Dann Quinn reveals this offseason will be like no other for the Commanders and it’s exactly what they need after a bad year
The Commanders have a long road ahead when it comes to getting back to postseason form, but they are operating under the right conditions to do just that.
The Washington Commanders know how important the 2026 offseason is when it comes to getting back to the 2024 form that dominated NFL headlines.
And Dan Quinn made sure to express as much when he spoke with reporters ahead of Tuesday’s OTAs.
“I do fully expect this to be our most competitive camp that we’ve had going into Year 3,” said Quinn. “That’s when you’re kind of pushing everybody to see where we can get to … there’s going to be some battles that you guys are going to be covering that won’t be decided after one day, and there’s going to be times, you know, (where) we’re going to work our way all the way through it.”
Commanders’ roster is full of competition at nearly every position
Frankly, it’s easier to name the positions that are locked up rather than the open jobs, but what’s the fun in that?
Let’s start with the receiver room, where the pecking order goes as far as Terry McLaurin. The Commanders currently don’t have a set WR2 option, leaving many to think the newly-acquired Chigoziem Okonkwo will be the second target behind McLaurin, even if he’s a tight end.
Either way, rookie Antonio Williams is expected to provide a lot of help in 2026. After him it’s former first-rounder Treylon Burks, Luke McCaffrey, and Dyami Brown as the top options, with others sprinkled in.
Deebo Samuel has been the closest thing to a reliable WR2 over the last couple of years and the Commanders will have to find a way to replace his production.
The running back room is crowded, as well. Newcomer Rachaad White is the favorite to handle the bulk of snaps, but everyone saw what Bill Croskey-Merritt can do as a rookie. Then, there’s team-favorite Jeremy McNichols and fifth-round rookie Kaytron Allen in the mix, along with veteran Jerome Ford and UDFA rookie Robert Henry Jr.
Nick Allegretti is currently the lead for the starting center position, but don’t rule out rookie Matt Gulbin, just yet.
It’s the same on defense. Outside the defensive line – competition is everywhere. New EDGEs K’Lavon Chaisson and Odafe Oweh are looking to make an immediate impact, while Frankie Luvu, Leo Chenal, Sonny Styles, and Jordan Magee will all battle it out for snaps.
In the secondary, Nick Cross will vie for a starting job and nothing is guaranteed for the other safety spot, as well. Quan Martin, Will Harris, and Jeremy Reaves will all have to compete if they want the starting job.
Cornerback is pretty much penciled in, but there are questions. How will Trey Amos fare after a bad injury? Can Amik Robertson and Mike Sainristil return to their 2024 form? How much does Akhello Witherspoon have left in the tank?
None of this is getting too deep into the depth positions, where there is even more competition.
Regardless, this is exactly what the Commanders need in order to get back on the winning track. Iron sharpens iron and as cliche as that is, it’s the truth. We’ll see just how much sharper Washington will be in 2026.