How can Washington recover in 2026?

Confession time.

This blog has been a long time coming—writing about this Washington Commanders season isn’t easy.

But take a deep breath: here we are in 2025. The burgundy and gold bandage has finally been ripped away, and now we see the true state of the Commanders nation. It’s not a pleasant sight, but with an eye toward the future, how can Washington recover in 2026? UKHTTC founder Christian Burt shares his perspective.

The Quarterback

The quarterback in D.C. has faced a season filled with frustration. Jayden Daniels delivered an extraordinary rookie performance in 2024 and was a key factor in the team's journey to the NFC Championship game. Yet, every positive comes with its drawbacks. This impressive run may have overly encouraged Adam Peters, the first-year GM, who seemed to expect Daniels could lead the team through 2025. Peters' decision to trade away draft picks for players like cornerback Marshon Lattimore proved unwise.

Nevertheless, Washington is set to enter the 2026 draft holding a very high pick—likely within the top six, based on their schedule after the bye week—and quarterback will not be a need. This presents a valuable chance to select top-tier talent, either for defense or offense.

The high draft pick

The urge to trade back will be strong. However, I’m reluctant to make that move. Peters needs this draft to be a major success, so my focus is on choosing the best available talent. There’s a chance to secure a vital position on a rookie deal—be it one of the highly regarded wide receivers (Tyson, Lemon), standout edge rushers (Bain Jnr), or even an exceptional safety like Caleb Downs from Ohio State.

Although the front office made an error by sacrificing a second-round pick in the Lattimore deal, a trade down shouldn’t be used to fix that mistake. The priority should be landing a top-tier playmaker in 2026, which outweighs concern for the team’s long-term record that year.

Decent salary cap

Both the 2026 draft and free agency will be a significant test for Peters, whose reputation has shifted from highly praised to somewhat questioned in recent times.

By 2026, the Commanders are expected to be far from championship contention—this truly marks the beginning of their rebuild. Jayden should be recognised as a potential star capable of taking over games, but not burdened with unrealistic "Superman" expectations, which would not serve him or the team well.

Washington isn't in salary cap trouble, but they do have numerous roster gaps, especially with so many players set to become free agents after the 2025 season. I wouldn't mind if the Commanders adopted a cautious approach in 2026 free agency, perhaps making just one major signing.

Internally, they could consider extending LT Laremy Tunsil's contract, although it might be wiser to let him start the 2026 season and revisit the decision mid-year.

There are at least two veterans who should not return in 2026—tight end Zach Ertz and defensive end Von Miller. Bobby Wagner may also be reaching the end of his career; however, he's still the team's top tackler and continues to deliver in defensive red zone situations. A stronger defensive coordinator could reduce Wagner’s exposure in coverage, maximizing his strengths. If Wagner is willing to stay for half his 2025 salary, that option deserves consideration.

Though it may seem harsh, I wouldn’t re-sign pending free agents who suffered injuries in 2025. Therefore, players like Jonathan Jones (CB), Deatrich Wise (DE), Austin Ekeler (RB), and Noah Brown (WR) would not return. The Commanders might consider targeting a running back in free agency to pair with Daniels, such as Breece Hall or Kenneth Walker III.

Other clear needs include cornerback, safety, linebacker, edge rusher, and wide receiver—with the latter two positions likely addressed through the draft.

Permanent regression or a blip?

From a personnel perspective, there is a credible basis to attribute the team's regression to a pronounced lack of cohesion. The situation was compounded by the WR1 (McLaurin) holding out—an unfavourable scenario for a sophomore quarterback—and a growing list of injuries as the season progressed. Both starting pass rushers were sidelined, along with the WR1, RB1, the backfield leader, a promising rookie cornerback, and notably, Daniels also suffered two injuries during the campaign.

For players such as Mike Sainristil, Frankie Luvu, and Quan Martin, the 2025 season has represented a significant step backward. There are now questions about whether this trio can perform at an NFL-calibre level, as they were expected to provide reliability.

On a positive note, Ben Sinnott (TE) and Luke McCaffrey (WR, who has also been injured) have shown promise, while Josh Conerly Jr. is beginning to solidify his place at right tackle following a challenging start to his professional career as a first-round rookie. Conversely, DT Johnny Newton has yet to demonstrate the impact expected from a 2024 second-round selection in the 2025 season.

Six to go

What should we look for? It seems sensible to give younger players more opportunities—take Jordan Magee at linebacker for the Commanders, for instance. His teammate, Kain Medrano, has shown impressive speed and strong performance on special teams; is he ready to start in the NFL?

There’s ongoing debate about whether a healthy Jayden Daniels should play or sit out the remainder of 2025. Some say he needs more experience in the league, especially with adequate protection from a solid offensive line, while others argue that it’s better to rest your star quarterback.

Personally, I don’t have a strong preference either way, but I expect the team will choose to keep Daniels on the field.