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Commanders new alternate helmet called ‘inappropriate’
Harris has implemented two changes this offseason. The franchise will return to the uniforms of their Super Bowl era when they appeared in four Super Bowls, winning three from the 1982-1991 seasons. The second change is a spear added to the alternate uniform. Harris didn’t want too large of a change suddenly, so the spear is only on the alternate helmet. One can understand that the Harris Group wants to see how the fan base reacts and if they literally
“buy in.”
But two days in, and the opposition is already fueled and ready for battle.
[O]n April 17, the Association on American Indian Affairs called the Commanders’ logo update “disappointing and inappropriate,” adding, “We are not your mascot.”
Ah, yes, here we go again. If anything should be clear to the Commanders’ ownership group, Josh Harris, Mitchell Rales, David Blitzer, Mark Ein, and others, it is this: “It is not over.”
“This” being political friction, political debate, social media grenades, unrelenting pressure to conform, name-calling so that you are immediately viewed as guilty of such charges of racism, prejudice and bigotry. These are just the type of things Harris and his group have attempted to avoid.
Commanders.com
Ten Day 2 players to watch in the 3rd round for Washington
Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska: Speed is not Johnson’s game, but he does find ways to be productive. He led FBS players in all-purpose yards and had 12 rushing touchdowns last season. While he’s not overly physical, he does have an element of that to his skill set and is hard to stop once he hits his top gear.
Trey Zuhn III, C, Texas A&M: Zuhn is a four-year starter who shared the award for the top SEC offensive linemen with Kadyn Proctor, which says a lot about his potential as an NFL prospect. He doesn’t stand out in any category but is solid in several, from his quickness to his hand usage.
Treydan Stukes, CB, Arizona: Stukes loves football. He was a team captain for Arizona last season and was a clear leader for its defense. He also runs a 4.33 and has good ball skills with 10 pass breakups in 2025. He has work to do to develop as a pro, but he has the passion and determination that coaches will love at the next level.
Commanders Roundtable
Three Center Targets for Washington Commanders in 2026 NFL Draft
Connor Lew, Auburn
Viewed as arguably the best center ahead of the 2025 season, Lew saw his final year at Auburn cut short after suffering a torn ACL in mid-October. That injury has put a question mark on how high he could go, though the tape speaks for itself after allowing a 2.5% pressure rate in 2025 and a great frame to add confidence to his ability to remain a strong run blocker in the NFL. With teams evaluating his medicals, the Auburn product could be within range when it comes time for Washington to make its pick in the third round.
Riggo’s Rag
Commanders fans just got another reason to talk themselves into Caleb Downs
Dane Brugler of The Athletic, citing conversations with people around the league who’ve spoken to Downs throughout the pre-draft process, highlighted in no uncertain terms just how well he has come across.
And for a team like the Commanders, that will carry a ton of weight.
“Talking to teams about how he’s interviewed… some guys I’ve never seen smile are grinning.”
The on-field abilities of Downs speak for themselves. He’s an exceptionally well-rounded, versatile prospect boasting the traits in keeping with highly productive modern-day safeties in the pros. This also aligns with the Commanders’ need, despite their reported belief in Quan Martin and the free-agent signing of Nick Cross.
During the first two drafts under general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn, the importance of character became obvious. They are after good players, of course, but what makes them tick is just as important.
How they fit into the culture, how much they love the game, and how much they are willing to go above and beyond to improve are desirable characteristics. According to reports, Downs has all that in abundance.
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Post-Signing 1-on-1: RB Rachaad White | Free Agency Friday x Next Man Up | Washington Commanders
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Bleeding Green Nation
Ranking 11 linebackers in the 2026 NFL Draft
Tier 5: Rounds 3+
9. Keyshaun Elliott, Arizona State
Overall: A smart linebacker whose size, tackling, and run-game presence make him a solid traditional early-down defender. His upside may be limited by his athleticism, but the intelligence and reliability are consistent strengths on the tape.
Eagles Thoughts: I really like Elliott as a player, but I expect him to go on Day 2, and I doubt the Eagles are looking at a linebacker that early, given the coverage limitations. He’s a fun player who would be a great value on Day 3.
10. Deontae Lawson, Alabama
Overall: A very light, fast, rangy linebacker whose coverage ability and athleticism give him some upside, but his size means he simply cannot be a full-time player at the next level. A coverage specialist who needs a specific role.
Eagles Thoughts: The processing concerns and the size limitations together are too much for me to get excited. There are interesting speed and coverage traits, but he shouldn’t be a Day 2 player for the Eagles.
11. Kaleb Elarms-Orr, TCU
Overall: An explosive, speedy linebacker whose elite testing profile highlights his upside, but there is a lot of work to do before he can translate that athleticism into consistent NFL-level play. The processing needs significant development.
Eagles Thoughts: I’d be surprised if the Eagles target him, but if they want a speedy linebacker for depth, Elarms-Orr is an interesting Day 3 option.
Blogging the Boys
Brandon Aubrey deadline passes, Cowboys hold rights for 2026
Earlier this offseason the Cowboys placed a second-round tender on Aubrey.
Here is how it happened and what it all means:
- The Cowboys placed a second-round tender on Aubrey at a value of $5.8M for 2026
- This puts Aubrey third in the NFL among kickers from an annual average value perspective
- Any other team has been free to negotiate a new deal with Aubrey in this window
- Should a team have come to terms with Aubrey on a new deal the Cowboys held the right of first refusal
- If Dallas had declined to match that hypothetical deal, the new team would have also owed the Cowboys a second-round pick
It always seemed farfetched that another team would go out on such a limb for Aubrey, all due respect, which is why reaching Friday without it happening is hardly shocking.
Big Blue View
NY Giants 2026 NFL Draft: Cornerback options on all 3 days of the draft
Day 2
Colton Hood, Tennessee
Another Tennessee Volunteer who played a dictating press-man brand of football using his 5-11, 193-pound frame:
Hood is a balanced and controlled mover with sufficient vertical speed and excellent explosiveness when triggering downhill. His transitions and movement skills are ideal for a starting NFL cornerback, and he does fit the run well. Hood started his college career at Auburn, then transferred to Colorado for the 2024 season before finishing at Tennessee. He allowed a 55% catch rate in college with three interceptions and 10 pass deflections.
Day 3
Thaddeus Dixon, North Carolina
The Washington transfer started seven games for the Tar Heels in 2025, but an upper-body injury forced him to miss half the season.
He allowed a 61.5% catch rate with North Carolina, but just a 47.1% rate in 2024 with Washington. He has mostly played outside cornerback in his career. He has just 2 interceptions in his career, but he has knocked down 20 balls. While not dominant in one specific area of his game, he is adequate and reliable in many aspects of playing cornerback. He could be a nice option late in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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ESPN
Source: Texans, Will Anderson reach 3-year, $150M extension
The Texans and All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr. have agreed to a historic three-year, $150 million extension that makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday.
The deal includes $134 million in guaranteed money, the source said.
The record extension surpasses the deal given to Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons after Green Bay acquired him from the Dallas Cowboys in August. Parsons signed a four-year, $188 million contract extension that included $120 million fully guaranteed at signing and $136 million in total guarantees.
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ESPN
Flowers: Harbaugh’s practices why Ravens ‘had a lot of injuries’
Wide receiver Zay Flowers believes the change at head coach will improve the Baltimore Ravens’ health issues.
On an episode of the “4th and South” podcast that was released Thursday, Flowers claimed that the tough practices by former coach John Harbaugh led to more injuries, especially by the end of the season.
“Full pads all the time,” Flowers said. “However many practices in pads you can get, every single one. We’re doing one-on-ones in Week 17. Week 17, we’re doing one-on-ones, everybody out there, we’re tired, we’re still going.”
Asked how the players manage that workload, Flowers replied, “We don’t.”
“That’s why we had a lot of injuries, because of how we practiced, how we went,” he added. “The load was heavy.”
Injuries significantly impacted the Ravens’ 8-9 season in 2025, which was Harbaugh’s 18th and final one in Baltimore.
“[Minter] knows how we worked with Harbaugh,” Flowers said. “So he’s like, ‘You’re going to get your work, but it’s going to be a little easier on your body. You’re going to be fresher for the game.'”
Harbaugh, now head coach of the New York Giants
Pro Football Talk
Eric DeCosta: NIL leads to older players in the draft, I don’t think that’s a good thing
DeCosta says he sees more older players who have less room for growth in the NFL.
“There is a changing dynamic we’ve seen with the draft,” DeCosta said. “Players are older. The average age of the players is not necessarily older but there are older players in the draft. We’re seeing more 24 and 25-year-old players. That’s because of covid initially, and now because of NIL, guys are getting paid to stay in. That’s problematic for us because if guys are coming in older they’ve probably got less upside. They’re not three-contract players in some cases, they’re two-contract players. And in some cases they’ve got more injuries. They’ve been playing college football longer so they’ve taken on more injuries.”
DeCosta, who has been with the Ravens for 30 years, says the team has more players who will turn 25 as rookies than ever before.
“We’re trying to get a handle on that,” DeCosta said. “It’s tough for us to assess what that means. It’s something we’ve seen over the last three years, this will be the third year, 2024, 2025 and 2026. We might have had 4 percent of our players on the draft board 24 1/2 or older prior to 2024, now that number is up to 18 percent. So we’ve seen a 14 percent increase in older players on the draft board. That’s something that we don’t really understand fully what that means. I don’t think it’s a good thing, certainly. Historically we’ve tried to draft younger players when we can. That’s something we feel strongly. But now we’ve got 18 percent of the draft board that’s over 24 years old. So that’s going to change the way we target players.”
