Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has played two games in Philadelphia in his NFL career, losing both. He thinks there\u2019s no tougher place in the NFL to play.<\/p>\n
Daniels said in an interview with Sports Illustrated<\/a> that the fans in Philadelphia deserve credit for the passion they bring, which only makes it harder on opposing quarterbacks.<\/p>\n \u201cI love Eagles fans. I love Eagles fans,\u201d Daniels said. \u201cThey just embody what Philly brings. To be able to go out there and play against them, it\u2019s kind of just that thing. Their environment is kind of like the closest thing you can get to a college environment.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked if the fans in Philadelphia give him more fuel, Daniels answered, \u201cFor sure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you go out there, you can beat Philly in Philly, that\u2019s a different type, but their fans bring it,\u201d Daniels said. \u201cEspecially as we\u2019re rivals with them in the NFC East. I love playing against them.\u201d<\/p>\n Winning in Philadelphia is high on Daniels\u2019 list of goals for 2026.<\/p>\n John Keim: What to expect from Commanders\u2019 offense in 2026<\/a><\/p>\n In two seasons under Kingsbury, Washington ran the fewest amount of plays from under center in the NFL. In fact, the Commanders\u2019 193 snaps were 157 fewer than the next lowest, Cincinnati — and it was 919 less than the No. 1 team, Detroit.<\/p>\n Quinn wanted a different philosophy moving forward — more run emphasis; more ability to create explosive plays; less pressure on quarterback Jayden Daniels<\/a> to save the day each game.<\/p>\n That led to Kingsbury\u2019s exit and the quick promotion of Blough. Both Quinn and Blough pointed out that the teams that advanced far in the postseason all played more from under center. A year ago, under Kingsbury, Washington reached the NFC Championship Game doing the opposite. That season, Kingsbury\u2019s offense finished fifth in points and efficiency, fourth in offensive EPA (expected points added), third in rushing and 10th in time of possession.<\/p>\n Washington also ranked just 22nd in yards per pass attempt on play-action in 2024. Though the team fared much better last year overall (ranking ninth in yards per attempt), when the score differential was within a touchdown, they ranked 22nd in that category.<\/p>\n The organization says the goal for the offense in 2026 is to create more explosive plays.<\/p>\n Blough has learned\u2026that it\u2019s better to huddle. Washington ran more plays of no-huddle offense than anyone in the NFL the past two seasons — 1,279 such plays, or 83 more plays than the next three teams combined.<\/p>\n That said, the Commanders did not always move at a fast pace with this look. They snapped the ball within 25 seconds of the previous play 10.4% of the time over the past two years. They did run 429 plays within 35 seconds, most in the NFL; 33% of the time they were in no-huddle.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hard to ignore how much stress and no huddle — the tempo element — puts on a defense,\u201d Blough said, acknowledging its utility.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we look up next year and we\u2019re at 20%, I\u2019d be OK with that,\u201d Blough ended.<\/p>\n Logan Paulsen\u2019s Top offensive lineman prospects in 2026 draft<\/a><\/p>\n The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team.<\/p>\n One thing: \u201cI like him a lot. I think he\u2019s got great foot speed. I think he understands leverages and pass protection. There are some times where I wonder about his total place strength. He gets a little bit high, gets a little bit disinterested, but I really like the overall athlete. And I think he\u2019s better put together. I don\u2019t wanna say the play strength was a concern, but he\u2019s well put together. It\u2019s not like a glaring issue. So, I think he\u2019s a very, very solid prospect.\u201d<\/p>\n One thing: \u201cHe\u2019s a former high school wrestler. He\u2019s got 35-inch arms. He is a nasty, nasty human being. Like he loves to finish. He can run. I think he\u2019s got good feet. He\u2019s a little bit duck footed. So it looks a little bit awkward. But he\u2019s quick to the angle. He is quick to the landmark. I think in pass protection, that\u2019s where I get a little bit worried about him. Because he\u2019s got long arms, you can see the length. But he tends to kind of like headbutt and kind of try to bear hug you as opposed to like keeping you using his length. But in terms of football character, at least based on the film, he\u2019s the big, nasty, man.\u201d<\/p>\n One thing: \u201cI actually think is a pretty gosh darn good mover for being 6-7. He does a great job in pass protection. He uses his length. He gets his hands out there; he stuns guys. He\u2019s pretty good in combinations. There are times where he gets to the second level and he does not bend super well. He\u2019s hitting guys with the bottom of his face mask as opposed to his face or the crown of his helmet. And at the next level, that could be problematic. But the thing that I always told myself is if you see the ability to pass protect at a high level, you gotta value that guy.\u201d<\/p>\n Commanders have three cut candidates who could free up more salary cap space before free agency spending spree<\/a><\/p>\n This one might surprise some people, but I wouldn\u2019t be shocked if they moved on from Quan Martin. Head coach Dan Quinn benched Martin after he gave up the long touchdown<\/a> to Dallas Cowboys<\/a> WR KaVontae Turpin on Christmas Day, and that\u2019s with the secondary as bad as it was. Martin showed some flashes in 2024, but 2025 was as bad as it gets.<\/p>\n The Commanders will have plenty of opportunities to upgrade with a loaded safety draft class<\/a> and a deep group of free agents as well. Moving on from Martin saves the Commanders $3.6 million in 2026, and carries a dead cap hit of just $638,695. The Commanders can\u2019t afford to have a liability in the secondary anymore.<\/p>\n Commanders\u2019 relationship with Bobby Wagner has seemingly run its course<\/a><\/p>\n Daronte Jones\u2019 defense promises to be aggressive<\/a>, violent, explosive, and ruthless under his leadership. His personnel needs an injection of youth and dynamism for this hire to work, which could leave future first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Bobby Wagner on the outside looking in.<\/p>\n Wagner\u2019s been a fantastic presence in Washington over the last two years, but this seems like a good time for both parties to go their separate ways. Greg Auman of FOX Sports agrees, projecting the former Utah State standout to keep playing with a return to the Los Angeles Rams<\/a> in free agency.<\/p>\n \u201d[Bobby] Wagner is also years past people saying it\u2019s amazing he was still playing. He had 162 tackles for Washington in 2025, with 4.5 sacks and two interceptions, missing Pro Bowl honors (he\u2019s made it 10 times already). A new coordinator for the Commanders could mean Wagner is signing elsewhere, a future Hall of Famer still making plays on a consistent basis. Could he return to the Seahawks or Rams and try to chase a second ring on the way out?\u201cGreg Auman<\/p>\n The newly crowned NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year still managed to achieve 162 tackles last season at 35 years old. Wagner was a force in between the tackles and on blitzes. But given the scheme Jones plans to install, his lack of athleticism and inconsistent coverage<\/a> make a departure from Washington more likely than another deal.<\/p>\n 7 Players who could reunite with Adam Peters on the Commanders in 2026<\/a><\/p>\n If veteran left guard Chris Paul returns to the Washington Commanders on a new deal, all five of their starting offensive linemen will be back. That is a massive boost for continuity purposes, and it gives new coordinator David Blough one less thing to worry about during his critical transition to the play-calling role.<\/p>\n That said, their backup options are lacking. Andrew Wylie, George Fant, Trent Scott, and Lucas Niang are all free agents and might not return. Nick Allegretti may be a salary-cap cut candidate, so general manager Adam Peters must start devising a list of reinforcements with proven experience.<\/p>\n Peters knows Spencer Burford well from their time together on the San Francisco 49ers. He was solid enough<\/a> when tasked with starting duties last season. And at 25, there is enough scope to improve in the coming years.<\/p>\n Much will depend on the money involved and whether Burford, who plays on the interior but also has experience at tackle in college, is willing to accept a depth-chart role. But this looks like a realistic option if the Niners don\u2019t keep him around.<\/p>\n Charles Omenihu is an interesting free agent going under the radar. He spent the best part of two years working with Peters on the San Francisco 49ers, and he\u2019s been a steady rotational piece for the Kansas City Chiefs over the last three years. He\u2019s never attained more than seven sacks in any season, but his 34 pressures from 55 percent of defensive snaps in 2025 showcase his ability to get opposing quarterbacks off their spot.<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to forget that Omenihu only recently turned 28, so this could be a cost-effective option to enhance the pass-rushing rotation if the Chiefs don\u2019t re-sign him.<\/p>\n Robinson was acquired when Peters held an influential position in the San Francisco 49ers\u2019 front office. He was used sparingly until this season, but an injury to Fred Warner gave him the opportunity he was looking for. If the Commanders are looking for a dependable performer with some much-needed momentum on his side, this could be a viable option for Washington\u2019s depth chart.<\/p>\n Adam Peters was in the San Francisco 49ers\u2019 front office when they signed Ben Bartch in 2023. He\u2019s been a backup almost ever since, but the flashes he displayed in limited involvement last season leave reasons for encouragement.<\/p>\n Bartch is best suited for the left guard position. The Commanders started Chris Paul there last season. He seizedhis final chance to carve out a role for himself. This couldn\u2019t have come at a better time, and the player should get paid handsomely on a new deal in free agency.<\/p>\n Whether that\u2019s in Washington or elsewhere remains to be seen. Peters should make him an offer, and even if he re-signs, Bartch could be a useful backup option. Especially considering Super Bowl winner Nick Allegretti as a potential salary-cap cut candidate<\/a>.<\/p>\n Not every signing is going to be a megabucks deal or high-end draft pick. The Commanders need to make the minor moves count, which will enhance depth and allow the team to cope much better with injuries when they inevitably arise. There are some concerns, but Samson Ebukam has a connection to Peters and some useful athleticism to consider.<\/p>\n Ebukam looked like a productive prime was in the offing after securing 9.5 sacks with the Indianapolis Colts in 2023. Unfortunately, the pass-rusher missed the following year with a torn Achilles, denting his momentum drastically.<\/p>\n The Eastern Washington product returned to health and performed quite well in 2025, recording two sacks and 23 pressures on 43 percent of the Colts\u2019 defensive snaps. Ebukam should be stronger next season, but he\u2019d be a relatively cheap addition to the rotation with lofty upside attached.<\/p>\n A long list of key departures has contributed to the Cowboys rapid defensive descent<\/a><\/p>\n The departure of Dan Quinn to Washington has been the greatest smoking gun as to why things have abruptly changed, but coaching only tells half the story. While Quinn\u2019s aggressive nature and infectious energy turned around a broken unit, the sheer drain of talent has left the roster looking like a K-Mart department store. Some teams occasionally lose a superstar player, some suffer bad luck with a career-changing injury, or others just lose a few key contributors that turned out to be more costly than expected. In the case of the Cowboys defense, they\u2019ve endured all of that, and to a great extent. And to make matters worse, the team\u2019s response in filling those voids has consisted of underperforming draft picks, disappointing trades, and their go-to low-cost free agent signings.<\/p>\n Paul Allen\u2019s estate begins process of selling Super Bowl champ Seahawks<\/a><\/p>\n Jody Allen has controlled the Seahawks and the Portland Trail Blazers<\/a> as the estate\u2019s chair in the wake of her brother\u2019s death. Paul Allen\u2019s will dictated that both teams were to eventually be sold, with all estate proceeds going to philanthropy.<\/p>\n NFL commissioner Roger Goodell referred to that directive when asked during Super Bowl week about a potential Seahawks sale. He denied a Wall Street Journal report<\/a> that the organization was fined $5 million due to its ownership structure not being in compliance with league rules. That fine was being held in abeyance, a source told ESPN\u2019s Seth Wickersham.<\/p>\n It\u2019s the first time in the Super Bowl era that a team has been put on the market shortly after playing in the championship game.<\/p>\n Ian Rapoport\u2019s future with NFL Network under ESPN: \u2018No idea if it is going to happen\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n In April, ESPN and the NFL Network will be under the same Disney umbrella \u2014 Rapoport and Schefter will be teammates. How long that lasts is still to be determined, as Rapoport\u2019s contract is up in May.<\/p>\n While Schefter and Rapoport engage in an almost daily post-off to be first on X, there is more to their jobs. The analogy that probably best describes how NFL Network is expected to live in an ESPN universe is the SEC Network. ESPN\u2019s most popular subject will continue to be the NFL, but if you want non-stop coverage of the league, NFL Network will be available. Ultimately, between the two networks, there is going to be no shortage of on-air hits for the top insiders.<\/p>\n What ESPN executives are going to do about the expanded NFL reporting staff is still to be determined.<\/p>\n \u201cJust so we are clear, I don\u2019t know what is coming,\u201d Rapoport said. \u201cNo one has told me, \u2018It\u2019s going to be like this. It\u2019s going to be like that.\u2019 There are a lot of things I don\u2019t know. A lot of people don\u2019t know, but I\u2019m excited because ESPN is very good at what it does. From my understanding, it is going to be more football, more coverage, investing in NFL Network and making it as best as it could possibly be.<\/p>\n \u201cIf it is anything like ESPN and SEC Network, that would be great. SEC Network is awesome. ESPN\u2019s coverage of college football is enhanced by it. If that is sort of the way it is, then I think that would be, that would be great. I don\u2019t know what I\u2019ll end up doing.\u201d<\/p>\n