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Why Antonio Williams Is What Washington Commanders Offense Needs
[T]he Amon-Ra St. Brown comparison is the right one. St. Brown entered the league as a mid-round pick who won with craft, separation, and reliability rather than raw athleticism. Williams has the same profile — 70-plus PFF receiving grades against man, zone, at every level, in pressure situations, in blitz situations. The production dipped in 2025 because the offense around him fell apart, not because he did. That’s an important distinction when projecting what he does next to
Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin.
Washington needed a third-down option who could win from the slot, generate separation against nickel defenders, and give Daniels a reliable check-down on the short and intermediate levels. Antonio Williams is all three of those things — and he might end up being the best value in Washington’s entire draft class.
Watch Williams run routes, and you understand immediately why PFF gave his route running an 8/10 and his change-of-direction flexibility a 9/10. It’s not one move that beats defenders — it’s the sequencing. He uses tempo shifts through the stem to manipulate defensive backs before the break, drops his weight cleanly, and accelerates out of cuts in a way that creates separation before the ball is even out of the quarterback’s hand. Corners who play off coverage get put in a bind by his short-area quickness. Cornerbacks who press get beaten with his release package and initial burst off the line.
On crossing routes and slants, he’s fearless. Watch the Duke tape from 2025 — he caught 10 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns, absorbing contact over the middle on multiple occasions without flinching, turning post-catch yards into momentum every time. He tracked deep balls and adjusted his frame mid-air to make grabs along the sideline with the body control of a receiver two inches taller. His 10.27% catch rate over expectation is the number that matters most. He’s not just catching passes thrown to him; he’s outperforming what statistically should happen on those routes, which tells you the separation he creates is real and sustainable.
He works at every level of the field. PFF tracked 70.0-plus receiving grades at every level of the route tree over his final two seasons, including a 92.8 mark on deep passes — eighth-ranked among all receivers in the 2026 class. He posted a 75.6 receiving grade against man coverage and 74.1 against zone, which means he’s not a scheme-specific player who disappears when defenses adjust. He wins both ways. His 2.21 yards per route run over his final two seasons ranked near the top of the class, and he tied for 13th in explosive gains across the country with 41 in that span. The cherry on top is that he is a very willing and excellent blocker. His run & screen-game blocking ability jumps out on tape.
Last Man Standig
Odafe Oweh’s next step isn’t speed, it’s timing
Oweh’s production surged in 2024 with a career-high 10 sacks and 9 tackles for loss. That didn’t motivate the Ravens into agreeing to a contract extension. A slow start to last season — no sacks over the first five games of his contract year — dropped his playing time below 50 percent of defensive snaps and nudged Baltimore toward a trade. The Ravens moved Oweh and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers for safety Alohi Gilman and a 2026 fifth-round selection.
A different version of Oweh emerged out West. Starting in Week 6 — over the final 12 games — Oweh compiled 7.5 sacks, 8 tackles for loss and 13 quarterback hits. Among 101 defenders with at least 220 pass-rush snaps, he was one of 15 to post a pass-rush win rate north of 15 percent (15.9), according to TruMedia.
What clicked out West?
“I don’t think anything ever unclicked for him,” Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said at the recent league meetings in Phoenix “He’s always been a great player. He was a great player in Baltimore, came in and played great for us. Great guy, great teammate. And he is who he is. Really good.”
Others saw a more tangible shift. Harbaugh’s defensive coordinator, Jesse Minter, said the trade during a contract year sharpened Oweh’s urgency.
The fresh start “gave him a new life,” Minter said.
Signing Oweh to a four-year, $96 million contract — $50.6 million fully guaranteed — on the first day of free agency wasn’t the Commanders’ only move addressing the pass rush, but was certainly the most significant. Peters doesn’t believe the Commanders paid for past performance.
“We think he’s still ascending and so we’re super excited about all that,” the GM said in Phoenix.
Washington’s defensive scheme under new coordinator Daronte Jones remains a bit secretive. Gauging Oweh’s role doesn’t require detective work.
“Find those one-on-one matchups and target those. Play fast and play up the field. They let me know they were going to allow me to do that — and I was on board with that,” Oweh said after signing his contract. “I just want to get after the passers.”
Commanders Roundtable
Joshua Josephs Explains What He Adds to 2026 Commanders Defense
Josephs gives the Commanders more of a project at the position where he will look to step into the rotation alongside Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson, giving the Tennessee product time to materialize into an impact piece. With several players on a one year deal ahead of the 2026 season, Joseph also offers a long-term option to bolster the edge rotation.
For Josephs, who met with the Commanders on a top-30 visit, becoming a Commander wasn’t much of a surprise.
“When I was on my [top] 30 visit, I felt like when I talked to [Adam Peters], I feel like we really connected well and I just had a great conversation with him and with all the coaches and my position coach, everything,” he added.
Josephs arrives with an NBA-caliber wingspan after measuring in at 82 inches to pose the length that caught the eyes of so many. Newmark pointed to that length as impactful “whether it be tipping passes that create interceptions, whether it be stripping the quarterback, whether it be pursuing down the line of scrimmage and knocking a ball out from the backside chase.”
Though he did lead Tennessee with three forced fumbles in 2024, Josephs has yet to register a multi-sack game despite starting in 16 games over his final two seasons. Scouts have pointed to Josephs as a stiff edge rusher with a chance to improve his strength and hand-eye coordination, yet the Tennessee product knows his wingspan is an asset.
“I can’t say it’s my biggest strength because the way I utilize it and the way I know I can utilize it even more is just crazy,” Josephs added.
Josephs pointed to himself as “very ball savvy.” Josephs amassed 104 total tackles, 22 TFLs and 9.5 sacks during his four seasons with the Vols, including his first career sack coming against then-LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Heavy.com
Commanders Defensive Success Starts with One Key Element
According to John Portis of SB Nation, Jones’ path to Washington includes the information and tutelage he gained along the way.
“Does anyone know exactly what Jones’ defense will look like in week one? No, but given the investment in the position, or more to the point, the lack of investment, we can theorize some likely strategies based on past history.”
Jones is a branch on the respective coaching trees of Mike Zimmer, Ed Donatell, and, most recently, Brian Flores. Under those circumstances, the Commanders could run a blend of defensive theory and schemes.
“The final product will most likely include heavy use of disguised blitzes and Cover-2, Cover-4, and Cover-0 with zone and match-man principles.”
If Flores remains the template for Jones’ game plan, the Commanders won’t run man coverage too often. According to Sharp Football Analysis, Minnesota used the coverage just 15.8% of the time in 2025, ranking eighth in the NFL.
In contrast, Minnesota relied on zone schemes 77.1%. Meaning, Washington will want zone-friendly defensive backs who use discipline to disrupt offensive flow. To execute, every defender must work cohesively without breaking down, which could be a difficult ask.
Last year, no NFL team ran more middle-open coverage than the Minnesota Vikings. What exactly is that defense, and what does it do? In essence, two defenders line up deep, outside of the hashmarks, leaving the deep middle open.
This falls under three specific defenses: Cover 2, Cover 4, and Cover 0. Now, Cover 0 is the trickiest defensive coverage to run. Basically, the defense sends extra rushers, abandoning the deep ball on the blitz. Cornerbacks use the inside shade and the sideline as teammates.
Flores’ Vikings led the NFL in blitz rate with 48%. That level of aggression presses the offense. With pressure coming from everywhere on the field, quicker passes lead to quicker tackles.
“More importantly, with the injuries at the edge position, Dan Quinn’s squad was not particularly effective at hurrying the quarterback. Sharp Football assigned them a 35.6% pressure rate in comparison to the Vikings’ league-leading 44.5% rate. Frequent and effective pressure would help the secondary by forcing unbalanced or ill-advised throws and fewer pass attempts to defend.”
ESPN
NFL Beginning-of-May Power Rankings 2026: Which units/position groups improved this offseason?
[I]n addition to our latest rankings, we asked our NFL Nation reporters to pick which position group has improved the most this offseason. Our power panel of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities evaluates how NFL teams stack up against one another, ranking them from 1 to 32.
19. Washington Commanders
Way-too-early ranking: 20^
Most improved position: Edge
The Commanders knew they had to get younger and more athletic on the edges this offseason. In 2025, their pass rush collapsed once Dorance Armstrong tore an ACL in the first quarter of their Week 7 loss to Dallas. Before the injury, Washington had a 45.4% pass rush win rate; from Week 7 on it was 30.8%.
Now, the Commanders will pair Armstrong with free agent signees Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson. Plus, they drafted a developmental edge in fifth-rounder Joshua Josephs and signed Charles Omenihu, who likely will rush a lot inside. — John Keim
Riggo’s Rag
Commanders eager to see if Noah Fenske’s athleticism can become something more
According to team insider Ben Standig, the Commanders are taking a closer look at offensive lineman Noah Fenske during their rookie minicamp. The versatile protector has experience anywhere on the interior, which could be useful for depth. He also spent considerable time at the center position during his final college campaign at Southern Illinois.
Starting option Tyler Biadasz was released this offseason. Nick Allegretti is the frontrunner to take over after getting an early extension. Washington found a contingency plan in Day 3 draft pick Matt Gulbin, who could be a long-term starter with some extra polish.
Fenske is looking to earn an opportunity to stick around over the summer. He also possesses something Allegretti and Gulbin do not.
Elite athleticism.
After some standout testing throughout the pre-draft process, Fenske earned a 9.90 Relative Athletic Score, placing him in the upper percentile. It ranks eighth out of 709 centers since 1987, which showcases the potential at his disposal.
That’s the positive working in Fenske’s favor. But this is not a sure thing by any stretch of the imagination.
Fenske needs to improve his play strength to stand any chance of making a career in the pros. There are technical flaws to address, but the lineman believes his speed and versatility can be a factor if somebody takes the plunge.
The Commanders are intrigued enough to give him a tryout, but what comes next is down to the player. There is no margin for error, and there isn’t much time to make an impression.
Podcasts & videos
Safety Nick Cross on Joining HOMETOWN Commanders, Wearing #25, Sonny Styles, Jayden Daniels & More
Matt Harmon Analyzes Commanders WR Antonio Williams’ Fit in Washington | Grant & Danny
Clemson HC Dabo Swinney breaks down Antonio Williams | JOHN KEIM REPORT
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Bleeding Green Nation
Eagles Enemy Draft Analysis: Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders are coming off a disappointing season where age and injuries caught up with them. After making the NFC Championship Game the year prior, Washington went into the 2026 NFL Draft needing to prioritize getting younger and faster across their entire roster. Here’s how the draft shook out for them.
Blogging the Boys
The Cowboys finally have some offensive line continuity going on
For the first time in what feels like an eternity, the team has a legitimate shot at returning the exact same five starting offensive linemen for two consecutive season openers. This is a massive shift from the recent trend of rookie additions and constant shuffling that has made the starting lineup look a revolving door of fresh faces and shifting roles. With no foreseeable shakeups to the starting offensive line, the Cowboys stand a chance of rolling out the same usual suspects again this season, featuring LT Tyler Guyton, LG Tyler Smith, C Cooper Beebe, RG Tyler Booker, and RT Terence Steele.
It is genuinely hard to wrap your head around how rare this level of continuity is for this franchise. You have to go all the way back to the 2014 and 2015 seasons to find the last time the same five guys trotted out for the start of back-to-back years.
Trying to find another instance of back-to-back Week 1 stability leads you down a rabbit hole that honestly doesn’t seem to end anywhere. After digging through archives and scrolling back as far as 1980, it became clear that this just does not happen in Dallas. Even the legendary Great Wall of Dallas, which everyone remembers as a brick wall of consistency during the Super Bowl years of the ’90s, dealt with constant personnel changes. Whether it was a departure in free agency or a training camp battle, someone was always stepping up to fill a new hole in the line.
The reasons for this 45+ year potpourri of linemen are as varied as they are heartbreaking. In 1994, the team lost one of its most dominant forces when Erik Williams was involved in a near-fatal car accident. The physical toll of that crash forced him into retirement, ending what could have been a much longer run of dominance for that specific unit. It was a sobering reminder of how quickly a sure thing can disappear.
In the most recent seasons, the team has been tantalizingly close to keeping the group together, but health remains the ultimate gatekeeper. Tyron Smith is a future Hall of Famer, but his late-career struggles with various injuries meant the team always had to adjust, prioritizing having a competent swing tackle on the roster. Every time fans thought the five stars were aligned, a practice report would surface and keep the coaching staff on their toes with contingency plans.
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NFL.com
Matt Ryan says Jahan Dotson has “untapped potential”
“I like the signing of Jahan Dotson. … I’m a massive believer in depth,” Ryan explained. “I think Kevin Stefanski, Ian Cunningham, we’re all aligned on that. It takes everybody. The best teams I was a part of had the best depth. … Of course, you’ve got to have these premier players, but if you’re going to be successful long-term and you’re going to be consistent year in and year out, depth is paramount. So, when you add a guy like Jahan Dotson, who I’m excited about, I think there’s untapped potential with him. And some of it is just the situations he was in early on and some of the places that he was. So, excited about what he can do. You add Zachariah Branch to it. He’s a different skill set, something that’s unique. I think that’s always a good thing.”
A first-round pick of the Commanders in 2022, Dotson is a player whose career has subsisted on potential through four seasons. He’s never broken 600 receiving yards in a season, yet he shows enough flashes to maintain intrigue. Ryan is the latest to buy into the dream of Dotson blossoming, an outcome that seems possible in Atlanta, where the Falcons are stocked with a collection of playmakers — Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts — around Dotson.
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Commanders.com
2026 schedule preview | NFC East
The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team.
The Commanders will play all four teams in the NFC West and AFC South, including two home matchups against the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks, who have a first-round bye in this year’s playoffs. The Commanders will host the Houston Texans, another playoff team, for the first time since the 2018 season in just the seventh matchup between the two squads in franchise history.
However, today we’re going to focus on the NFC East as we preview some of the key teams on Washington’s schedule. The Commanders weren’t the only squad in the East who made improvements this offseason, and there’s reason to believe the division will be as competitive as it’s ever been.
Giants
While the Commanders chose to upgrade their defense, the Giants added experienced offensive players like Likely — largely viewed as one of the best tight ends on the market — as well as wide receivers Darnell Mooney and [Calvin] Austin.
In a way, the Giants are betting on upside from both Likely and Austin, neither of whom have recorded more than 600 receiving yards in a season.
The Giants’ trade of Dexter Lawrence for a first-round pick allowed them to address arguably their biggest need and draft Mauigoa, who is expected to be a Day 1 starter.
Eagles
Philadelphia was one of the slowest teams to act in free agency with Woolen being their first real addition. Woolen hasn’t performed to the level he did as a rookie, but he improved last season and is physically imposing as a perimeter cornerback. The rest of their class consists of depth pieces like Brown, who should bring some speed despite being 29 by the start of the season, and Moore at wide receiver. Pierce could be an interesting change of pace behind Saquon Barkley, while Mundt gives them a blocking tight end that they didn’t have on their roster.
Cowboys
Most of Dallas’ new faces will be on that side of the ball, as 12 of their additions from free agency and the draft were defensive players. Thompson, who spent his entire career in Arizona before signing with Dallas, is expected to be a leader in a deep secondary room that already has Malik Hooker and DaRon Bland. They decided to bring back Williams, who was still recovering from his torn ACL last season but did show promise prior to the injury with 8.5 sacks. Ogbonnia is not a pass rusher but does help clog running lanes with his 6-foot-4, 320-pound frame.
[Malachi] Lawrence, the Cowboys’ second pick of Day 1, started to rise late in the draft process and led UCF with 11 tackles for loss. The Cowboys have needed a strong pass rusher since they traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, and while Lawrence isn’t at Parsons’ level, his motor, hand skills and explosion should help boost a defense that only produced 35 sacks in 2025.
