The 2026 NFL year is right around the corner, and the Washington Commanders need to rebound from their dismal 2025 season. The Commanders finished with a record of 5-12 in 2025, a far cry from their stellar 2024 season which saw Washington appear in the NFC Championship game. Injuries to several key players, including quarterback Jayden Daniels (who was limited to playing in only seven games in 2025), as well as poor defensive play, contributed greatly to Washington’s 2025 demise.
The Commanders need help on both offense and defense. While Washington will have $51,2 million in cap space, they will only have six draft selections in the upcoming 2026 NFL draft. The Commanders should use their draft and free agency to focus solely on adding quality players on defense. While it’s true that Washington could use offensive help at running back, wide receiver, and tight end, they have enough on that side of the ball to field a competent offense. That theory is predicated on the return to full health of Daniels, as well as running back Austin Ekeler, and wide receiver Luke McCaffrey. The Commanders also hope that young tight ends John Bates and Ben Sinnott will develop into a solid tandem as blockers in the running game as well as receivers in the passing game. Washington also hopes that second year receiver Jaylin Lane develops into a solid receiving option alongside McCaffrey and veteran wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
Running back Bill Croskey-Merritt filled in admirably as the Commanders’ featured back during his 2025 rookie season. Croskey-Merritt led Washington in rushing, rushing for 805 yards and eight touchdowns while appearing in all 17 games (starting in seven games). Reserve running back Chris Rodriguez provided solid play behind Croskey-Merritt, rushing for 500 yards and six touchdowns while appearing in 13 games.
Meanwhile, to say the Commanders’ defense struggled mightily in 2025 is a gross understatement. This unit finished 32nd out of 32 teams in yards allowed per game, as well as finishing 27th in points allowed. To be fair, defensive ends Deatrich Wise and Dorrance Armstrong, as well as cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and rookie Trey Amos all suffered season ending injuries. Each of the aforementioned were brought in either via free agency, trade, or draft before the 2025 season and were projected to start at their respective positions. Lattimore was brought to Washington via trade with the New Orleans Saints to anchor the Commanders’ secondary as a shutdown corner. Unfortunately, Lattimore was routinely beaten on pass routes by opposing wide receivers and was continuously penalized for either pass interference or holding. Considering that Lattimore’s contract dictates he receive a total salary of $18.5 million for 2026, it wouldn’t be out of the question for Washington to release Lattimore to avoid a salary cap penalty equal to his salary.
There are possibilities for Washington to get better on defense. The most obvious candidates are current Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive end Trey Hendrickson and Las Vegas Raiders’ defensive end Maxx Crosby. Hendrickson and Crosby would both command huge contracts that would average well over $30 million per year. Would Commanders’ general manager Adam Peters take an aggressive approach and use the majority of Washington’s salary cap space to sign either Hendrickson or Crosby? Or will he turn to the draft and focus on defensive stalwarts like University of Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain, Jr. and Ohio State University safety Caleb Downs? Peters has been praised in NFL circles as a great talent evaluator based on his tenure as the San Francisco 49ers’ general manager. Commanders’ fans are interested to see if Peters can use Washington’s cap space and free agency to construct a roster that can improve on their disastrous 2025 season.
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