— What does the team around Daniels look like in 2026? Almost every question about the Commanders heading into Daniels’ third season revolves around this topic. One way or another, the team will be drastically different in 2026, both in terms of the coaching staff and roster. David Blough is the new offensive coordinator, which will help with some continuity, but the first-time play caller will want to bring in his own ideas about how to elevate Daniels’ skill set. There will likely be a new wide receiver corps around No. 1 option Terry McLaurin and a new starting tight end. The defense is going to be completely new with Daronte Jones now officially taking over as the coordinator. Daniels should be completely healthy after an injury-riddled 2025 season, which bodes well for the Commanders as they try to get back to the playoffs. Daniels has already shown that he can be a difference maker, and he will naturally be important for any success the team has in 2026. However, he’ll need a better supporting cast around him if they truly want to maximize his potential.
— What does the rest of the quarterback room look like? Although the ideal plan is for none of the Commanders’ backups to start in 2026, it’s still a priority for the Commanders to put together a strong quarterback room around Daniels in his third season. They did a solid job of this over the last two seasons with a mixture of Mariota, Johnson and Driskel, but all three of those players could be gone in 2026. Mariota might be the biggest departure. It’s possible that Blough will want to keep him around, but Mariota might also want to either rejoin Kliff Kingsbury wherever he gets a job or pursue other options. Regardless of who they sign, it will be important for the Commanders to get it right, even if none of the backups play.