'Sneaky' Commanders' Biggest Training Camp Storyline Has Defensive Flavor

The Washington Commanders, for a lot of people, will be right in the thick of contention for the NFC along with the Super Bowl.

Jayden Daniels and the offense will be the big reason why the Commanders amount to anything substantial in 2025, with Joe Whitt Jr.'s defense needing to seriously power up to help tow the line.

The additions in free agency weren't exactly headline makers, while Von Miller was signed a couple of days ago. But is that enough? We struggle to see it.

And so does Bleacher Report.

"The Washington Commanders won't be sneaking up on anyone in 2025. It's not hard to love the offense," Bleacher Report writes. "The defense is another story. The Commanders' moves on that side of the ball were less splashy.

"The good news for Washington is that Dan Quinn has a great track record of getting the most out of his defenses. But if the Commanders don't live up to the hype in Daniels' second season, it's most likely because the defense just didn't materialize.”

With the Commanders ranking 16th for third downs allowed last season (39 percent) and ranked 11th in sacks (43), more is needed. Plus, Dan Quinn let Dante Fowler Jr., the team's leading sack-getter last year, walk out the door to the Dallas Cowboys.

So, improvement is going to need to come from a host of different players. Dorance Armstrong, Daron Payne, Javon Kinlaw, Marshon Lattimore, and others are going to have to take their game up a notch.

We know what Daniels and the offense can become. But defensively? We aren't sure on that, however, training camp - which launches this week with the veterans joining the rookies on Tuesday - could provide us with some answers. ... with no "sneakiness'' available to the now-obvious contending Commanders.