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!
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JP Finlay
How realistic is 10 targets-per-game for Terry McLaurin?
Looking at Ben Johnson’s offenses and trying to extrapolate what it means with David Blough in Washington
The “10 targets a game” idea got me interested though. How realistic is that?
17 games x 10 targets per game = 170 targets.
Well I think it’s important not
to get bogged down by semantics here. Only two receivers literally got to 170+ targets last season (Ja’Marr Chase and Amon Ra St. Brown). In 2024 only Chase got to 170+.
For me the idea of 10 targets is much more about identifying McLaurin as the alpha receiver and feeding him the ball regularly, regardless of situation. That seems what Blough intends to do.
And there are numbers to support that.
Ben Johnson ran the Detroit Lions offense for three seasons from 2022 to 2024. During that time, St. Brown averaged 150 targets per season. McLaurin has never had more than 130 targets in a season, and that came back in 2020.
In Detroit, Johnson clearly identified St. Brown as the Lion’s best receiver and made sure he got the football. Expect Blough to do that in Washington with McLaurin.
It’s a bit harder to extrapolate much from the Bears offense in 2025, Johnson’s first year as a head coach. It sure appeared that second-year WR Rome Odunze grabbed the alpha role for Johnson’s offense but he only played in 12 games. Still, in just 12 games, Odunze led the team with 90 targets.
Enough about Johnson. Now it’s Blough’s time in Washington.
It’s not as simple as “make sure to throw to Terry.” If the offense stinks and doesn’t generate first downs, there won’t be enough plays to get Terry targets.
A balanced offense will get McLaurin more looks. So the notion of getting McLaurin into that 150 target range also implies a healthy running game and plenty of looks to tight end Chig Okonkwo and other wideouts.
Commanders.com
Kaytron Allen eager to compete for role in Commanders’ backfield
Allen, one of the Washington Commanders’ two sixth-round picks, is not guaranteed a roster spot because of where he was drafted and the depth at the running back position. There is a possible role for him as a short-yardage back, but he’ll have to earn that right while competing against players like Jerome Ford, Jeremy McNichols and undrafted free agent Robert Henry Jr. Allen wouldn’t have it any other way, and he’s ready to earn a spot in Washington’s backfield.
Allen said he can do everything a running back needs to be at the NFL level, but the Commanders were more focused on one area of his skill set: picking up tough yards that general manager Lance Newmark said aren’t always appreciated but keep drives alive. Allen certainly has the build for it with his nearly 6-foot, 216-pound frame in addition to the right attitude. The only thing the Commanders need to do is “put the rock in my hands,” Allen said. “I’m ready to go.”
Allen has a track record of finding ways to get yards in congested running lanes. He faced heavy boxes (at least eight defenders) on 27% of his carries — more than any other running back in the 2026 class — and still managed to average 4.8 yards per carry in those situations. A lot of that comes from his patience in the backfield to let blocks develop and find creases at the line of scrimmage. Only 11% of his career runs failed to gain yardage, which ranked third in his class.
But as Newmark alluded, defenders also have a hard time bringing him down. He forced 57 missed tackles, which ranked 13th among running backs last season and tied for sixth in his draft class.
Bullock’s Film Room (subscription)
State of the Roster 2026 Update: Commanders Defense
[N]ow it’s time to see where I feel the roster is currently at after most of the roster turnover is done. As always, I’ll list out the players on the roster for each position, but I’ll also put what I felt the level of need was for each position entering the offseason and what I feel the level of need is now. The defense has had quite the overhaul this offseason, which was definitely necessary. So let’s see how the roster is shaping up.
Edge Defenders
On the roster: Odafe Oweh, Dorance Armstrong, K’Lavon Chaisson, Joshua Josephs, Javontae Jean-Baptiste, Drake Jackson, Andre Carter II, D.J. Johnson, T.J. Maguranyanga
Level of need entering offseason: High
Need now: Low
Analysis: The Commanders have needed edge rushers for a number of years now. You could have made a strong argument it was perhaps their top need last offseason, but Adam Peters opted to focus on building the offensive line to try and protect Jayden Daniels instead. But this year, it’s clear they weren’t going to ignore this position any longer. They were reportedly in on just above every big free agent edge rusher and ended up landing Odafe Oweh, who I think is about the right option for them to have taken a shot on.
[T]he next tier of edge rushers [comprised] guys like Boye Mafe, Kwity Paye and Odafe Oweh. I liked Oweh a lot more than the rest of that group. He’s an elite athlete but in recent years he’s started to show his game has more nuance than just athleticism. He’s learning how to set up tackles by sequencing his rushes and having a diverse rush plan. He feels like someone that is ready to take the next step and become a real force on the edge.
But the Commanders didn’t stop there. They also signed K’Lavon Chaisson, who is another excellent athlete with great upside as a pass rusher, while he perhaps doesn’t have quite as complete a rush plan as Oweh, he’s still got a strong fastball with his burst off the line and his ability to dip and bend around the edge. He feels like another player that the lightbulb is starting to come on for and with the incentive of only being on a one-year deal, he’s another player potentially in position to take a step forward and earn a bigger contract next year.
So Oweh and Chaisson should significantly boost the Commanders pass rush off the edge, but importantly, both are athletic and fluid enough to drop off into coverage from time to time. In the Vikings 3-4 defense that Daronte Jones is coming from, they often required their outside linebackers to drop off into coverage a few times a game in order to allow an inside linebacker or safety to blitz from elsewhere. They won’t be dropping as much as Andrew Van Ginkel does for Minnesota, but both are capable of doing it when needed, which makes them a good fit for this scheme too.
Adding those two is an exciting pair for the Commanders but we shouldn’t forget about Dorance Armstrong. In a way, Oweh and Chaisson both feel similar to where Armstrong was when the Commanders signed him in free agency from the Cowboys a few years ago. Armstrong was a solid player in Dallas but with room to grow and in 2025, we saw that growth. He got off to an incredibly hot start and was by far the Commanders best pass rusher before he got hurt. With the signings of Oweh and Chaisson, the Commanders have two outside linebackers capable of starting should Armstrong need extra time to recover from his injury, but if he gets back to full health and plays to the same level as last year, suddenly the Commanders have a nice rotation of three edge rushers to work with.
On top of signing Oweh and Chaisson, the Commanders also drafted Joshua Josephs. As a fifth round pick, we shouldn’t expect too much from Josephs in year one, but he’s someone with great traits that fit the profile of what they’re looking for on the edge. He’s got outstanding length and a good first step, as well as the ability to competently drop into coverage. He’ll need to work hard to develop his pass rush moves and a better rush plan, but with Oweh, Chaisson and Armstrong there shouldn’t be any pressure on him to perform right away. He can develop at his own pace and if he shows progress, he can earn some reps as the fourth man in the rotation.
To earn those reps, he’ll have to beat out some competition from guys we know the Commanders like. Javontae Jean-Baptiste was a seventh rounder back in 2024 and has stuck around due to his length and run defense on the edge. Drake Jackson was signed after being cut from the 49ers, where Adam Peters scouted him previously. He didn’t play much for the Commanders last year due to still recovering from a lot of injuries but he was always signed with a look ahead to the future to see if he could offer something in 2026. They also have T.J. Maguranyanga from the international pathway program, who Dan Quinn has praised a few times for the progress he’s been making.
[T]he Commanders don’t necessarily have a star edge rusher here, but they do now have multiple options which provides them with a much deeper rotation on the edge than we’ve seen in recent years. Oweh, Chaisson and Armstrong all have the talent to take a step forward and become a bigger profile of player too, so it would be great if at least one of them could. But even if they just play to a good level, that will be a significant improvement to the pass rush and should mean the Commanders don’t have to try and use Frankie Luvu on the edge to make up for the lack of pass rush, like they did last year.
Fox Sports
Which NFL QBs Have the Most Help? Ranking All 32 Supporting Casts
28. Washington Commanders
There seems to be a belief in Washington that the return of a healthy Jayden Daniels will make everybody better. They better be right, though, because the Commanders didn’t do a lot to improve his supporting cast in the offseason. Their best weapon, by far, is still WR Terry McLaurin, who will be 31 in September and coming off an injury-plagued season. Their offensive line improved last year, but they haven’t replaced their center, who left in free agency.
The only weapon the Commanders added in the passing game was solid (and underrated) TE Chigoziem Okonkwo. They did add veteran RB Rachaad White, who could make for a potent duo with Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who had a surprisingly good rookie season after being drafted in the seventh round. Don’t underestimate the loss of offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, though. He got a lot of credit for helping Daniels post arguably the best rookie season ever for a quarterback. He’s now replaced by former quarterbacks coach David Blough, who has been an assistant for two seasons and has never called plays before.
NFL.com
Each NFL team’s next best Hall of Fame candidate
Brian Mitchell, returner/running back
Washington (1990-1999), Philadelphia Eagles (2000-2003)
Far from guaranteed entry at this point, Mitchell might be the strongest Washington candidate in the coming years, along with London Fletcher. With Devin Hester helping pave the way for the league’s great returners to gain entry, Mitchell’s chances improved. He’s the league’s all-time leader in punt and kick returns and in return yards, outpacing the field in the latter category by more than 4,000 yards. That level of consistency and longevity — along with Mitchell’s high points, which included 13 return TDs, second only to Hester — could get Mitchell through. It just might take a while.
Riggo’s Rag
Commanders should monitor Jake Andrews’ situation with the Texans closely
And there is one notable development elsewhere that might interest the Commanders.
The Houston Texans sent a strong message to starting center Jake Andrews this offseason. His production dipped slightly in 2025, though the same could be said of everyone on the AFC South club’s protection in front of quarterback C.J. Stroud. He started 16 games but was inconsistent more often than not, and general manager Nick Caserio wasn’t going to wait around.
Houston signed veteran interior lineman Evan Brown in free agency. They spent a first-round pick on Keylan Rutledge and a fourth-rounder on Febechi Nwaiwu. All could play the center position in a pinch, which might leave the former Troy standout on the outside looking in without the desired improvements.
Having experienced depth might give Andrews a chance of sticking around, even if he is replaced in the starting lineup. The Texans could just as easily end this experiment early, which is something the Commanders would be wise to investigate in greater detail if this scenario becomes reality.
Much will depend on whether Allegretti, Gulbin, and possibly even Coleman take full advantage of their opportunities. The Texans won’t cut Andrews right away, but it may come during the final trim down or even just before that. The Commanders will have other options to consider, but there is still upside attached to the 26-year-old.
Podcasts & videos
2026 NFLPA Rookie Premiere: Sonny Styles shines, latest on Commanders rookies with Evan Pascal
NFC East links
Blogging the Boys
4 potential problems that could derail the 2026 Cowboys
The young pass rushers don’t show up
It’s been discussed ad nauseam what the Cowboys were lacking at edge rusher when they traded away Micah Parsons, but it’s true. The Cowboys lost an explosive edge rusher when Parsons was dealt away, but even before that, they lost DeMarcus Lawrence to the Seattle Seahawks, who now has a championship after proclaiming he’d never win one with the Cowboys.
Jadeveon Clowney joined the team after the start of the season in 2025 and led the team in sacks. That shows the players whom the Cowboys are counting on in the post-Parsons era have to do more. Rashan Gary was added to the mix, but he has never been a double-digit sack guy in the NFL. However, Donovan Ezeiruaku and Malachi Lawrence have the potential to do it.
Lawrence is an explosive athlete with exceptional closing speed to get off the edge and close in on quarterbacks. Ezeiruaku exploded for 16.5 sacks his senior year at Boston College. Ezeiruaku didn’t have much success in his first year with the Cowboys, although he put a lot of pressure on quarterbacks. Both players have the potential, but they need to deliver this year for Dallas to have a successful defense. If both stagnate, Dallas could be forced to commit extra numbers in blitz packages to dial up the heat and put more challenges on a new look secondary.
DaRon Bland continues to be a shell of his former self
Although the Cowboys’ cornerback status is better than a year ago after adding veterans Derion Kendrick and Cobie Durant, none of them have reached the same level as DaRon Bland did during his All-Pro season. For a moment, the Cowboys appeared to have bona fide star cornerbacks in Bland and Trevon Diggs, known for taking the football away. Diggs had a peculiar fiasco with the front office and coaching staff that culminated in his late-season release from the team last year and still isn’t on an NFL roster as June approaches.
Meanwhile, Bland has battled injuries and inconsistent play.
NFL league links
Articles
Pro Football Talk
It’s one thing to ask Jerry Jones to install grass for the World Cup; it’s another to ask Jones to block out the sun (but he will)
Via Margaret Fleming of Front Office Sports, Jerry World will block the sun for at least one of its nine World Cup matches. A FIFA spokesperson said blackout curtains will be used for an early-evening game to be played there.
It’s a sore subject for Jones. After receiver CeeDee Lamb said that the stadium should use curtains to keep the sun out of football players’ eyes, Jones went off.
“By the way, we know where the sun is going to be when we flip the coin, so we do know where the damn sun is going to be in our own stadium,” Jones said. “Let’s just tear the damn stadium down and build another one. Are you kidding me?”
Jones, who bent over backwards for soccer’s governing body, wasn’t about to refuse to accommodate the request.
It’s just another example of the bizarre double standard that some NFL owners will apply to players in a different sport.
Which should make Lamb and all Cowboys players turn Jones’s quote back against him: “Are you kidding me?”
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Discussion topics
Too Deep Zone
Hunter X Hunter II: Revenge of the Sunk Cost Fallacy
The Jaguars plan to resume the Travis Hunter two-way experiment. It’s a terrible idea, born more from James Gladstone’s arrogance than from common sense.
Travis Hunter will never be a high-impact two-way starter in the NFL.
My source for that daring assertion is the last 66 years of NFL history. There have been no regular two-way NFL starters since 1960. No, not even Deion Sanders, who only started at both cornerback and wide receiver for a handful of games in 1996, abandoning his offensive role before the season ended. Something which hasn’t happened in decades is unlikely to happen again unless circumstances change. Really, really wanting it to happen doesn’t change the circumstances.
If anyone is capable of becoming a star on both offense and defense, it’s Hunter, who won the 2024 Heisman Trophy by excelling at both cornerback and wide receiver for Colorado. Hunter looked to me like a future Pro Bowl-caliber cornerback who could play a useful role as a gadget receiver, like Sanders or Charles Woodson.
When the Jaguars began experimenting with Hunter as a full-time two-way player, rotating his practice schedule so he could learn the complete Jaguars offense and defense, I was skeptical. After all, Hunter was trying to learn twice as much as the typical rookie in half as much time! Still, the experiment itself was so exciting, and Hunter was/is such an outstanding prospect, that I was optimistic. Maybe the Jaguars were using an entirely new process to turn Hunter into something we have never seen before.
Then Hunter took the field, looked kinda lost on offense, was limited to a package role on defense, suffered an LCL injury in an October 30th practice and was lost for the season. The real-world experiment disproved the thought experiment. Everyone said, Welp, that was fun. Time for Hunter to focus on either defense or offense.
Well, not quite everyone. Initial offseason murmurs out of Jacksonville suggested that the Jaguars’ braintrust had come to its senses. But men of James Gladstone’s daring insouciance might not even have senses. Both Gladstone and Jaguars coach Liam Coen now insist that Hunter will play on both defense and offense in 2026.
That’s fine: Hunter looks like a future Pro Bowl-caliber cornerback who could play a useful role as a gadget receiver. The messaging out of Duval sounds so emphatic, however, that we’re probably not talking about a cornerback and package receiver.
“The plan has not changed at all,” Coen said at the start of OTAs. “He’s going to play both sides of the football just as we drafted him to do, and just as we have the same vision for him in terms of being able to give him those opportunities.”
It sounds like we are in for another summer of Hunter at cornerback on Monday and Tuesday and receiver on Wednesday and Thursday, or something like that. The Jaguars are going to repeat the same behaviors and hope for the exact opposite results. That’s the definition of genius. Right?
My counter-arguments:
- More snaps = more fatigue = more injury risk. That’s a problem which was illustrated last year and will never go away.
- Hunter’s snap counts will always be dictated by his opponent and the game situation. If he’s gassed in the fourth quarter of a 35-35 shootout in the Florida heat, opponents will go after him (or his replacement) on defense.
- Learning two positions may be impeding his progress at each of them.
- The part-time receiver routine may keep throwing off the timing of the Jaguars offense.
Counter-arguments aside, we may be getting bogged down in semantics. I think Hunter should be a starting cornerback who sees 5-to-10 offensive snaps as a package guy. Proponents of the two-way experiment probably see him as a starting cornerback who sees 20-25 snaps on offense, or maybe vice versa. Does anyone, even Coen or Gladstone, really think Hunter can play 100 snaps per game at the NFL level?
I won’t dare speak for Gladstone, because I never earned an MBA in gobbledy-gook. John Shipley took up the banner for the Jaguars’ two-way experiment in an SI feature. Here are the three subheaders of his argument, with brief annotation by me.
if the Jaguars are continuing the two-way experiment because Gladstone needs to prove a point and used the 2026 draft to double down, well, that’s more of an argument against the plan than for it.
Gladstone drafted last month as if Hunter were his CB2 and WR3/4: the Jaguars selected no cornerbacks and waited until the sixth round to grab some wide receivers.
More accurately, Gladstone drafted as if he were trying to prove he was smarter than Sean McVay, reaching for tight end Nate Boerkircher in the second round and Tanner Koziol in the fifth round. Gee, who could Gladstone and Coen be planning to imitate? Oh, it’s not imitation, they are manifesting a synergistic paradigm or something. At least, if the Jaguars do go into full 13-personnel copycat mode, it will reduce Hunter’s snap counts and importance on offense.
Anyway, the Jaguars draft suggests that Gladstone is doubling down on the big windmill swing he took when he traded two first-round picks for Hunter in his first draft, which occurred in about his seventh week on the job. Which sounds a lot like the Sunk Cost Fallacy with a scoop of smarter-than-the-room protein powder swirled in.
Yes, I’m a Gladstone skeptic. Every time I start to come around on him, he does something inexplicable, like [waves hands at draft class]. I gave Gladstone and Coen lots of benefit of the doubt on the Hunter experiment last year: their approach to Hunter’s practice schedule and development was fascinating. But then came the results: Hunter got hurt, then the offense got better. Seventy years of past precedents were usually established for a reason, whether the move fast/break things crowd likes it or not.
