Editor’s note: Each day, Hogs Haven compiles a collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, with a sprinkling of other stuff. Enjoy!
Commanders links
Articles
ESPN
Projecting 2026 NFL rookie leaders in 10 stat categories
Tackles
1. Sonny Styles, Washington Commanders: 123
2. Arvell Reese, New York Giants:
3. CJ Allen, Indianapolis Colts: 94
T-4. Caleb Downs, Dallas Cowboys: 82
T-4. Dillon Thieneman, Chicago Bears: 82
Shaquille Leonard’s 163 tackles in 2018 are the most by a rookie
over the past decade, though he is one of only four rookies (all picked in the first two rounds) to reach 125 during the span. In fact, zero rookies reached 100 tackles in 2023 or 2024 prior to three (Carson Schwesinger, Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter) hitting that total in 2025.
Styles’ projection is a big one, as 122 would be sixth most among rookies over the past decade. The large number isn’t by accident, as the No. 7 overall pick is expected to replace Bobby Wagner as a near-every-down player in the middle of Washington’s defense. Reese (No. 5 overall) was selected before Styles, but his role (is he more of an edge or an off-ball linebacker?) is a little less clear. Considering the underwhelming state of the Colts’ off-ball linebacker room, Allen has a path to a full-time role as a second-round pick.
The most tackles by a rookie safety over the past decade is 147 by Jalen Pitre in 2022. Only 12 others reached 80 during that span, with three hitting 100. First-rounders Downs and Thieneman are positioned as every-down starters in Dallas and Chicago, respectively. Both should put up solid tackle numbers in Year 1.
Sports Illustrated
NFL Draft picks that already look dangerously close to getting cut
Athan Kaliakmanis, QB, Washington Commanders
It was a little surprising to see the Washington Commanders select quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis in the seventh round. Such late-round picks are dart throws, but he feels like a known asset after making 42 college starts. Marcus Mariota is among the better backup quarterbacks in the NFL behind Jayden Daniels. Will the Commanders carry three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, or will Adam Peters attempt to sneak Kaliakmanis onto Washington’s practice squad? He makes full-field reads with mechanics, but maintaining poise under pressure has been an issue.
Heavy.com
Commanders Rookie QB Athan Kaliakmanis Expected to Replace Popular Veteran
While Washington brings backup Marcus Mariota back for a 3rd season on a 3rd consecutive 1-year contract to play behind Daniels, they showed they don’t have as much confidence in their 3rd quarterback spot, occupied by popular reserve Sam Hartman the last 2 seasons.
The Commanders drafted Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis in the 7th round (No. 223 overall) of the 2026 NFL draft — a move that seems to show they’re keen to move on from Hartman.
“Jayden Daniels is the runaway No. 1 QB, Marcus Mariota the clear No. 2,” ESPN’s John Keim wrote. “Kaliakmanis enters after that, as he must unseat Sam Hartman for the No. 3 job. Hartman struggled last preseason, and Washington clearly views Kaliakmanis as someone who can win the job. He is also a good fit in new coordinator David Blough’s play-action system. The question is whether Kaliakmanis is able to develop into a No. 2 option, but we’ll have to wait a couple years to answer that.”
The Commanders essentially showed they have zero faith in Hartman at the end of the 2025 regular season when, having already been eliminated from the playoffs, they decided to bring in journeyman quarterback Josh Johnson to start 2 games late in the season with both Daniels and Mariota out.
If Hartman didn’t know the Commanders’ offensive system after 2 years playing there, there’s some question as to why they would even be keeping him on the practice squad, where he’s been parked most of the last 2 seasons.
Commanders.com
Washington is the right culture fit for Athan Kaliakmanis
Kaliakmanis is joining the Commanders’ roster with no mystery about his role. Jayden Daniels is the undisputed starter on the team, and Marcus Mariota is the primary backup. Kaliakmanis is here to compete for the third spot on the depth chart — a role that will require him to play few, if any, reps in the best circumstances. If he wins that job from incumbent Sam Hartman, he will learn the offense and focus on his development to possibly compete for the primary backup role in the near future.
Kaliakmanis isn’t shying away from that. It’s actually what excites him the most that he can learn from the “greatness” he said exists in the Commanders’ quarterback room.
“These are great QBs with historic stats,” Kaliakmanis said. “All three of them have historic stats. I’m excited to learn from them. I’m excited to come in and compete but learn; take as much as I possibly can from each one of them. They’ve done great things in their careers, and one day, I hope to do what they do.”
And when it comes to what he can bring to the room in the immediate future, it’s a lot of what already exists: competitiveness, a good work ethic and his intelligence.
“I feel like I’m getting smarter as a football player,” Kaliakmanis said. “If they have questions or if I have questions, we’re just gonna work together as a team, and we’re gonna help each other get better.”
The Athletic (paywall)
UDFA kicker Drew Stevens could be one to watch
It’s been seven years since the Washington Commanders had one kicker for a full season who finished above the league average in field goal percentage.
Seven. Years.
In the span since Dustin Hopkins made 83.3 percent of his field goal attempts in 2019, Washington’s NFL team has rebranded twice, changed its uniforms at least three times, started nearly a dozen quarterbacks, hired two head coaches, had a change in ownership and broken ground on a new stadium in D.C. And yet, the franchise is still searching for that consistent specialist to spell the offense and do what so many kickers now do routinely: hit 50-plus-yard field goals with consistency.
Kicker Drew Stevens, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound undrafted rookie out of Iowa, signed with Washington after the draft and will compete with incumbent Jake Moody for a spot on the initial 53-man roster. The team re-signed Moody to a one-year deal in March after acquiring him during the season amid issues with former kicker Matt Gay.
Kicker is one of multiple jobs up for grabs in Washington, but it could be one of the most impactful — for better or worse.
At a time when special teams are significantly influencing the outcomes of games, and when kickers are proving their value well beyond routine 33-yard extra-point attempts, Washington’s shortcomings at the position have been costly.
The value of the 40-yard kick, a specialty of Hopkins’ in his seven seasons in Washington, has diminished. Kickers are bigger, stronger and arriving at the pro level with more specialized training.
Stevens will be No. 9 on the Commanders’ list of recent kickers, but he has a resume that fits what Washington has been searching for at the position.
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranked Stevens as the third-best kicker in the Class of 2026 with the projection he could go in the seventh round of the draft.
A former high school soccer player, Stevens set or equaled school records at Iowa for the most made field goals (76), 50-plus-yard field goals (12) and longest field goal (58 yards) and was one of three kickers invited to the NFL Scouting Combine.
In his four seasons of kicking at Iowa, he connected on 80.0 percent of his field goal attempts (76 of 95) and missed only two of 126 extra-point attempts.
WUSA9
Commanders 2026 joint practices: Miami and Baltimore dates locked in
The Washington Commanders attempted in 2025 to host a joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens, but the two teams ultimately canceled it, with head coach Dan Quinn citing scheduling conflicts as one of the drivers behind the decision. This preseason, the two geographical neighbors will take another run at it (this time at the Ravens’ home), while the Burgundy and Gold will also play host to one day of joint practice with the Miami Dolphins.
Dolphins Coming to Ashburn: The Commanders are locking in a one-day joint practice session with the Miami Dolphins at Commanders Park on August 12 ahead of their preseason Week 1 matchup.
Breaking the Drought: This represents the first time the franchise has hosted a visiting NFL team for a joint practice session since 2018.
Baltimore Locked In, Detroit Out: The Ravens officially announced a road joint practice with Washington for August 26 in Owings Mills, while logistical constraints have completely ruled out a Week 2 session with the Detroit Lions.
JP Finlay substack
Commanders schedule has early trouble but opportunities later
Hard Open – Starting the 2026 NFL season with back-to-back division games on the road presents a difficult task for Washington. Following that up with a home opener against the freaking Super Bowl champs makes it among the hardest opening stretch in football. Seriously: @ Philly, @ Dallas, home against Seattle. The Commanders will likely be underdogs in all three contests, and after that get “rewarded” with a home game in London. Seattle at home does present an immediate chance for Washington to show improvement from last season. As much as the Commanders got blown out in 2025, no game was as lopsided as the home loss to the Seahawks. It was 31-7 at halftime and Jayden Daniels got hurt late in that game. Remember the whole “Dan Quinn was going to take Jayden out and then he got hurt” storyline? Week 3. It’s back.
Wood chopping season – From Week 10 to 13 the Commanders don’t face a single playoff team from last season. Three of those four teams had worse records than the Commanders last year (NYG, Arizona and Tennessee). Granted, Washington also missed the playoffs last year, but if the Commanders can get through the first nine weeks of the year hovering close to .500 then real opportunities open up to rip off a 3 or 4-game win streak.
WTOP
Rest easy, Commanders fans — 2026 schedule is a gift within the NFL’s misplaced priorities
[A]nalysis shows there are structural advantages baked into Washington’s calendar — and they come with an uncomfortable asterisk.
According to NFL analyst Warren Sharp’s annual rest disparity analysis, Washington enters 2026 with more than nine days of net rest over its opponents — meaning across 17 games, the Commanders will enjoy substantially more rest than their opponents on a cumulative basis. That figure ranks fourth in the entire league, alongside Dallas, Buffalo and Chicago.
“In four of the last five seasons prior to this year, they have had negative net rest handed to them by the NFL,” Sharp told WTOP. “So to get not just positive net rest, but plus nine days of net rest should stand out.”
Furthermore, the Commanders will face zero opponents off a bye week, have only one short-week road game and a Week 7 bye placed near the midpoint of the schedule. Sharp noted that Washington’s one rest-disadvantage game is almost an advantage itself.
“They only have one game where they play at a rest disadvantage all year, and it’s only a one-day rest disadvantage that happens to come Week 12 against the Arizona Cardinals, the worst team in the NFL this year,” Sharp said. “So if there’s ever a period where you want to be playing with a rest disadvantage, it’s against the worst team in the NFL.”
And when Washington has had that rest edge, it’s shown up in the results. According to Sharp, the Commanders over the last two seasons are 4-2 straight up in games where they’ve had a rest advantage — and 3-4 when they haven’t.
A to Z Sports
4 things the NFL nailed on the Commanders’ 2026 schedule: The league clearly still believes in Jayden Daniels and Co.
Commanders are once again on track to get a good chunk of the spotlight
You can’t complain about the lack of spotlight when it comes to the Commanders’ 2026 schedule, that’s for sure!
Right now, the team has eight games that are considered either primetime, standalone, or 4:25 p.m. ET kickoffs: Eagles, Cowboys, Colts, 49ers (MNF), Eagles (SNF), Giants (TNF), Bengals (MNF), and Cardinals.
That’s nearly half the schedule and more could be added down the line considering the final three games are TBD. It looks as if the league is giving the team a pass for last year’s disaster and believes it can get back to the 2024 version that captured the NFL.
Monday Night Football after TNF
The NFL did the Commanders a big favor by giving them a Monday night game after their TNF matchup. The days in-between games after Thursday night are already considered a “mini-bye”, so getting that extra day is pretty clutch.
Photos
Commanders.com
PHOTOS | 2026 rookie minicamp
Podcasts & videos
My Conversation with @Eric_Edholm
NFC East links
Blogging the Boys
Josh Downs
Josh Downs is not a pure vertical receiver, he is a chain-mover and leverage winner. His 2025 line was 58 catches for 566 yards and four touchdowns, but the important number is 36 first downs on those 58 catches, a 62.1% first-down rate. In 2024, when his role was bigger, he posted career highs with 72 catches, 803 yards and five touchdowns. Over three NFL seasons, he has 198 catches for 2,140 yards and 11 touchdowns. The deeper numbers show why Josh is a difficult matchup for a rookie nickel. He had an 18% target share, a 66% catch rate and a 8.4 yard average depth of target in 2025. That profile says the Colts use him in the underneath and intermediate areas where separation is created by timing, stems, leverage and quarterback trust rather than raw speed.
Caleb Downs
Caleb’s case is built on a different kind of evidence. At Ohio State in 2025, he produced 68 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack and two interceptions in 14 games. He allowed a 53.4 passer rating when targeted, surrendered 25 receptions in coverage and recorded two interceptions. That is the profile of a defensive back who does not need gaudy interception totals to control space.
If the standard is impact per target, Caleb should be favored. Josh’s 2025 usage was efficient but not explosive at 9.8 yards per catch and only four 20-plus-yard receptions. Caleb’s best traits are route recognition, physical tackling, zone awareness and versatility. He’s built to squeeze short-area windows, force throws underneath and prevent catch-and-run damage.
The decisive stat is first-down prevention. Josh converted over 60% of his 2025 receptions into first downs, so Caleb’s job is not merely to hold him under 60 yards. It is to make catches harmless. If Josh catches six passes but only two move the chains and none gain 20 yards, Caleb wins. If Josh catches five passes, converts three or four first downs and scores in the red zone, Josh wins. That is the real battle, not receptions, but leverage snaps.
Final Analysis
The verdict then? Caleb Downs should win the individual matchup, narrowly, because his profile is almost purpose-built for this assignment. He has the size advantage, the coverage production, the tackling résumé and the versatility Dallas wants in the nickel. Josh has the experience and route craft to steal reps, especially early, but the deeper data points toward Caleb limiting explosive damage and forcing the Colts to win elsewhere. Expect Josh to get catches, expect Caleb to win the battle.
Blogging the Boys
The Cowboys quiet new defensive anchor
[O]ne acquisition that remains largely undiscussed is free agent defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia. Today, we’ll take a closer look at the big fella and get a better sense of what the Cowboys have in their latest man in the middle acquisition.
In 2024, he looked like a legit force [for the Chargers]. He was finally healthy, starting all 17 games and logging 37 tackles. He effectively transformed from a developmental depth piece into a certified fixture along the interior of the defensive line. It wasn’t a large sample, but it was enough for the Cowboys to be interested in him, signing the 25-year-old to a one-year $2.75 million deal in March.
Here’s some fun little trivia. Ogbonnia played alongside Osa Odighizuwa for three seasons at UCLA. Ogbonnia was signed on March 10th, and Odighizuwa was traded to the 49ers on March 11th. On paper, these two former Westwood walls were teammates again for one day. Ironically, it was a change in defensive scheme that made the Cowboys go from one double-O to another.
He’s an unselfish nose tackle anchor to absorb punishment in the middle. By taking on those grueling interior double teams, Ogbonnia essentially acts as a human shield for the linebackers behind him. This setup ensures the second-level defenders stay clean, allowing them to fly downhill and make plays without an offensive guard climbing up and getting in their grill.
Furthermore, he is perfect for the gap-and-a-half technique that Parker relies on. Ogbonnia uses his raw power to control the primary A-gap, striking the center with enough force to halt any forward momentum. He keeps his eyes in the backfield to track the ball. Once the running back commits, Ogbonnia uses his strength to shed his blocker and choke out the play. It is a highly disciplined style of play that requires patience and brute strength, two traits he has mastered.
His role in the [Cowboys] defense
Looking at the blueprint for the upcoming season, his projected role on this defense is well-defined. He is going to be a classic two-down player, acting as an early-down run-stopping specialist who leaves the field when it is time to rush the passer. You should not expect him to light up the stat sheet with flashy sacks, forced fumbles, or, quite honestly, any type of splashy play except the occasional running back takedown at the line of scrimmage. Instead, he provides a solid floor for their third DT piece and allows the coaching staff to get Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark some occasional rest, keeping the entire defensive line fresh and energized down the stretch.
Ultimately, this signing represents a sound piece of roster building by the Cowboys. While everyone loves the flashy trades and higher-priced signings, Ogbonnia provides low-cost muscle and grit required to keep opposing teams in third-and-long situations. He brings the exact type of unselfish, tone-setting physicality that great defenses need. Cowboys fans should be excited to watch this absolute unit clog up the trenches and bring some old-school toughness back to the defensive interior.
Big Blue View
8 storylines as the NY Giants begin first OTAs with John Harbaugh as head coach
Employing the pass rush
With Brian Burns, 2026 No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter, 2022 No. 5 overall pick Kayvon Thibodeaux, and 2026 No. 5 overall pick Arvell Reese the Giants have an embarrassment of riches as potential stand-up pass rushers. How will Wilson deploy them? It is unlikely we will see everything Wilson has in mind this spring, but we will get an idea.
Opportunity at wide receiver
No. 1 wide receiver Malik Nabers is not expected to practice until at least late in training camp as he continues an arduous recovery from a pair of surgeries for a torn ACL. Veteran Darius Slayton will not participate in spring workouts as he recovers from core muscle surgery.
That means we will get a good look at newly-signed veteran wide receivers Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin over the next few weeks. Rookie Malachi Fields, too.
It also means there will be plenty of opportunity for players competing for the final one or two spots on the depth chart to show what they can do.
That group includes Dalen Cambre, Beaux Collins, Xavier Gipson, Ryan Miller, Isaiah Hodgins, and — yes — Jalin Hyatt. Can one or more of those players take advantage of the extra reps?
Big Blue View
Grading the Washington Commanders offseason: Did Washington get better?
Overall, it’s easy to see what Dan Quinn is attempting to do – get younger and faster on defense while adding explosive weapons on offense. There’s still a void in overall proven talent on offense, although Williams may be a diamond in the rough. Okonkwo will provide a different level of athletic ability than Ertz did, and perhaps Ben Sinnott will take a year three jump.
I was a massive Sonny Styles fan and believe he is the perfect piece for Quinn. Still, the overall personnel of Washington remains a question mark. Much of their 2026 success is contingent on Daniels’ health and development. A step from Josh Conerly Jr. on the offensive line may really assist the stability of the offense under new coordinator David Blough. I understand the vision, but remain skeptical of how it translates and if there’s enough skill around Daniels that can allow him to unlock his potential. At the very least, though, the defense should be much improved.
NFL league links
Articles
Front Office Sports
NFL ‘Tempting Fate’ With Open-Armed Embrace of Streamers
[S]ports media executives like John Skipper are sounding the alarm that the league could “kill the golden goose” when it comes to its broadcast partners.
As the industry knows full well, the NFL wants to opt out early from its $111 billion, 11-year deals with CBS, NBC, Fox, ESPN, and Amazon Prime Video, which were signed in 2021. The league is seeking increases of roughly 50% or more from media partners. The talks have already started with CBS Sports, which could see its annual payout rise to more than $3 billion a year from the current $2.1 billion for its Sunday afternoon game package.
Yes, the NFL believes its rights are undervalued. Yes, legacy broadcast networks should kiss Commissioner Roger Goodell’s ring to ensure their futures at a time when scripted Hollywood dramas, sitcoms, and reality TV shows are falling by the wayside.
But Skipper, the former president of ESPN, is raising eyebrows by warning that the NFL is getting too greedy. In the future, only the tech giants will be able to afford $4 billion to $5 billion media deals, he warns. By playing hardball with legacy media partners like Fox Corp., Goodell’s league could price them right out of the football business.
[W]hat happens when leverage flips the other way? Tech giants like Netflix, Amazon, and Apple don’t have to have the NFL to survive. They could walk away from the table if the prices get too high. That gives them leverage. Especially if the legacy bidders are financial non-factors. As Skipper learned the hard way at ESPN, these trillion-dollar tech giants can be brutal negotiators. If Goodell doesn’t know it yet, his successor will find out in a hurry. The NFL is “tempting fate” by playing legacy media partners off streamers, according to Skipper.
“The next Commissioner is going to deal with the fact that these big tech companies have more leverage over you–and they don’t need your product as much as the traditional broadcasters do,” the Meadowlark Media co-founder said. “The NFL is at this position right now because these traditional media companies cannot exist without an NFL package. If the delta gets to be billions of dollars, they will have to decide to exist without it. They’ll decline faster. Cable TV will decline faster. And the only people who will be able to afford the NFL’s packages will be great, big, trillion dollar market cap companies. But they are also tough, mean companies.”
It’s in the NFL’s interest to keep struggling legacy partners alive for more reasons than one. It gives the league more bidders for a limited inventory. Keeping a high percentage of games on free, over-the-air television should help keep critics like FCC chairman Brendan Carr at bay. Don’t forget, the league now owns 10% of Disney’s ESPN. It also holds an equity stake in CBS following Skydance Media’s acquisition of Paramount Global, the network’s parent company. So the NFL has a bottom-line financial interest in keeping some of its legacy partners afloat.
The Athletic (paywall)
NFL eyeing pro flag football launch for 2027, EVP Peter O’Reilly says
The NFL is eyeing a late-spring or early-summer 2027 launch for its two professional flag football leagues — one for men and one for women — Peter O’Reilly, executive vice president of club business, international and league events, said during a Monday interview on the “Up & Adams” show.
“We’re in the lab, if you will, of really building what that league’s going to be like,” O’Reilly told host Kay Adams. “Thinking about what’s the structure of it, where are we playing games, how does it roll out? Incredibly exciting to be having conversations with the athletes who are going to play in this league, who maybe dreamed one day there might be a professional flag league, and now we’re saying, ‘This is real.’
“There’s going to be a combine for this pro flag league. There’s going to be a draft. There’s going to be an opportunity to play this sport at the highest level, and it’s going to be awesome.”
In March, the NFL announced the selection of TMRW Sports as its developmental and operational partner in launching professional flag football. TMRW Sports has made a name for itself through the development and launch of the primetime golf league TGL, which capped its inaugural season in March and was seen as a general success ratings-wise.
Flag football is becoming more established at the high school and college levels across the country. The National Federation of State High School Associations says the sport is offered at the high school level in 39 states: 17 have it as a sanctioned sport, while 22 are pilot programs. In April, eight teams participated in the first college women’s flag football tournament, which signaled the latest step toward the sport being recognized by the NCAA.
O’Reilly described the future of flag football as “limitless.”
