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Washington Commanders to fill two more offensive staff vacancies
Stapleton was recently
named a possible name to know by ESPN’s John Keim after noting he’s someone the coaching staff is high on. Stapleton is in his third season with the organization and previously serving as the assistant offensive line coach, his first job in the NFL. He previously spent two seasons as the offensive line coach at Florida under Billy Napier after stints at Louisiana, Sam Houston, Bucknell and Rutgers. He also served as head coach of the New York Sharks, a member team in the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA), back in 2018.
Stapleton also spent four seasons in the NFL including his first three with the Pittsburgh Steelers after signing as an undrafted free agent following the 2007 NFL Draft. He started the final 12 games of the 2008 season at right guard before being placed on injured reserve ahead of the 2009 season due to injury. He also played for the Florida Tuskers in the UFL during 2010 before closing out his playing career on the New England Patriots during the 2009 preseason.
Toub, meanwhile, is now back for his fourth season with the organization after spending the prior three as an offensive quality control coach. He began his coaching career with the Chicago Bears where he spent the first two seasons as an offensive assistant coach beginning in 2018 before transitioning to a defensive quality control coach in 2020 for two seasons. His dad is Dave Toub, the current assistant head coach and special teams coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Stapleton and Toub [will] inherit an offensive line that hopes to extend Laremy Tunsil and re-sign Chris Paul to restock the protection for third-year quarterback Jayden Daniels as the Washington Commanders look to turn the page from their five-win season in 2025.
Commanders.com
Logan Paulsen explains how Commanders can win NFL Draft
Logan Paulsen believes the best way for the team to “win” the draft is to make sure it puts just as much emphasis on the players taken on Days 2 and 3.
“That is 1,000% true,” Paulsen said on this week’s “Drive to the Draft” podcast. “You just get more picks there. You got a third-, fourth-, fifth-, sixth-, seventh-round pick. That’s [five] guys right there that are gonna provide some role for your team.”
The Commanders, who have drafted 14 players so far under Peters, have found multiple players who fit that mold. Jer’Zhan Newton — taken No. 36 overall in 2024 — is a key part of the defensive line rotation. Luke McCaffrey, who was taken with the final pick of the third round later that year, emerged as a reliable kickoff returner with promise as a slot receiver. Washington’s 2025 draft class, though nearly half as large, included players like cornerback Trey Amos, Jaylin Lane and Jacory Croskey-Merritt who were either starters or key contributors last season.
“Maybe it’s the special teams linebacker who comes in for certain packages on second down,” Paulsen said. “I think that’s the thing that differentiates those rounds. That’s where you get depth; you get developmental pieces.”
Paulsen points out that teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, who have won the NFC East for the last two seasons, are exceptional at finding ways to “nail their third-, fourth- and fifth-round picks. For example, Tyler Steen, who was taken in the third round of the 2023 draft, was the team’s starting right guard last season. Will Shipley — taken in the fourth round of the 2024 draft — was Saquon Barkley’s primary backup and had 777 kickoff return yards in 2025.
ESPN
2026 NFL draft: Big questions for teams with top-10 picks
[T]he defense needs youth, speed and athleticism — especially on the edge.
The Commanders have one rotational defensive lineman under 28 years old. Their top pass rusher, Dorance Armstrong, tore his ACL in October. But realistically, every area of the defense needs to be upgraded after the team finds a new coordinator.
Riggo’s Rag
5 free agents who could reunite with Commanders head coach Dan Quinn in 2026
Commanders could sign Donovan Wilson
The Commanders need a rethink in their safety room. Whatever general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn have done so far just hasn’t worked. And with the stakes getting higher under the glaring microscope of underachievement, no stone should be left unturned.
Too much faith was placed in Quan Martin. The Commanders let Kamren Curl walk in 2024 free agency so he could move onto the defensive back end. They did the same with Jeremy Chinn to ensure the former Illinois standout became the top dog in Washington’s safety unit. Both maneuvers failed spectacularly, and the defensive back’s regression makes his status far from secure.
Nobody would shed many tears if Will Harris were let go after one season. Jeremy Reaves, Tyler Owens, and Percy Butler look like special-teams performers and nothing more. Decisive action is needed, which could mean a discussion is had about Donovan Wilson.
Wilson was a mainstay on Dallas’ defense once again in 2025, logging 71 tackles, five pass breakups, and two interceptions. There were times when he became a liability in coverage, but one also has to consider the complete lack of productivity on the Cowboys’ defensive front seven.
Before that, he’s been a very useful contributor. It’s also worth noting that Wilson’s best seasons in the NFL came under Quinn.
Heavy.com
Atlanta Falcons Keep Jeff Ulbrich as DC, Commanders Continue Search
With Ulbrich no longer available, Washington will shift focus to other candidates. Their recent interview with Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores appears likely to end with Flores remaining with the Vikings, if he doesn’t get a head coaching job. The next candidate under consideration is former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon. Gannon is reportedly eyeing a coordinator job to restore his reputation after finishing his tenure in Arizona with a 15-36 record.
Gannon utilizes a quarters defense that can feature five players near the line of scrimmage to counter spread offenses. His scheme is adaptable for both 4-3 and 3-4 formations, focusing on the defensive backfield.
Another candidate for Washington is Karl Scott, Seattle Seahawks‘ passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach. Seattle allowed just 292 points in 2025, the fewest in the league. Their pass defense excelled, surrendering less than 200 yards 11 times, and only Baker Mayfield in Week 5 and Matthew Stafford in Week 16 surpassed 300 passing yards against them. However, Scott has never called defensive plays, as his focus has been on concepts and position groups rather than overall playcalling.
Another coach in the mix is Patrick Graham, formerly of the Las Vegas Raiders, who could fit Quinn’s aggressive approach. Graham, a Bill Belichick disciple, has adapted those teachings into his own system. Known for generating pressure, he prefers to free up linebackers by employing at least two large defensive linemen to fortify the line of scrimmage.
Bullock’s Film Room (subscription)
Breaking down the pros and cons to the known defensive coordinator candidates for the Commanders
The search for a new defensive coordinator is dragging on for the Washington Commanders, as it is for most of the league. With so many teams firing their head coaches and overhauling their staffs, many of the top candidates are involved in head coaching interviews and giving those priority over defensive coordinator jobs. That means those looking for a new defensive coordinator, like the Commanders, could have to wait for another week or so while these head coaching positions fill out.
We do know, however, who the likely candidates are. At this point, the Commanders are known to have interviewed Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson and Seahawks defensive backs coach/pass game coordinator Karl Scott. We also know that they had significant interest in Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, but he’s been retained by new head coach Keven Stefanski. Former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris has strong ties to Washington via Dan Quinn and would make sense, but he hasn’t interviewed for the position as far as we know.
All of those interviews took place last week. We’ve not heard of any more interviews this week so far, though perhaps they’ve managed to keep those quiet. But for now it seems like that is their list. So I thought I’d go over a quick pros and cons of each option, having watched their respective defenses a little bit since last week.
Commanders.com
Local radio host makes his pitch for Commanders’ DC candidates
“We’ve got 30+ free agents. Most of those guys ain’t coming back! We are going to remake this in your image.”
“We’re going to be acquiring player after player after player, including probably a first-round pick, maybe multiple, if we’re able to trade back. We’re going to give you some of the pieces to have the kind of defense you want.”
“Here’s the difference. You can have a good defense and it will actually make a difference. If you’re okay with this defense in the near future, with the way our vision, our plan works, we’ve got this guy, Jayden Daniels, on the offensive side. If he has a nice, healthy season, you could be in the conference championship game, by making (causing) a couple turnovers here and there, and a quarterback that’s going to right a lot of wrongs.”
It was a good listen, and Rouhier was 100 percent correct. The Commanders should be advertising Daniels for whatever and whomever they need.
Commanders Roundtable
Analyst answers Washington Commanders backup quarterback question
Daniels, who will also suit up in Riyadh in Fanatics’ event in March, is one of two quarterbacks under contract next season alongside Sam Hartman, who the staff elected to bypass for starting consideration over the final two games after starting Josh Johnson and signing Jeff Driskel from Arizona. And after watching Daniels struggle with health in 2025, who the backup quarterback is in 2026 is worth tracking.
Nick Shook of NFL.com pointed to Marcus Mariota as one of eight quarterbacks who must be re-signed this offseason, joining Malik Willis in Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh, Daniel Jones in Indianapolis, Tyler Huntley in Baltimore, Gardner Minshew in Kansas City, Jimmy Garoppolo with the Rams and Trey Lance with the Chargers.
Podcasts & videos
DEEBO: Washington Commanders Face TOUGH Choice—Will Deebo Samuel SIGN or WALK After 2026?
NFC East links
Bleeding Green Nation
Eagles reportedly miss out on their top offensive coordinator target
The Philadelphia Eagles won’t be hiring Mike McDaniel to replace Kevin Patullo.
The former Miami Dolphins head coach is expected to become the new Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator, according to a report from ESPN.
McDaniel apparently wants to work with Justin Herbert instead of Jalen Hurts.
This development is disappointing news for the Eagles, who reportedly had McDaniel as their top OC candidate.
More from the Inquirer earlier on Tuesday:
In the past week, the Eagles have made it known to sources around the league that hiring former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as their new offensive coordinator is their No. 1 offseason priority. That includes fired Giants coach Brian Daboll, who is expected to interview for the position this week. Virtually no amount of money, literally no amount of autonomy, and no fear of conflict would deter the team from signing McDaniel, a respected offensive innovator.
Eagles fans also seemed to be pretty intrigued by McDaniel. It would’ve been interesting to see his approach in Philly. Alas, we won’t get the chance.
The Eagles might need to act fast to get their next choice or else risk losing [him] to another team.
Bleeding Green Nation
List of 2026 Eagles free agents
Howie Roseman will have some tough roster decisions to make, especially with the defensive side of the ball.
Despite their long list of shortcomings, the Eagles still have one of the highest paid offenses, which will make the decisions Roseman makes on defense even more challenging. They still have several players on rookie deals, but several key members of the team are set to be free agents.
Of those set to hit the market, some of the more notable names, include LB Nakobe Dean, EDGE Jaelan Phillips, and S Reed Blankenship. There’s also Brandon Graham who came out of retirement mid-season to help the Eagles down the stretch, but he’ll either go back to retired, or see if the team would offer him another one-year deal — which they probably would because he was still playing at an elite level and is big leader in the locker room.
On offense, Roseman might consider bringing OT Fred Johnson back to keep depth behind Lane Johnson, and as someone they could develop to be his ultimate replacement. The other lineman the team might be interested in re-signing is Brett Toth, who was able to fill in multiple positions up front, including center.
As for the tight end group, three are set to hit free agency, and after setting a new franchise record for touchdowns by a TE, Dallas Goedert will be the biggest miss if they let him walk.
[Over the Cap estimates that, with 63 players under contract, the Eagles will have approximately $10.5m in available cap space this offseason. Because of how highly leveraged all the current contracts are, GM Howie Roseman, similar to last year, has few options for creating more salary cap room.]
Blogging the Boys
Cowboys need to hit home runs this offseason to avoid last place in the NFC East
With the New York Giants going out and hiring John Harbaugh as their next head coach, the NFC East has three coaches leading their teams who have made a Super Bowl in their careers. The only one yet to make one is Brian Schottenheimer.
With the division looking a lot more competitive than it has in recent history, there’s a chance whoever finishes last in the NFC East has a winning record. Look at the NFC North. The Detroit Lions were fourth in their division with a 9-8 record. They beat the Cowboys 44-30 this year.
Every team in the division will be looking to reload after disappointing seasons. The Washington Commanders let go of both coordinators and are looking to maximize their rookie window with Jayden Daniels at quarterback. Adam Peters, the team’s general manager, has not been shy about being aggressive in free agency or in the trade market to make the team better. That’s what got the Commanders to the NFC Championship game way ahead of schedule.
The Giants also have a rookie quarterback they are excited about, and the future of their organization. With a healthy Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo, and Malik Nabers leading the team on offense and Dexter Lawrence, Abdul Carter, and Brian Burns on defense, New York has a ton of talent that was in desperate need of guidance and leadership. That’s why the team went after Harbaugh with everything they had and handed him the keys to the organization.
Of course, there’s also the Philadelphia Eagles, who are not afraid to counter their mistakes in a big way, making sure they don’t happen again the following year. They are also looking for a new offensive coordinator to help elevate the offense to pair it with their championship-level defense. The Eagles are determined to pursue the top options available on the market.
This is the offseason for action, considering the quarterback and Jones don’t have much sand left in the hourglass for a championship run for different reasons.
Big Blue View
10 questions John Harbaugh needs to answer as NY Giants introduce new head coach
Will you consider retaining any current Giants assistants?
There seems to be some confusion about the status of assistant coaches with the Giants at the end of the 2025 season. Those coaches, to my knowledge, are still under contract to the Giants.
There was one report that some of those coaches had already been told by Harbaugh that they would be let go. Another report indicated that assistant coaches would meet with Harbaugh later this week in what would amount to an interview to keep their jobs.
When I checked with an assistant coach, he was in the dark and had no information either way. That could indicate that assistant coaches are being considered on a case-by-case, or coach-by-coach, basis.
One of the big reasons Harbaugh is now the Giants coach, and that Joe Schoen remains the general manager, is that ownership seems to believe coaching was at the root of the Giants’ issues the past couple of seasons. That could make it difficult for the Giants to keep many of the coaches left from Brian Daboll’s staff.
Losing close games and big leads has been a habit here. How does that change?
The Giants, as their fan base knows all too well, excruciatingly lost five games during the 2025 season in which they held double-digit leads. Over the past two seasons they have gone 2-14 in one-score games. They blamed 1-8 in one-score games in 2024 on poor quarterback play, and 1-6 in such games in 2025 on bad defense.
Will Harbaugh have the answer? It is a valid question. The Ravens were 1-5 in one-score games during the 2025 season. With a two-time MVP quarterback in Lamar Jackson at the helm over the past eight seasons, Baltimore never reached the Super Bowl. That period of time is littered with close playoff losses and games during which Harbaugh’s game plans or late-game decisions were questioned.
How does he learn, or how has he learned, from such failures? How can he help the Giants learn to avoid the inexplicable losses that have defined their last couple of seasons?
Second acts have been a mixed bag for successful coaches. Why are you confident this will work?
No coach who has won a Super Bowl as coach of one team has ever done so as coach of a second team. Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos, who won one with the New Orleans Saints, has a chance to change that history this season. To do so, though, he will have to hope backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham can summon his best Jeff Hostetler impersonation after the unfortunate season-ending injury to Bo Nix.
A high degree of success in one place does not, though, guarantee that same high level of success in another place.
Andy Reid has had more success with the Kansas City Chiefs than he did with the Philadelphia Eagles. Tom Coughlin won both of his Super Bowl titles with the Giants, his second stop as an NFL head coach. Bill Belichick’s run with the New England Patriots followed a losing tenure with the Cleveland Browns.
Mike McCarthy, Bill Parcells, Mike Shanahan and Mike Holmgren are all Super Bowl-winning coaches who not only did not win Super Bowls in a second stop, but did not win games nearly as often as they had.
NFL league links
Selected coaching updates
Discussion topics
ESPN
NFL exec predictions: A.J. Brown traded, key players get franchise tag
Making bold predictions on an upcoming NFL season is a tough business. It’s like the draft — hitting on 40-50% of first-round picks is very hard to do.
We here at ESPN like the challenge so much that each January we ask industry sources around the league to forecast the season. The possibilities are limitless: free agency signings, retirements, contenders and pretenders, trades and MVP favorites.
Eagles trade A.J. Brown to the Bills
Brown’s happy-to-be-here quotient in Philly is miserably low. He’s a great player and great players are hard to replace. But the Eagles have never been scared to make a move due to the salary cap implications. The Eagles actually can save $7 million on the cap by trading Brown after June 1.
And it feels like it’s time. Some league execs have felt that way since October.
“The Bills have to upgrade there — their best receiver is Khalil Shakir, who is a nice player but he’s not a top guy,” an NFL personnel evaluator said. “Brown is an immediate upgrade and he’s still young [turning 29 in June]. And the Eagles can build the passing game around DeVonta Smith and a high draft pick.”
Other potential fits, via NFL scouts: the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders.
George Pickens’ situation in Dallas gets sticky
The Cowboys are expected to franchise-tag Pickens, which would pay him around $28 million next season. But Pickens will want a long-term deal above that number, and if Dallas doesn’t give him that, some around the league wonder whether he stays away from the team for a large portion of the offseason or even training camp.
“I just don’t see him, coming off the season he had, welcoming the tag with open arms,” a veteran AFC coach said.
Falcons franchise-tag Kyle Pitts Sr.
Pitts’ fifth season was his best as a pro, with 88 catches for 928 yards and 5 touchdowns.
The tag for tight ends projects to be $15.9 million.
“The number is reasonable and is a good basis for a long-term deal for him,” an AFC executive said. “Not sure what they do with Drake London but keeping Pitts seems like a good move at this stage.”
NFL Draft
Commanders.com
Check out every player invited to the 2026 Senior Bowl
We’re nearing the end of January, which means that it’s almost time for some of the best college prospects in the country to meet in Mobile, Alabama, for the 2026 Senior Bowl.
Previously meant for only the top senior prospects, the all-star game now includes some of the best draft-eligible underclassmen, providing NFL teams with a look at an even deeper talent pool.
This year’s practices will take place at Hancock Whitney Stadium on Jan. 27-29 with coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ET on NFL Network and NFL+ each day. The actual game will be on Jan. 31 with a scheduled 2:30 p.m. ET kickoff and will be broadcast on NFL Network and NFL+.
Here is a full list of all the players with accepted invites broken down by position.
Full rosters for 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl
NFL teams have shifted their focus towards evaluating prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft, and this year’s East-West Shrine Bowl will offer them a chance to see nearly 140 players compete and show off their skill sets.
Players will begin arriving in Frisco, Texas, later this week to participate in interviews. Practices will begin on Jan. 23 at The Star practice facility and continue until Jan. 26. The actual game will be on Jan. 27 with a 6 p.m. kickoff at The Star.
Here’s a full look at the rosters for the East and West teams.
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