defensive coordinator Daronte Jones should run a more creative, aggressive scheme. For that to work, the Washington Commanders desperately need to improve the personnel at their disposal. The Commanders believe Jones has the coaching prowess and schematic ideas to take this failing unit forward. While the bar isn't exactly high for that after two years of inept production under the previous defensive coordinator, Joe Whitt Jr., this gamble has to go well for head coach Dan Quinn. Otherwise, he'll be on the chopping block this time next year.

[Marshon] Lattimore was given the benefit of the doubt for his subpar play in 2024 because of a hamstring injury that limited him to five games, including the playoffs, after the Commanders acquired him. He never regained the form that led to four Pro Bowl berths with the Saints before tearing the ACL in his left knee nine games into the season.

Daronte Jones' arrival as defensive coordinator represents a supreme leap of faith for the Washington Commanders. For this to work, general manager Adam Peters must put the correct personnel in place to enhance the play-caller's chances of a smooth transition. The Commanders' defense is currently lacking sufficient starting-caliber players. It's got almost no legitimate depth whatsoever, so it's not hard to see why Peters has his work cut out in the coming months before preparations for the 2026 campaign gather pace.