Commanders are one midseason realization away from changing everything

The Washington Commanders will take on the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football. This could be the game that determines their fate for this season.

With the trade deadline fast approaching on November 4, a loss would drop the Commanders to 3-6. The noise demanding Washington sell off pieces would be deafening, especially given the veteran-heavy roster it features.

There are still reasons why the Commanders shouldn't sell, but whether their retooling begins this week or in the offseason, one thing is for sure. They need to get younger in a bad way if they're going to build a sustained contender around star quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Commanders must alter their strategy for long-term stability

It's easy to see why Adam Peters took the approach he did when he was named the Commanders' general manager in 2024. Inheriting a roster with an utter void of developing talent thanks to Ron Rivera's draft blunders, the only solution was to bring in stopgap veterans to fill the holes.

When Daniels became as good as he did, as quickly as he did, it only further necessitated the need to add experience around him. Washington suddenly had a window to maximize with a franchise signal-caller on his rookie contract, giving the Commanders all of the cap room in the world to work with. But this roster's age has backfired significantly in 2025.

Worse yet, the Commanders still aren't getting ideal development from their young players. Second-year cornerback Mike Sainristil and third-year safety Quan Martin have regressed. Wide receiver Luke McCaffrey continues to be treated like a kid learning how to ride his bike, even though he has made plays when called upon. There have been glimpses of promise from rookies such as second-round corner Trey Amos. But besides Daniels, no one drafted by Peters is a star.

This is primarily because the draft hasn't been Washington's top priority under Peters. Even some of the players the Commanders have used high picks on, such as first-round rookie tackle Josh Conerly Jr., have had to adjust their roles to accommodate veteran acquisitions. This is a team built around age and experience, with the young guns expected to develop alongside the older players.

It needs to be the other way around.

Washington needs to center its focus on drafting and developing a core nucleus of young cornerstones, with some veterans sprinkled in as the supporting cast. Even if it doesn't provide the instant gratification the Commanders received last season, it will pay dividends in the long run.

What Washington accomplished in 2024 with its aging group was never going to be sustainable for very long. The Commanders have their quarterback of the future, and that's the most crucial part. Now they need their team of the future.