What is the story about?
This
week, NFL executives ranked the Washington Commanders amongthe worst NFC teams ahead of the 2026 season.
On Friday, Commanders Wire looked at thepositives on the offensive side of the ball, so today, let’s look at the positives on the defensive side.
Some positives for the Commanders defense approaching Week 1
- As much as we liked Joe Whitt Jr., the man, the Commanders’ defense never established itself as a consistent unit in two seasons under his leadership. We don’t yet know what new DC Daronte Jones will accomplish, but we do know the defense needed a new leader, and they have one who worked under Brian Flores in Minnesota.
- The 2025 defensive line largely underperformed. But Daron Payne is in a contract year this season, so he is highly motivated. Ricky Barber had a good training camp, and Tim Settle should be a good addition for the middle of the defensive line.
- The 2026 Commanders are much deeper at edge rusher. Four of the five edge rushers were not even on the 2025 team, which couldn’t generate any pressure once Dorance Armstrong tore his ACL and was out for the remainder of the 2025 season. Javontae Jean-Baptiste will most likely replace Armstrong, suspended for one week by the NFL. The Commanders’ pass rush could/should be much stronger in 2026.
- The Commanders signed Leo Chenal as a free agent, and drafted Ohio State rookie Sonny Styles and Frankie Luvu returns. Look for those three to heavily rotate. Jordan Magee enters his third season and Kain Medrano his second. Washington’s linebackers will be much faster in 2026.
- The Commanders’ decision to keep only three corners was frankly shocking. Does Daronte Jones not like the corners he inherited, preferring to keep an extra safety instead? So, they did keep a fifth safety. Jones likes his five safeties enough that he released 2025 starter Will Harris. Nick Cross will most likely be a good signing. After many years of mostly playing special teams, Jeremy Reaves has impressed coaches in camp. As for keeping three cornerbacks, Washington did re-sign Fabian Moreau, so it now has four on the 53-man roster. Starter Trey Amos will open the season on IR, so the Commanders added a pair of solid veterans to the practice squad.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders defense has several reasons to be optimistic for 2026
