2026 Washington Commanders: The Season Isn’t On Jayden Daniels

Daniels will be back and completely healthy, which is the biggest piece of the puzzle, but he’s not the only key offensive player who missed time due to injury last season. Star receiver Terry McLaurin was sidelined for seven games last season with a quad injury. He is ready to go for 2026 and is joined by newly signed Stefon Diggs, who may be the bargain of the offseason.

Diggs is playing on a one-year deal worth $12 million. He was targeted 102 times in New England last season, catching 85 passes for 1,013 yards. He was essentially Zay Flowers last season, but the Commanders are getting him for a $127 million discount. Over the last three seasons, when he is targeted, his quarterback has a 104.0 rating. When McLaurin is targeted, the quarterback has a rating of 105.4. Needless to say, Daniels should be ecstatic to have both of these guys in the huddle with him.

The big issue that lingers is at running back. Jacory Croskey-Merritt is back after carrying the ball 175 times for 805 yards last season (4.6 yards per carry), and the team signed Rachaad White from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (132 carries for 500 yards). The two players combined to start 12 games in 2025, and at least one of them needs to step up and present a threat. Daniels threw just 14.9% of his passes off of play action last season, and with no threat to run, teams can pin their ears back against him.

2026 Washington Commanders On Defense

2025 leading tackler Bobby Wagner is gone, and so is sack leader Von Miller. That doesn’t mean much, though, because the team spent on defense in free agency and with their top draft pick. Odafe Oweh joins the team from the Los Angeles Chargers after racking up 7.5 sacks in 12 games, and the Patriots’ top pass-rusher, K’Lavon Chaisson, brings his 7.5 sacks and 23 pressures on 639 snaps to the squad.

The team also added off the ball lineback Leo Chenal from the Kansas City Chiefs. The former third-round pick will turn 26 this year and amassed 58 tackles last season (two for a loss) and two sacks. The biggest addition, though, is seventh overall pick Sonny Styles out of Ohio State. The former Buckeye is said to have been coveted by the division rival Dallas Cowboys, but they never got the chance to grab him.

Styles measured 6’5 and 244 pounds at the combine, then ran a 4.46 forty and posted a 43.5 inch vertiocal. He’s not just a gold medalist at the underwear Olympics, though. Last season in Columbus, he had 82 tackles (6.5 for a loss) and was in every defensive highlight. He could be the 2026 Defensive Rookie of the Year.

The secondary leaves much to be desired. The Commanders brought in Nick Cross to play safety, and Amik Robertson from Detroit at corner, but none of their defensive backs have excelled against the pass. Robertson allowed 67.3% of passes to be completed last season and gave up a passer rating of 115.7 when targeted. Fellow starters Trey Amos (104.6) and Mike Sainstril (108.5) didn’t fare much better.

The new defensive coordinator was the defensive backs coach for the Vikings, so maybe Washington just needs to be coached up. On the plus side, the defense is young and athletic, and even if they need a year to grow, they have time.

2026 Washington Commanders Outlook

The Commanders have the 16th toughest strength of schedule, with their 2026 opponents posting a .502 win percentage last season. The NFC East is no joke, with John Harbaugh taking over the New York Giants and the Eagles and Cowboys still being the top dogs. Anything can happen in the NFL, but barring the unexpected, this is most likely a 9-8 team.