One stat that shaped Commanders' offseason priorities
One stat that shaped Commanders' offseason priorities
Bryan Manning, Commanders WireSun, May 24, 2026 at 10:53 AM UTC
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One stat that shaped Commanders' offseason priorities
It's been a while since the Washington Commanders fielded a competent defense. When Adam Peters took over as GM in 2024 and hired Dan Quinn as head coach, things were expected to change. Quinn has been one of the NFL's best defensive coordinators over the last 20 years.
Unfortunately, Peters and Quinn inherited a barren roster. The previous regime struck out on all four of its first-round picks, and several of the other picks didn't pan out either. Fortunately for the Commanders, they owned the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. They selected LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels. All Daniels did as a rookie was break numerous records and lead Washington to a 12-5 record and its first NFC Championship Game appearance in 33 years.
The Commanders took a major fall in 2025, going 5-12, with Daniels missing 10 games due to injuries. It was a season to forget for everyone, as the entire roster was besieged by injuries. Ultimately, though, a lack of depth and talent caught up with the Commanders last season.
Even in Washington's 2024 dream season, the defense wasn't very good. The Commanders were 18th in points allowed and 25th in defensive EPA (via PFF), and 23rd in defensive DVOA (per FTN). It was even worse last season, with Washington often looking like the NFL's worst defense. The Commanders couldn't defend the pass or the run, couldn't create turnovers, or rush the passer with any consistency.
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And without Daniels to bail out the defense, Washington's record plummeted. Need proof?
Essentially, if Washington can provide Daniels with an average defense, he can take care of the rest. Sure, he needs help on offense, too, but Peters provided him with some of that, too. But make no mistake, the Commanders were serious about upgrading the defense in 2026. Here's a look at some of the additions on that side of the ball.
EDGE Odafe Oweh
EDGE K'Lavon Chaisson
DT Tim Settle
DL Charles Omenihu
CB Amik Robertson
S Nick Cross
LB Leo Chenal
LB Sonny Styles
These are the most significant additions to the Commanders' defense, which should be younger, faster, and, most importantly, better in 2026.
So, when someone says Peters didn't do enough to help Daniels this offseason, just look at all the defensive moves. Washington completely revamped the defense, which ultimately provides Daniels more help than anything else.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: One stat shaped offseason priorities
Source: “AOL Sports”
