The Daily Slop – August 6, 2026
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
JP Finlay
Stefon Diggs’ signing proves Adam Peters learned a lesson
[I]n multiple conversations with sources close to the Patriots locker room – Diggs was a model citizen and leader for the young players last year.
So now he’s coming to Washington. Coming home. A product of Good Counsel High School and the University of Maryland is now wearing burgundy and gold.
Diggs makes the Commanders a better football team. Immediately.
He has elite hands and runs great routes. He will be invaluable to Daniels on 3rd downs and in the red zone. Last year he was still recovering from a major knee injury suffered in 2024. This year, it’s entirely possible Diggs gets more speed back to add to his veteran savvy.
The Commanders defense was awful in 2025 so Peters set out to fix it. He spent real money on the defensive line, used his 1st-round pick on LB Sonny Styles, and invested in the defensive backs.
The defense already looks different, faster and possibly much better. On offense, however, questions remained at receiver. Now there’s far fewer questions.
It would be tremendous if somebody from the collection of Treylon Burks, Luke McCaffrey, Dyami Brown, Jaylen Lane or rookie Antonio Williams breaks out for a great year. But that happening is hardly a given, and now there’s much less of a need for that to happen.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
NOTUS
The former Patriot is expected to slot in as Washington’s No. 2 receiver, answering one of the offseason’s biggest questions
A source close to Diggs said the 32-year-old DMV native chose Washington because he was impressed by the entire organization, from the front office to the coaches to the players.
Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowler, wanted a “chance to play with one of best young [quarterbacks] and opposite one of [the] best receivers — and to do it all at home,” the source said.
His 9,032 receiving yards since 2018 is the third-most in that time period behind only Davante Adams (9,822) and Tyreek Hill (9,587).
Putting a player with 942 career receptions, 11,504 yards and 74 touchdowns alongside Terry McLaurin (498 receptions, 6,961 yards and 41 touchdowns) makes the receiving unit deep and dangerous. The two veterans will be grouped with promising rookie Antonio Williams, who has had breakout moments during training camp.
Diggs has also garnered headlines away from the field. In May, he was found not guilty of assaulting his private chef. He is currently suing a social media influencer who has accused him of sexual assault and facing a civil lawsuit for accusing a former concierge of stealing his Ferrari.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
ESPN
Will WR Stefon Diggs be a fit with the Washington Commanders?
Why Diggs and not other WR options?
It was either Diggs or bust for Washington — nobody used those words, but one team source said he was the only free agent they were interested in signing at this time.
Washington lost out on other possibilities in the offseason. It had wanted to sign Alec Pierce, but he opted to re-sign with Indianapolis before free agency; one league source said Pierce would have signed with the Commanders — had he come free.
They also tried, but failed, to sign Romeo Doubs. And Carnell Tate would have been an option had he been available with the seventh pick. In other words, they had kept searching for more at the position.
Why did the Commanders wait so long to sign him? And does his delayed start hurt his chances to make an early impact?
There were multiple reasons. At one point, Brandon Aiyuk appeared to be a possibility — Washington was just waiting for him to be released from the 49ers. The Commanders would have been interested, according to multiple team sources. But he has yet to be cut.
So that likelihood diminished this summer, putting them more on a path to Diggs, who was always going to be the more expensive option.
Also, with Diggs not in camp, others — notably rookie Williams — have gotten more reps — and a better chance for Washington to see what it had in its receiving corps. Williams in particular will play a key role, and there are similarities in how he’d be used along with Diggs.
It’s also possible that Diggs wanted to see what other opportunities arose — or the money just wasn’t right. But he had made it known that he would like to play in Washington.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Bullock’s Film Room (subscription)
What WR Stefon Diggs brings to the Washington Commanders
So what does Diggs bring to Washington? In a word; production. He’s had over 1000 receiving yards in seven of his last eight seasons. The only time he didn’t break 1000 yards during that eight year span was in 2024, where he tore his ACL after eight games, but even then he was on target to hit 1000 yards. Last year he bounced back from that ACL and had another 1000 yard season with the Patriots, becoming their top receiver on their way to the Super Bowl. But what makes him so productive and can he continue to be that productive at age 32? Let’s take a closer look.
One of the first things that stood out to me when watching Diggs film from last year wasn’t the route running or the catching ability. I’ll certainly get to those things in this post, but the thing that jumped out to me most was his ability to make himself available. Diggs consistently showed the awareness to know when his route was dead and how to adjust or go off-script to make himself available. It’s a veteran savviness that made Zach Ertz such a great target for Jayden Daniels the past two years.
Diggs does this consistently on film. Sometimes it’s making small adjustments like sitting a route down in a hole in coverage, sometimes it’s going off-script when a play breaks down to make himself available. He’s been around multiple teams and multiple quarterbacks and always managed to build up a rapport with them quickly, likely due to this ability. It means when things break down and the quarterback is in trouble, they typically look to him to bail them out of it.
Last Man Standig (paywall)
Washington addressed its main offensive question with a seven-time 1000-yard receiver
Having signed free agent TE Chig Okonkwo this offseason, Washington has one of its better receiving trios in several years, and certainly since drafting Daniels in 2024.
An outside WR much of his career, the former University of Maryland standout split time on the perimeter and in the slot withthe Patriots. Washington has slot options in rookie Antonio Williams, Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane. It’s the Z- receiver spot where questions existed.
For more from Ben Standig, click here
From The Athletic (paywall):
The Commanders’ lack of a so-called No. 2 wideout was especially costly last season, when their receiving corps was decimated by injuries, leaving Deebo Samuel to carry the load for much of the season. Although Washington addressed most of its glaring roster needs this offseason, it began training camp with a clear need for another experienced playmaker.
To read more of this article from The Athletic, CLICK HERE
Commanders Roundtable
Signing Diggs means fast tracking the young corps of WRs
Beyond his immediate target share, Diggs brings an elite masterclass in line-of-scrimmage mechanics directly to the film room. 2026 third-round pick Antonio Williams has impressed in camp, but expecting gaudy rookie numbers from the No. 71 overall pick is a tall order. Though already a nuanced route-runner in his own right, Williams now gains a premier veteran mentor to help elevate his craft. Studying Diggs’ subtle hip drops, footwork, and release packages will immediately accelerate the development of both Williams and incumbent Luke McCaffrey, a 2024 third-round pick who has been active in camp and offers solid depth.
Meanwhile, former first-round pick Treylon Burks and returning threat Dyami Brown offer intriguing, specialized traits — Burks as a physical possession target, and Brown as a deep threat with existing chemistry alongside Jayden Daniels. But with Diggs in the room, coasting isn’t an option. His relentless practice habits and strict standard of route precision will force everyone to earn their snaps by outworking him. For all the off-field chatter that occasionally follows him, Diggs built a strong reputation in New England as a supportive teammate and steady locker-room leader.
Williams and McCaffrey should handle the primary slot and WR3 reps, while Burks and Brown fill specialized package roles. Consequently, it would be surprising if veteran Van Jefferson makes the final roster. With Diggs in the fold, the need for a veteran floor-raiser fades, and Jefferson lacks the upside of the younger talent around him.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Commanders Wire
Commanders signing Stefon Diggs caps off impressive offseason overhaul
Now, all the Commanders have to do is win. Easier said than done, especially considering how difficult the schedule is to begin the season. But you can’t say Peters didn’t do enough. He did. It’s up to head coach Dan Quinn now.
There has been a false narrative surrounding Peters for months that he didn’t do enough to help Daniels. Nothing will help Daniels more than an improved defense. Adding more offensive weapons is the cherry on top. What Washington needs most is a healthy Daniels.
Winning the offseason does not matter. Every Commanders fan knows that all too well. However, Washington signing Stefon Diggs approximately five weeks before Week 1 caps off quite the offseason haul. Now, it must translate into wins; if it doesn’t, don’t blame Peters.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Sports Illustrated
The Good and Not So Good From Commanders’ Sixth Training Camp Practice
After an impressive practice on Tuesday, McCaffrey caught another touchdown and showed he can be shifty enough to win multiple reps against Mike Sainristil, who is no slouch. McCaffrey’s continued improvement is a sign he is ready for more than just returner detail.
The increased use of movement, misdirection, and unusual personnel packages is further evidence of Blough’s lineage, both as a player and as a coach. There are shades of Ben Johnson’s offense, with more to come. Ben Sinnott using a mesh concept to create traffic that helped free Antonio Williams for a touchdown was another sign of that. The offense also appears to be readying itself for the idea that trick plays will happen; on Wednesday, they got Laremy Tunsil involved.
McCaffrey and Sainristil had to be physically separated from one another at one point after their competitive sides came out a bit too much. That seemed like an isolated incident until Nick Cross made late contact with Kaytron Allen after a touchdown; Allen’s response was to throw the ball at Cross. Van Jefferson got involved with Cross after that. Less than 20 minutes later, another shoving exchange between Quan Martin and Jacoby Jones signaled a trend. The best on offense versus the best on defense is supposed to bring out a certain amount of competitive emotion, but going too far or making contact after the whistle is a different story and should be handled by the staff directly.
There was no kicking Wednesday, which gets a thumbs down from me.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Photos
Commanders.com
PHOTOS | Suiting up for Practice No. 5
The Washington Commanders were back on the field with fans in the stands for another training camp practice. Tap to check out the best moments from the day.
Podcasts & videos
🚨EMERGENCY POD🚨: Commanders sign Stefon Diggs | Beltway Football
Note from Bill-in-Bangkok: The second half of this podcast comprises interviews with two NE Patriots beat reporters who give significant insight into Stefon Diggs play and locker room presence in New England last season; I found it worthwhile listening
COMMANDERS SIGN STEFON DIGGS! Adam Peters Gives JAYDEN DANIELS a NEW WEAPON!
ON SCHEDULE: Stefon Diggs Gives Commanders Another Jayden Daniels Answer
Stefon Diggs is the Newest Commander/Training Camp Recap
NFC East links
Bleeding Green Nation
Would you bring back Zach Ertz?
The Eagles are trying to win a Super Bowl. Entrenched tight end Dallas Goedert struggles mightily with injury issues, yes. Goedert, who had an off year as a blocker in 2025, historically is a beast there though and gives the Birds versatility at the position. The team brought in Johnny Mundt to be a block-first tight end as well for this new Sean Mannion scheme given how bad the Eagles were on that front last season. Eli Stowers, a rookie second-round tight end in the Ertz mold where he’s more of a glorified possession receiver than a true in-line guy, needs to start developing too.
I’m not into bringing in a guy like Ertz who can’t be a factor in the run game and who’s coming off an injury like this at his age.
Maybe if the Eagles were a mediocre squad, I’d be more into a reunion so that Ertz could finish his career where it started. The goals, however, are bigger than that for this season.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Blogging the Boys
3 questions that have developed at Cowboys training camp
Do they have enough pass rush?
While the back seven has made plays, especially defending the pass at training camp, the pass rush has been slow to develop. Dallas’ interior defensive line is built to stop the run, but for where the Cowboys were last year, they aren’t showing consistent ability to pressure the passer outside of blitzes. Donovan Ezeiruaku and Malachi Lawrence are young but the hope was they would ignite the pass rush.
Ezeiruaku was sent out of practice today for his role in a scuffle, perhaps also some frustration on his part. Rashan Gary is a veteran in the edge rusher group, but his calling card is more akin to stopping the run. The front office has teased about getting more veteran help, but do they stoke the embers on reigniting talks regarding Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby?
The Cowboys know that Crosby isn’t happy with the Raiders, and what would be the point of prolonging hanging on to a disgruntled player? The Cowboys and the Raiders have an excellent working relationship, so the two sides coming together isn’t far-fetched.
Or, maybe the Cowboys stay the course, and Christian Parker finds ways to generate more pressure ahead of the preseason and joint practices with the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints. It’s not time to panic, but you couldn’t fault fans for being somewhat antsy about the defense getting to the quarterback so far.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Big Blue View
Roster news: NY Giants place DT Roy Robertson-Harris on injured reserve
The Giants had previously hoped that DT Roy Robertson-Harris could return late in the season after suffering a torn Achilles early in the off-season. However, that hope has been put to rest and the Giants officially ended his season by placing him on the injured reserve prior to the start of the season. Robertson-Harris was a starter for the Giants in 2025 and was in line to compete for a starting job this year.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
NFL league links
Articles
Pro Football Talk
Deebo Samuel’s deal has a $4.1 million base, and up to $2.9 million in incentives
Samuel gets a $490,000 roster bonus and a base salary of $3.27 million. The base deal includes a per-game roster bonus of $20,000 per game, for a total of $340,000. That pushes the base value to $4.1 million.
The remaining $2.9 million comes in the form of incentives.
Per Maiocco, Samuel earns $200,000 bonus if he has at least 600 yards from scrimmage in the regular season. The number increases to $450,000 if Samuel has 803 or more scrimmage yards. The figure doubles if the 49ers make the playoffs.
There’s another $200,000 tied to scoring five touchdowns. At seven touchdowns, it moves to $450,000. Again, the incentive doubles if the 49ers qualify for the postseason.
If he returns at least 20 kickoffs and ranks tenth or higher in average yards per return, Samuel will earn $250,000. It doubles if the 49ers make the playoffs.
If he participates in at least 68 percent of the offensive snaps, Samuel earns another $250,000. Again, it doubles if they land in the postseason field.
Finally, Samuel gets $100,000 if he’s named to the Pro Bowl team on the initial ballot.
