PFF asks the question every Commanders fan wants to know ahead of 2025 season

The Washington Commanders are going to once again be one of the best offenses in the league thanks to emerging star quarterback Jayden Daniels and creative offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, but their defense is still very much a work in progress.

The Commanders have made some moves that will improve the overall unit, but there are some questions as to how this new-look unit will perform against the best of the best in the NFC for a team trying everything in their power to crack open their championship window.

Pro Football Focus' biggest question remaining for the Commanders as the offseason enters the doldrums is if the defense has truly gotten any better. After last year's unit ranked 29th in EPA per play and 30th in first downs allowed, there's plenty of room for improvement out of Dan Quinn's unit.

While the group is certainly much better than it was when Peters first took over in Washington, there is a clear tier difference between the Commanders and the top teams in the NFC, and the lack of enticing extremely defensive improvements this front office in the offseason is the biggest reason why Washington isn't lumped in with them.

PFF questions if Commanders defense has improved enough ahead of 2025

Washington added cornerback Trey Amos in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, which should bring an even more physical element to a secondary fresh off trading for Marshon Lattimore and watching 2024 second-rounder Mike Sainristil evolve into a quality player at the professional level.

The defensive line outside of Daron Payne might be the biggest question mark. Javon Kinlaw was a thoroughly below-average player with the Jets last season, making his $45 million payday even more confusing. Dorance Armstrong and free agent signing Deatrich Wise are the projected starters at the edge rusher spot.

Peters has shown to be very cavalier in sacrificing assets to win now after nailing it with the Daniels selection, which means that Washington may still have a trick or two up their sleeve. Perhaps a Trey Hendrickson trade or late-season acquisition on the defensive line can help alleviate PFF's concerns.

Washington is going to be must-see TV as long as the Daniels-Kliff Kingsbury partnership keeps rolling. However, as the NFC Championship game showed last year, this defense is so squishy that even Daniels' best efforts might be wasted if Peters and Quinn are unable to improve this unit.