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Why Commanders' 2025 Success Comes Down To 2 Veterans

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated May 6, 2025 12:07 AM ET

There's no ifs, buts, or maybe's; the Washington Commanders are all-in on winning in 2025.

With Jayden Daniels on his rookie contract, general manager Adam Peters went out and traded for Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil to bolster what was already one of the NFL's most potent offenses in 2024.

For some, those two moves put the Commanders over the top in their search for Super Bowl glory in 2025, with Daniels leading the charge.

But that is providing both are "hits" and play to the level expected of them, because aside from Samuel and Tunsil, the Commanders didn't bring in any other substantial players. More so, re-signing the veterans already on the roster.

For CBS Sports, they think Washington's entire season might boil down to how much Deebo and Tunsil can elevate the team's play.

"Are the new veterans enough to put them over the top? We won't know this until crunch time of the 2025 campaign, of course, but Washington quickly and understandably pivoted to win-now mode after Jayden Daniels' magical debut," CBS Sports writes. "How new left tackle Laremy Tunsil and wideout Deebo Samuel pan out could determine their postseason ceiling."

There is merit to that thought.

Samuel hasn't been able to replicate his All-Pro season of 2021, and hasn't gotten to 900 receiving yards in the three seasons following that. Plus he hasn't played a full season since then either.

As for Tunsil, the five-time Pro Bowler will look to lock down the left-hand side of the offensive line, with Daniels being sacked 47 times last season (sixth-most in football).

Per PFF, Tunsil was ranked 23rd overall among fellow tackles in 2024 (76.5 grade), plus he had 19 penalties, the most of any tackle in football. So there is room for improvement there.

But if Samuel and Tunsil both produce as they did last season, in 2025, will that be enough for the Commanders to be in Super Bowl contention?

That, my friends, is the biggest question mark hanging over the franchise.

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

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