The Washington Commanders finished their first season under the Josh Harris-Adam Peters-Dan Quinn-Jayden Daniels era with a 12-5 record and a trip to the NFC Championship game. That wasn’t good enough, and they’re now building on that early success to push for a Super Bowl appearance, and victory. Their season ended with a loss against the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, and they’ve been making moves to prevent that from happening again.
Adam Peters has made protecting and benefiting Jayden Daniels a priority this offseason after the No. 2 overall pick won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. He traded for Laremy Tunsil and drafted Oregon tackle Josh Conerly Jr. in the first round, disregarding trade offers for the No. 29 overall pick. They’ve also been adding to the defense through free agency, trades, and the draft. The team continues to purge the majority of Ron Rivera’s roster, as they continue to transform back into a respectable NFL franchise.
The Washington Commanders’ Super Bowl odds are tied for 7th-best with the Cincinnati Bengals. They only trail the Eagles, Lions, and Rams in the NFC, and are expected to make another playoff run this year. Almost every analyst has them as a Top 10 team heading into Year 2, where will that lead them when the real games start?
High: 6
Low: 10
Average: 6.6
#6
ESPN
Post-free agency ranking: 6
Most improved position: Offensive line
Though other areas might be improved, the line has definitely gotten better. Washington traded for five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil and drafted tackle Josh Conerly Jr. in the first round. Those moves allow it to move around 2024 third-round pick Brandon Coleman, who started 15 games — including all three in the postseason. It’s possible Coleman ends up at guard, giving Washington a talented front once right guard Sam Cosmi returns from a torn ACL. Washington was dead set on protecting its greatest asset, quarterback Jayden Daniels, while also boosting the run game. — John Keim
I’ll understand if you want to complain about the lack of an edge rusher in this year’s draft haul, but that just seemed to be the way the picks went. I really liked the Commanders’ overall approach, and let‘s not forget how few resources they entered the weekend with. Two of their picks were spent to land Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel, so if your draft graders aren’t folding in that value, please gently swat their wrists for me. Josh Conerly Jr. was just OK value for me in Round 1, but Trey Amos was a strong value in the second, so that more than evened out the returns on those first two picks. Washington now has the next three months to figure out if there are ways of procuring more pass-rush talent. The Commanders are set up very well for the future, even if last year’s Texans serve as a reminder that progress isn’t always linear.
First pick: OT Josh Conerly Jr.
Everything is about Jayden Daniels in Washington now. After trading for veteran offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil in March, the Commanders kicked off the draft by taking Conerly, Dane Brugler’s No. 4 offensive tackle. The Commanders helped the defense, too, with what could be one of the second round’s best selections — Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos.
They made a big move to trade for left tackle Laremy Tunsil, which will upgrade their line, and then used their first-round pick on tackle Josh Conerly Jr.. They needed to get better in front of Jayden Daniels — and they have.
A team that did a notably poor job of drafting prior to the arrival of GM Adam Peters and HC Dan Quinn in 2024 now seems to be steadily building a strong foundation, yet shouldn’t need to be overly reliant on its latest crop of rookies in 2025.
I was so impressed by the value the Commanders found despite picking at the back of each round of the draft. I could be wrong, but I expect Josh Conerly Jr. and Trey Amos both to push for starting jobs. I know they could use some pass rush help, but I think this team is in good shape to take a step forward.
The Washington Commanders were the surprise of the 2024 season in reaching the NFC Championship Game. However, they won’t sneak up on anyone this year and are fully embracing the opportunity afforded by Jayden Daniels’ rookie contract to create a team capable of reaching the Super Bowl.
Trades for Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel Sr. give Daniels more support than he had as a rookie, improving his protection and providing an important YAC weapon. Washington already had the sixth-ranked offense last season and has as high a ceiling as any offense for 2025.
Unlike on offense, the Commanders mostly supplemented the defense with low-cost complementary additions (with the notable exception of Javon Kinlaw, who received a head-scratching deal in free agency). They were able to get nice value on Trey Amos in the second round, a do-it-all corner out of Ole Miss who should be able to impact this unit sooner than later.
The Commanders are a tier down from the top Super Bowl contenders until the defense improves, but Dan Quinn’s track record suggests it’s a matter of time before he fields a strong unit.
General manager Adam Peters made it a priority this offseason to shore up Jayden Daniels’ protection. He traded for Laremy Tunsil and drafted Josh Conerly Jr. with a first-round pick. If Daniels can replicate his 2024 success, the Commanders are poised to compete with the Eagles for a division crown.
After a stunning run to the NFC Championship Game last year, the enthusiasm and pressure in the nation’s capital have both ratcheted up exponentially. In 2025, Washington has something it hasn’t had in some time.
Expectations.
The Commanders have been aggressive this offseason, making a pair of trades for accomplished veterans in wide receiver Deebo Samuel and offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil. The team added another potential starter on the offensive line in Round 1 of the 2025 draft in Oregon tackle Josh Conerly Jr.
Running back Jeremy McNichols told reporters that the Commanders plan to show that last year’s postseason success was in no way a one-off.
“I think it brings a lot of confidence, we have something to build upon,” McNichols said. “We started to build a solid foundation last year, and I think with the guys coming in, the expectation you have when you come to the Commanders and the expectations we have when we go play on Sunday, but nobody holds higher expectations than we do in this building.”
Analyst’s Take
A slight regression may be inevitable for the Commanders, who largely overachieved with a patchwork roster comprised of older veterans and short-term deals. The process of getting younger and finding stability began this offseason, and there could be growing pains. That said, Washington should remain a contender for as long as Jayden Daniels remains healthy, and throwing a couple of big darts at the offensive line (Tunsil, Conerly) was a smart approach. — Knox
Sharp Football Analysis(McCrystal)
#7
Sporting News (Iyer)
The Commanders came into the draft with no pressing needs, as GM Adam Peters took care of several key upgrades in free agency, including Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil. Right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. and cornerback Trey Amos were the right depth plays.
First-round tackle Josh Conerly Jr. is a monster of a prospect, but what I liked most about Washington’s draft was the addition of another big-time press corner in Trey Amos. Dan Quinn is back in all his glory and now has a defense that is starting to be able to backstop the torrid pace of his offense. If Amos pans out, we could be looking at another deep Commanders playoff run.
The Washington Commanders and quarterback Jayden Daniels were an incredible story last season. However, recent history suggests regression should be expected from sudden breakout teams year-to-year and the 2023-’24 Houston Texans are an example. Even with the additions of Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel, the Commanders’ offense might not be as efficient as it was last season and very little was done this offseason to improve Washington’s defense. Washington can still be a playoff contender, but a step back is expected.
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