The Washington Commanders didn’t just shock the football world in 2024; they learned a lot about what the next few years will look like.
Rather than the slow rebuild many anticipated, the emergence of quarterback Jayden Daniels has accelerated the team’s plans and placed the Commanders firmly among the league’s better teams.
However, the work is not done, and general manager Adam Peters must capitalize with an aggressive offseason.
So far, so good. Between left tackle Laremy Tunsil, receiver Deebo Samuel, and a number of key re-signings, Washington has positioned itself well to contend during the duration of Daniels’ rookie contract.
As such, the Commanders are considered a top challenger to end the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl hopes, per CBS Sports.
“They got trounced in the 2024 NFC title game, but the fact they made it there at all speaks to the franchise-altering talent of Jayden Daniels, whose rookie-year dynamism was even more pronounced than, say, that of C.J. Stroud the year prior,” Cody Benjamin wrote. “Now Daniels has a sturdier left tackle in Laremy Tunsil and a Swiss Army knife in Deebo Samuel to help fill out Dan Quinn's veteran-infused lineup.”
The NFC Championship Round went about as poorly as possible for Washington. Between running back Saquon Barkley’s dominance and a bad case of fumble-itis, Philadelphia ran away with an uncompetitive 55-23 win.
In the weeks since, the Eagles have hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, but the Commanders have helped close the gap between the two NFC East powerhouses.
Much of Washington’s progress has come on defense. Adding corner Jonathan Jones and safety Will Harris should shore up the secondary. Its most controversial add was defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw, who was legitimately bad for the New York Jets in 2024 but was signed to a three-year, $45 million deal.
On its face, that’s an ugly deal. But Kinlaw is a better fit for the Commanders than the Jets, and the signing is an acknowledgement that this defense needs size and physicality to combat Philadelphia’s physical run game.
Barkley cannot run rampant over Washington again, and it’s clear the front office is doing its part to limit him. If those improvements can match the high-powered offense commandeered by Daniels, knocking off the Eagles remains a legitimate possibility.
