Washington is rolling into the 2026 season coming off a measly 5-12 record, and if you thought they fixed things, think again: 50% of their skill position passing production from last year is GONE. We're talking 3,329 receiving yards from 2025, and half of that just walked out the door. The real kicker? They "replaced" it with, well, not much.
Same Old Song and Dance, But Worse?
Commanders fans must be feeling some serious déjà vu. After a 4-13 season in 2024, Adam Peters and Dan Quinn overhauled the roster with "mostly middling, aging, culture changing guys off the scrap heap." Fast forward to 2026, fresh off a 5-12 finish, and what's the plan? Another roster overhaul, bringing in "mostly middling guys off the scrap heap." Sound familiar? It totally should. They even sacrificed OC Kliff Kingsbury in the process, replacing him with David Blough, a guy who was literally taking snaps in a game just four (unspecified previous year). This isn't an upgrade, it's a sideways shuffle at best.
The subtractions hit hard, too. Gone are LB Bobby Wagner, WR Deebo Samuel, TE Zach Ertz, EDGE Von Miller, C Tyler Biadasz, RB Chris Rodriguez, and EDGE Jacob Martin. Sure, they brought in names like EDGE Odafe Oweh, TE Chig Okonkwo, LB Leo Chenal, EDGE K’Lavon Chiasson, CB Amik Robertson, DT Tim Settle, S Nick Cross, and RB Rachaad White, but are these guys difference-makers? The question for this team isn't if they're different, it's if they're actually better. And right now, the answer looks like a hard "nope."
Skill Position Struggle Is Beyond Real
Let's talk about the receivers and tight ends, because this is where the loss of 50% of their receiving production hits hard. To replace it, the Commanders brought in "nothing special." Their second best wide receiver is... Dynami Brown? Treylon Burks? Rookie Jaylin Lane saw his playing time drop last season, and third round pick Antonio Williams had a disappointing year at Clemson. Luke McCaffrey "ain't it." And let's not even get started on Brandon Aiyuk, who hasn't practiced or played since October 2024. He's not exactly inspiring confidence he'll turn this group around.
Then there's the tight end situation. Zach Ertz put up 50 catches for 504 yards last year. His replacement, Chig Okonkwo, averaged 48 catches for 504 yards in four seasons in Tennessee. That's not improvement; it's a statistical mirror image. At running back, Jacory Croskey-Merritt is a fan favorite but inconsistent. He had just four games with more than 61 rushing yards, and followed those up with duds of 17, 61, 25, and 29 yards. Plus, he offered almost nothing as a pass catcher, with only 9 receptions all year. Last year, the old roster couldn't stay healthy, racking up the third most Adjusted Games Lost. Their "old and slow defense" from 2024 got even worse in 2025. Their QB, with all the pre-draft worries about his playing style and frame, was in and out of the lineup. High-profile acquisitions like Deebo Samuel are now unemployed, and Javon Kinlaw had zero sacks while anchoring one of the worst run defenses. It's a mess, folks.
The Commanders get to test this "new and improved" squad immediately, facing off against the Eagles in Week 1 at home, then again on the road in Week 8 on Sunday Night Football after their bye. It's going to be a real test to see if any of these moves actually make a difference or if it's just more of the same old frustrating story.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.