It’s been an offseason of change for the Washington Commanders. Change happens when you go 5-12, especially one year after finishing 12-5 and reaching the NFC Championship game.
General manager Adam Peters knew he needed an aggressive offseason to fill many holes and shore up an aging roster that was one of the NFL’s most injured teams in 2025. In free agency, Peters focused on defense, adding multiple starters, including edge rushers Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson, linebacker Leo Chenal and safety Nick Cross. Offensively, Peters signed tight end Chig Okonkwo, giving quarterback Jayden Daniels an explosive option in the passing game.
There were other moves, too, as Peters signed more than a dozen free agents, ensuring that Washington’s roster would be younger, faster, and, most importantly, better in 2026.
The work wasn’t done, as there was still the 2026 NFL Draft. Unfortunately for Peters, the Commanders held only six picks, including the No. 7 overall pick. With that pick, Washington selected Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, who is already turning heads.
So, did the Commanders continue that trend of getting better this offseason? Eric Williams of Fox Sports thinks so, ranking Washington No. 4 of five teams that he believes improved the most following the NFL draft.
Head coach Dan Quinn isn’t using injuries as an excuse for last year’s disappointing 5-12 finish after reaching the NFC Championship Game two years ago. Instead, the Washington Commanders made wholesale changes on offense and defense, moving on from experienced offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury in favor of quarterbacks coach David Blough, who will put Jayden Daniels under center more in the upcoming season. The defensive-minded Quinn also moved on from defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., replacing him with Minnesota Vikings defensive passing game coordinator Daronte Jones.
Expect an emphasis on improved pass rush defensively, led by athletic first-round pick Sonny Styles. The team also made a splash in free agency, adding Odafe Oweh after he recorded 7.5 sacks in 12 games with the Los Angeles Chargers last season. And on offense, general manager Adam Peters hopes the additions of running back Rachaad White, running back Jerome Ford and wide receiver Dyami Brown in free agency will lead to more explosive plays. Peters also drafted enticing Clemson wide receiver Antonio Williams in the third round and Penn State running back Kaytron Allen in the sixth round to help achieve that goal. The Commanders should improve this upcoming season and be back in the race for the NFC East division title.
The Commanders will be better in 2026. How much better? That remains to be seen. No one foresaw Washington winning 12 games in 2024 or losing 12 last season. The Commanders’ hopes of returning to the postseason are reliant on quarterback Jayden Daniels remaining healthy in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: One of NFL’s most improved teams after draft