The Washington Commanders head into the 2026 season with a quarterback who can be elite and a roster that, on paper, looks painfully average. Rookies report to Ashburn on July 24. Veterans arrive four days later. First practice is July 29. But before any of that happens, it’s worth walking through every position group and asking: Is this a team built to win or just a team built to survive?
We graded each spot on a 1-to-10 scale. Abysmal to NFL best. The results paint a picture of a franchise that has one legit superstar, a few solid pieces, and a whole lot of fingers crossed.
Quarterback: 9.3
Jayden Daniels is the reason this team matters. When he’s healthy, Washington can beat anybody. The problem is the supporting cast. Laremy Tunsil is a stud left tackle but the only other elite player on offense. Daniels will have to be a magician sometimes to keep drives alive. Behind him, Marcus Mariota is arguably a top-five backup and fits the scheme well. Sam Hartman and Athan Kaliakmanis round out the room. If Daniels plays 17 games, this grade is fair. If he misses time, the ceiling drops fast.
Running Back: 4.5
Somebody in the front office must really trust the seventh round. Jacory Crockett-Merritt averaged 4.6 yards per carry as a rookie but also had a brutal three-game stretch against Seattle, Detroit, and Miami where he ran 32 times for 96 total yards. That’s 3.0 per carry. Rachaad White turns 27 this year and is fine. He catches passes well. He doesn’t scare anybody as a runner. Rookie Kaytron Allen is physical but looks like a backup at best. Jerome Ford is a depth piece. This group needs somebody to emerge.
Wide Receiver: 3.1
Terry McLaurin is 31 and coming off a 13-touchdown season. That’s great. But in the three years before Daniels arrived, McLaurin got 130-plus targets each season and barely cracked 1,000 yards with single-digit scores. Age-31 wideouts don’t usually get better. Behind him, Luke McCaffrey has shown almost nothing in two years. Third-round pick Antonio Williams is an unknown. Treylon Burks hasn’t come close to his first-round ceiling. After that you get Jaylin Lane, Dyami Brown, Van Jefferson, and a bunch of long shots. The ceilings in this room are low enough to duck under.
Tight End: 5.8
Chig Okonkwo has hope. He caught 70 balls once with the Titans but rarely found the end zone. Washington needs a scoring threat at tight end. John Bates blocks like a sixth lineman. Ben Sinnott has been invisible for two NFL seasons. This group is fine but far from a weapon.
Offensive Tackle: 8.8
Tunsil locks down the left side. On the right, Josh Conerly Jr. has the potential to be really good. If he hits, that’s a top-10 tackle duo. Brandon Coleman is a capable backup. After that, it’s unknowns. This is one of the stronger spots on the roster.
Guard: 6.5
Sam Cosmi graded at 76.3 by PFF last season, which is legit top-10 production. Chris Paul graded at 49.5, which is not starter material. Andrew Wylie is fine as a backup but not somebody you want playing heavy snaps. Solid but not great.
Center: 3.4
This is the problem area. Nick Allegretti is 30 and a career guard. He started 17 games at guard for Washington in 2024, which is half his career starts in seven seasons. His PFF grade of 42.3 is ugly. He insists center is his natural position. “Center’s been my position, kind of my whole life,” Allegretti told reporters. “I love the mental side of that game.” The backups are Matt Gulbin and Julian Good-Jones. This group scares you.
Defensive Interior: 6.7
Daron Payne is still there but his 60.8 PFF grade suggests he’s not the guy he used to be. He turns 29 this season. Tim Settle graded at 71.5 and could form a nice tandem. Javon Kinlaw was overpaid and everybody except the GM knows it. The hope is Jer’Zhan Newton takes a step forward and pushes Kinlaw out of the lineup.
Inside Linebacker: 8.9
This could be the strength of the defense. Rookie Sonny Styles has impressed everybody. “He has hit all the marks that you can at this time of year,” head coach Dan Quinn said. “The knowledge, the intensity to go for it. Man, are we pumped with him.” Leo Chenal graded at 75.3 and gives Washington a potential dynamic duo. If Frankie Luvu gets back to his 2024 form, there’s real depth.
Edge Rusher: 7.2
Odafe Oweh had a 10-sack season with the Ravens in 2024 and graded at 75.5. K’Lavon Chaisson had 7.5 sacks in just 10 starts for New England last year. Dorance Armstrong and rookie Josha Josephs provide depth. Charles Omenihu and Javontae Jean-Baptiste could factor in. Luvu might even line up outside sometimes. Solid potential here.
Cornerback: 5.0
Long a weakness. Trey Amos graded at 55.8 last year but might have the highest ceiling in the room. Mike Sanristil needs to prove he can play outside. Amik Robertson is a question mark. The depth is thin and the track record is shaky. This group needs somebody to step up.
Safety: 6.2
Nick Cross and Quan Martin are listed as starters. PFF likes Jeremy Reaves (63.7) and Percy Butler (69.3) better. If Cross and Martin are legit, the depth is excellent. If not, the team still has decent options. Not a disaster but not a strength.
Kicker: 5.5
Jake Moody has a career percentage of 78. League average is around 85. He went 10 of 11 for Washington last year and 8 of 9 for Chicago before that. But he started 1 for 3 in San Francisco and they moved on. It’s hard to trust him to stay in the 90 percent range. He might be the first of multiple kickers again.
Punter: 5.0
Tress Way is a three-time Pro Bowler. He also graded at 44.0 by PFF, which was dead last in the league. His 2022 Pro Bowl season came when he ranked 30th in the NFL. The honor seems to outrun the actual performance. Solid name, shaky numbers.
Kick Returners: 7.8
Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane are the options. Lane could be dynamic on punts. Antonio Williams might factor in too. This group has some juice and could be a real weapon.
Add it all up and divide by 14 positions. The overall grade is 6.2. That points to a 9-8 or 10-7 type season. Not bad. Not great. Just average. And that might be exactly what Washington is.
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