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Commanders Predicted for Championship Move In Power Rankings

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Mar 20, 2025 8:41 AM ET

The Washington Commanders have been one of the main players in free agency, with the franchise armed with over $78 million in cap space for shopping.

And general manager Adam Peters has filled up the trolley.

Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil are the two big additions and they fill huge needs for Kliff Kingsbury's offense. Getting Terry McLaurin a running mate was key, and so too was upgrading Jayden Daniels' blindside protection. Both are now done.

Defensively is where the questions will continue to be and the Commanders could address that in the draft or even with a bargain in free agency.

But has what the franchise has done move the needle in Eric Edholm's power rankings? He has Dan Quinn's team at No. 6 and as the second-best team in the NFC behind only the Detroit Lions.

"The Commanders likely were always going to be aggressive this offseason, but when Jayden Daniels started balling out last season and the team moved into the ranks of presumptive contenders, their focus apparently tightened," Edholm writes. "That's why you're seeing targeted, go-for-it trades for Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil. So we have to keep our expectations fair here, especially knowing the Commanders have used up a good amount of draft capital via trades, both for this year and next."

That would mark an incredible leap ... up and over the Philadelphia Eagles?

Maybe.

Something does catch our attention, though. Should we temper expectations for Daniels and Co. in Year 2?

We know that success in the NFL isn't linear, and Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is the latest example of that being true.

But is Daniels different? Possibly, and the franchise has worked feverishly to get him more help and with the draft still to come, Washington could look to add more weapons around Jayden.

Yes, it will be tough to get to the NFC Championship game again when the entire league now knows what to expect.

Year 1 was a spectacular ride for the Commanders as they emerged from the shadows, but now the entire league knows they're coming - and they armed themselves with some heavy artillery for the fight.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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