Most would probably agree with the following statement. The NFC East figures to look similar to what it has been for most of the past five years. The Philadelphia Eagles are the cream of the crop. The Dallas Cowboys are more than likely their biggest roadblock to divisional superiority.
The Washington Commanders and the New York Giants will battle for the right to stay out of the cellar. Washington took a hard step backward last season, and honestly, it wasn’t difficult to understand why. Jayden Daniels missed time with an injury. Veteran leadership aged rapidly. The offense lacked explosiveness and balance for long stretches.
Suddenly, a team that reached the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles in January of 2025 felt far less threatening entering the following season. Now, when conversations about the NFC East surface, most people mention the Eagles first, followed by the Cowboys and occasionally the Giants.
Washington? They’ve almost become an afterthought. That may eventually prove shortsighted.
Antonio Williams feels tailor-made for modern NFL offenses
The Commanders‘ addition of Antonio Williams quietly addressed several offensive needs at once. Calling him the next Deebo Samuel would obviously be premature, but there’s an argument to be made that Williams already resembles the version of Samuel Washington hoped it was getting last season more than Samuel himself eventually did.
Williams is versatile, sudden, and dangerous in space. While he lined up primarily in the slot as a member of the Clemson Tigers, he repeatedly showed the ability to win outside as well. More importantly, he embraces versatility instead of resisting it. Modern NFL offenses increasingly value receivers who create matchup chaos before the snap. Williams can return punts, motion into the backfield, attack underneath coverage, and stress defenses vertically enough to force difficult personnel decisions.
Kaytron Allen brings needed physicality
The addition of Kaytron Allen may prove equally important. Washington at times lacked consistent physicality offensively last season, particularly in short-yardage situations.
Allen immediately changes that equation. At Penn State, he developed a reputation as a downhill runner with balance, power, and the type of controlled violence coaches love. The nickname “Fatman” may generate smiles, but his game is no joke. Together, Allen and Williams finally give Daniels something he lacked at times last season: complementary skill talent capable of making life easier on him consistently.
The Commanders are not fully built yet. The Eagles remain the standard in the division. Still, if Daniels continues to develop and Washington keeps surrounding him with players like Williams and Allen, Philadelphia may discover the NFC East won’t remain comfortably predictable forever.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Washington quietly added impressive weapons around Jayden Daniels