The Washington Commanders have been the most brazen this offseason, making some head-turning moves to poach talent and better their roster. Their priorities include better protecting quarterback Jayden Daniels and bolstering their D-line. Unlike many prior seasons, they are not adding shiny new toys—they’re shoring up their weaknesses. These moves address the weaknesses that dogged the team last season, especially in contests against strong opponents such as the Philadelphia Eagles.
In a flurry of roster shakeups, the Commanders have balanced experience and youth well. They subbed out safety Jeremy Chinn for veteran Will Harris. This change was made to show stability and leadership in the defensive backfield. The team added nose tackles Eddie Goldman and Javon Kinlaw to their defensive roster. Both tipping the scales at 332 and 330 pounds respectively, they’ll bring a mammoth presence to the defensive front. This ongoing shift is key to doing better. In 2024, the Commanders ranked 30th against the run, allowing an alarmingly high __ yards per carry.
Yet one of the biggest surprises came when the Commanders took a risk and cut defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. This decision creates a path for exciting new blood on the roster. In their version, they selected cornerback Trey Amos from Ole Miss with their second-round pick. This decision is a strong indication of their intentions to continue shoring up and getting stout on the back end defensively. Amos’s addition provides the opportunity for Mike Sainristil to move back inside, where the team feels he’ll be at his most productive.
Amos’s addition raises the Commanders’ defensive ceiling. Not only does his physical playing style enable them to play more press man coverage, but it enables them to do it aggressively. Adam Peters praised Amos, stating, “He’s a press corner who can be really physical at the line.”
Even with these encouraging developments, the Commanders have a long way to go. They struggled last season with only 22 sacks, ranking 26th in the league for their four-man rush. Their defense created just 17 turnovers all regular season long. This concerted effort landed them 20th in the NFL. Dan Quinn, the team’s defensive coordinator, acknowledged the areas that require improvement when he stated, “There’s a lot of things that we want to get better at,” emphasizing that run defense was a primary focus.
The Commanders have only upgraded their already dangerous pass rush and overall defensive presence. They added veteran pass rushers Deatrich Wise Jr. and Jacob Martin to add more talent to their returners. These additions are meant to add extra depth and experience as they look to build on their first top-10 defensive ranking.
The Commanders’ offense is due an upgrade. The new unit will need to perform better than the 18th-scoring offense from last year’s club. They’re going to do that by providing Jayden Daniels with more protection and more playmakers on the field. With a few notable strategic draft picks and smart free-agent signings, the Commanders are betting big. They’re hellbent on creating a team good enough to compete with the likes of the Philadelphia Eagles, specifically in their two yearly meetings against their NFC East foes.
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