Commanders links
Articles
Commanders Roundtable
Three Senior Bowl standouts who fit Washington Commanders
Washington CB Ephesians Prysock
The Huskies had a couple of defensive backs on the NFL radar with Tacario Davis also drawing buzz as one to watch early in his career, but Prysock, a 6-foot-4 cornerback, has drawn growing buzz as a stock riser. Prysock has been the one to draw buzz through the week of practices into Saturday’s Shrine Bowl, finishing the game with a pair of pass deflections and two total tackles including one solo. He’s been a standout in coverage whether on Saturday or in one-on-ones,
ending the week named to the All Senior Bowl Defense after contributing in the American team’s win.
Prysock — a possible early day three candidate — began his college career at Arizona, like Davis, before transferring to Washington to follow head coach Jedd Fisch in 2024. At Arizona, he played in 23 games over two seasons with 16 starts before earning honorable mention All-Pac 12 in 2023. He went on to start all 26 games for the Huskies his final two seasons, finishing with 14 pass deflections and an interception before ending his college career as an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection.
Riggo’s Rag
Dream free agents who could revolutionize the Commanders’ defense in 2026
Commanders could sign Jaquan Brisker
Speculation continues to soar about the Commanders taking Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with the No. 7 pick, but an experienced difference-maker with proven credentials should also be a priority in free agency. Jaquan Brisker has the physicality and versatility that look tailor-made for Daronte Jones’ system, and the Chicago Bears may not be willing to meet his demands in free agency.
Brisker is an exceptional force against the run. He can get down to the second level with instinctive force while also being disciplined enough to maintain positional leverage. At 26, this represents an investment in both the present and the future.
Commanders could sign Quay Walker
With prolific veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner set to either retire or take his chances elsewhere in free agency, the Commanders need to find an adequate replacement. Going down the draft route with someone like Arvell Reese or Sonny Styles is an option, but adding to the second-level with an ascending free agent may also be something for general manager Adam Peters to contemplate.
That brings Quay Walker under the microscope. He fits the mold as a dynamic tone-setter who thrives against the run and on blitz packages. There are some coverage deficiencies to address, but he’s young enough to make the desired improvements under defensive coordinator Daronte Jones’ exceptional guidance.
The Packers are currently projected to be $1.4 million over the cap. Some tough decisions are coming, and Walker may be allowed to leave. The Commanders should monitor this situation closely, as it could be a viable option alongside Frankie Luvu and Jordan Magee.
Commanders.com
2025 Commanders position review | Quarterback
What does the team around Daniels look like in 2026? Almost every question about the Commanders heading into Daniels’ third season revolves around this topic. One way or another, the team will be drastically different in 2026, both in terms of the coaching staff and roster. David Blough is the new offensive coordinator, which will help with some continuity, but the first-time play caller will want to bring in his own ideas about how to elevate Daniels’ skill set.
There will likely be a new wide receiver corps around No. 1 option Terry McLaurin and a new starting tight end. The defense is going to be completely new with Daronte Jones now officially taking over as the coordinator. Daniels should be completely healthy after an injury-riddled 2025 season, which bodes well for the Commanders as they try to get back to the playoffs.
Daniels has already shown that he can be a difference maker, and he will naturally be important for any success the team has in 2026. However, he’ll need a better supporting cast around him if they truly want to maximize his potential.
— What does the rest of the quarterback room look like? Although the ideal plan is for none of the Commanders’ backups to start in 2026, it’s still a priority for the Commanders to put together a strong quarterback room around Daniels in his third season. They did a solid job of this over the last two seasons with a mixture of Mariota, Johnson and Driskel, but all three of those players could be gone in 2026.
Mariota might be the biggest departure. It’s possible that Blough will want to keep him around, but Mariota might also want to either rejoin Kliff Kingsbury wherever he gets a job or pursue other options. Regardless of who they sign, it will be important for the Commanders to get it right, even if none of the backups play.
A to Z Sports
The Commanders could end up keeping Assistant HC Brian Johnson on the staff after he missed out on the Broncos’ offensive coordinator position
Running game coordinator Anthony Lynn had several head coaching interviews this coaching cycle, but he’s likely to stay now as well. He wasn’t the only candidate receiving calls in Washington as assistant head coach and offensive passing game coordinator Brian Johnson interviewed for the Denver Broncos offensive coordinator position.
The Washington Commanders have undergone many staffing changes this season, and more could happen with dominoes still falling around the league.
Johnson has been coaching since 2010, and actually has offensive coordinator experience with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023.
Losing Johnson would’ve hurt with the inexperienced staff taking over the offense, but the Broncos decided to stay in-house and promote Davis Webb as the offensive coordinator instead. Webb was a hot name this coaching cycle, who had real head coaching interest from multiple teams, and they didn’t want to lose him.
A to Z Sports
Commanders’ 2026 international game location is still unknown, but latest NFL news paints a clearer picture
[T]he Commanders are heavily rumored to be playing an international game as a home game next season. The exact location hasn’t been announced yet, and it probably won’t be for a while, but the latest NFL news ruled out one location that would’ve been high on fans’ lists.
Paris, France, is the newest destination, and of course, the NFL has selected the New Orleans Saints as the hosting home team for that game, which means the Commanders are out.
Where the Commanders can still play, and who they could face
The Los Angeles Rams are rumored to be included in the Melbourne, Australia game, and the Commanders do play them next season, so there’s still a chance. International games are usually cross-conference games; however, it’s likely that the Commanders will face one of their home AFC opponents in the international game, so Australia may be out.
The Commanders face the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, and Cincinnati Bengals at home, so you can count on one of those three teams being the opponent. I could see the NFL marketing a Jayden Daniels vs Joe Burrow international game in 2026, and fans should be excited about that matchup, no matter where it is.
Podcasts & videos
NFC East links
Bleeding Green Nation
Enjoy Conspiracy Theories?
It felt like Eagles were going to bring on a familiar face–one that wasn’t necessarily a new direction but at least had some experience calling plays and working with Sirianni or Hurts. Names like Jim Bob Cooter, a previous Eagles’ offensive consultant, and Matt Nagy, an Andy Reid disciple that worked with Sirianni in Kansas City, popped up and interviewed. From the outside, it looked like the Eagles were going to settle for familiarity over innovation much like they did in 2025, hoping that familiarity would finally start clicking. As previously mentioned, the Eagles pivoted quickly from the familiarity pool and hired two guys with very little experience calling plays, but guys whose offensive systems are worlds apart from where the Eagles have been operating during the Sirianni era.
At this point, you must be wondering, so where is the conspiracy theory fun? Just as Schefter hinted that some bigger news might come out this week, following the reports of the new hires, it was revealed that Vic Fangio told the team he intended to retire. Now the Eagles and Fangio are in some kind of renewal of vows dance, where currently, Fangio has agreed to come back for 2026. What if Fangio informed the team that he wanted to hang up his clipboard because he wasn’t going to come back if the Eagles’ offense was in familiar hands? What if Fangio didn’t feel like wasting another season coaching up a young defense only to watch an offense go three and out 8 of 11 times per game? And what if the discussions with Fangio begging him to come back for at least one more season were the impetus for the Eagles to hard zag away from familiarity, experience, and a limited ceiling to the novelty, youth, and unknown ceiling of the offensive guys they just decided to bring on? Vic Uncle to the rescue again!
Blogging the Boys
Cowboys 2026 offseason preview: Offensive tackles
What’s Needed?
If the Cowboys decide to keep rolling with Terence Steele, then probably not much. They’ll also likely continue to work with Tyler Guyton on the left side, knowing they have Nathan Thomas to compete and also the emergency option of sliding Tyler Smith over. Given the youth of Guyton and Thomas, plus the welcome consistency of the offensive staff carrying over from last year, there’s a case to be made for preserving what you have and banking on development.
However, there’s also a case to be made for finally moving on from Steele and trying to get stronger on the edges. Steele continues to be what he’s always been, a solid run blocker with very limited pass protection ability. We kept hoping the latter would improve with experience, but that ship has sailed after five seasons. Now turning 29 this summer, Steele’s liabilities will only worsen with any athletic decline.
If Dallas does want to move on, it could be beneficial to the salary cap. Steele is scheduled to count about $18.1 million in 2026 and only has $9.4 million in dead money left. They could cut him outright for $8.75 million in cap space, usable in this year’s free agent market, or get $14 million with the June-1st provision.
The big question is whether Dallas thinks it can get the same level of play while reducing costs. Could they run with Thomas as the new RT, or maybe play him at left and move Guyton to the right side? Would they decide to move Tyler Smith to tackle permanently and let Guyton and Thomas compete for the right job? We can argue all day about the pros and cons of converting Smith to tackle over keeping him as an All-Pro guard, but the narrow view is that it would likely upgrade the LT position from the last two years. And Guyton, who played right tackle in college, could maximize his upside returning to that spot.
Big Blue View
Davis Webb will stay in Denver, won’t be NY Giants offensive coordinator
Davis Webb will remain with the Denver Broncos, who are promoting him from passing game coordinator to offensive coordinator, rather than join the New York Giants or any other NFL team.
Webb, the two-time Giants backup quarterback, has been a hot commodity this offseason. He interviewed for three head-coaching jobs, and has been thought to be a candidate for a number of offensive coordinator jobs, including with the Giants.
Webb, though, will stay with the Broncos. He has been in Denver the past three seasons working under Sean Payton, and has chosen to stay there although he will not get to call plays. Payton handles that job himself.
The Giants are expected to narrow their list of finalists for offensive coordinator this week and hold in-person interviews.
Known candidates with previous play-calling experience include Jim Bob Cooter of the Indianapolis Colts, Kliff Kingsbury, and Brian Callahan. Known candidates without play-calling experience included Colts’ passing game coordinator Alex Tanney, a former Giants backup quarterback, and Los Angeles Chargers’ quarterbacks coach Shane Day.
NFL league links
Articles
ESPN
59 Super Bowl rings, 59 stories
Super Bowl XVII 1982: Washington
Alvin Garrett, WR In 1989, Garrett decided his Super Bowl ring held no value to him and could help fund his desire to become a minister. He took out an ad in the Washington Post and sold the ring. “I flew to La Guardia in New York and the guy paid me cash for it,” Garrett said. “My life was so screwed up I needed God.” In 2016, someone who worked in the jewelry business in New York was picking through a box of items. They found Garrett’s damaged ring with the diamonds missing. They contacted Washington, who located Garrett, living in Huntsville, Alabama. The ring was restored and, Garrett said, “You can’t tell the difference.” He now keeps it stored away. But he’s thankful. “It was like a miracle,” he said. “It blew me away. I’m serious. Thirty years man and the circle comes back to you.”
Super Bowl XXII 1987: Washington
Doug Williams, QB As the the first African American quarterback to start — and win — the Super Bowl, the ring signifies so much for Williams. “You open the case and it’s realizing what I had been through and things I had overcome,” Williams said. He rarely wears the ring, but plans to hand it down one day. When he does wear it, he said: “They all want to touch it; they all want to put their hands around it and they all say, ‘Wow, what a great day. Man I prayed for you. It’s bringing back memories for them because it was such a history-making day. The people from where I grew up, it’s almost like they wear that ring. That day will never happen again in the history of football; there will never be another first African American quarterback to win.”
Super Bowl XXVI 1991: Washington
Brian Mitchell, RB A limo, a night on the town and cold weather. It was not a good combination for Mitchell and it nearly led to him losing his Super Bowl ring for good back in 2000. After going out drinking, Mitchell woke up the next morning without his ring. “When it’s real cold, your fingers seem smaller,” he said. That’s why he guessed: Maybe it’s still in the limousine. He called the driver who opened the door and found it stuck in the door jamb. “I was like, ‘Ohhhh,'” Mitchell said. “But, dude, that’s why I don’t wear it as much now and, definitely, when I’m going out and hanging with my boys, I don’t wear it.”
NFL Draft
Commanders Wire
2026 NFL Draft: Pittsburgh linebacker dominates Senior Bowl week
Kyle Louis made a name for himself last week at the Senior Bowl. The Pittsburgh linebacker stood out as much, if not more, than any other player in front of all 32 NFL teams in Mobile, Alabama.
But if you watch college football, you probably know Kyle Louis. Louis played four seasons at Pitt, starting the last two. In those two seasons, Louis finished with 182 tackles, including 24 for loss, 10 sacks and six interceptions. As you see, Louis does a little bit of everything.
During his time at the Senior Bowl last week, Louis showed off his versatility and is likely the best coverage linebacker in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.
Louis measured in at just under 6 feet tall and weighed 224 pounds. In the past, some would have deemed him too small to play linebacker in the NFL. Not these days. Louis’ hybrid style is actually perfect for the modern game. Louis played the “STAR” position for the Panthers, a hybrid role that is part safety/part linebacker.
