Jonathan Allen

"Teams looking to upgrade before the Aug. 30 deadline can target surplus talent across the league, from deep secondary rooms to crowded defensive fronts Aug 25, 2026 at 10:53 am ET • 5 min read Preseason games do not count on the official ledger, but they are important tools for NFL personnel executives in determining active roster construction. Players on the bubble in one environment could be bottom-of-the-roster candidates who make an impact in other situations. Last year, there were 21 trades made in August. There were an additional 31 players claimed on the first week of the 2025 waiver system. Those two methods of personnel acquisition nearly equate to the construction of a 33rd roster. As teams look ahead to this year's Aug. 30 deadline to reduce rosters to the 53-man active regular-season limit, they will be mining depth charts across the league to identify potential contributors at positions of weakness. Players waived as part of final roster cuts are exposed to the waiver wire, which is in order, from worst to best, of last season's win-loss records. If a team believes a player of interest would be claimed prior to its position in the waiver line, then it behooves that team to explore acquiring that player via trade. The majority of moves made at this stage of the NFL calendar will be of the small, incremental variety. It is an effort to fill out a roster with depth. Players occupying those last few roster spots will be expected to contribute on special teams. Below are some of the position groups that could be targeted either via trade or waivers. Ravens offensive lineThere are multiple factors to consider when determining which players may be available and of interest to other teams. It is often, but not always, players on rookie contracts who are moved and those players may be expendable if they were a draft pick of a former head coach and/or general manager. Baltimore has a few offensive linemen who meet that criteria: Andrew Vorhees, Carson Vinson and Emery Jones Jr. It is unlikely they could keep all three if the team hopes to fit seventh-round pick Evan Beerntsen onto the active roster. Interior offensive linemen Danny Pinter and Jovaughn Gwyn, who has prior experience with offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford. The defensive line will be worth monitoring as well with Nnamdi Madubuike back in the fold. They bulked up on veterans with Calais Campbell and John Jenkins, so what might that mean for Aeneas Peebles or seventh-round pick Rayshaun Benny? Bears linebackersChicago signed Devin Bush and Jack Sanborn to bolster the linebacker room after making the strategic decision to allow Tremaine Edmunds' departure. The team also has T.J. Edwards and D'Marco Jackson, as well as 2025 fourth-round pick Ruben Hyppolite II, 2026 fifth-round pick Keyshaun Elliott and 2023 fifth-round pick Noah Sewell. Six or seven linebackers is a lot to carry.The Bears may lack any true difference makers, but that is not necessarily uncommon. Depth is not indicative of the unit's ceiling. Bengals defensive lineCincinnati's defensive interior has been a point of weakness in recent years. They addressed that problem with the most luxurious option available this offseason: Dexter Lawrence II. They also signed Jonathan Allen in free agency. The addition of those two players mean that T.J. Slaton and B.J. Hill take on more suitable roles. What does it mean for 2024 third-round pick McKinnley Jackson or 2024 second-round pick Kris Jenkins Jr.? How about rookie Landon Robinson who has flashed? The franchise can not hoard them all. Cowboys cornerbacksDaRon Bland and Cobie Durant may in position to start on the boundary. Third-round pick Shavon Revel Jr. continues distancing himself from the injury that cost him 10 games as a rookie. Fourth-round pick Devin Moore and Derion Kendrick are also on the roster. Caleb Downs is the slot defender with Reddy Steward as his backup. Colts edge rushersIndianapolis signed veterans Arden Key and Micheal Clemons in replacement of Kwity Paye this offseason. The team has not been shy in directing resources to the unit through recent drafts: Laiatu Latu (2024 first-round pick), J.T. Tuimoloau (2025 second-round pick), Caden Curry (2026 sixth-round pick) and George Gumbs Jr. (2026 fifth-round pick). They could, in theory, keep six edge rushers, but it depends how numbers work out elsewhere and who may contribute on special teams. Quarterback Anthony Richardson may be available, but the Colts have been reticent to move him thus far. It is a pivotal year for key decision-makers and with Daniel Jones returning from injury, Richardson offers insurance. Chiefs cornerbacksIt may come as a surprise to find Kansas City on this list after trading Trent McDuffie and losing Jaylen Watson in free agency. The performance of last year's third-round pick Nohl Williams, in a limited capacity, was impressive. They also used the No. 6 overall selection on Mansoor Delane and brought back L'Jarius Sneed, who they had previously shipped to Tennessee in exchange for a third-round pick. Kaiir Elam and Kristian Fulton are also on the roster, but the real depth is in the slot. Christian Roland-Wallace is in position to start over Jadon Canady and Kader Kohou. Chargers offensive lineLeft tackle Rashawn Slater returned to practice, but center Tyler Biadasz was lost for the season. The starting offensive line, particularly the interior is concerning, but there may be depth to leverage in a trade. Trey Pipkins III, second-round pick Jake Slaughter, Cole Strange and Joe Alt join Slater in the starting lineup. The team drafted four offensive linemen -- Slaughter, fourth-round pick Travis Burke, sixth-round pick Alex Harkey and and sixth-round pick Logan Taylor. They also have offensive tackle Branson Taylor, offensive guard Kayode Awosika and offensive guard Trevor Penning; all of whom play snaps for them last season.The Jaguars offensive line was another group that could be of interest. Giants wide receiversThe Giants' receiver room is loaded with name-brand talents, such as Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin III and Odell Beckham Jr. They drafted third-round pick Malachi Fields and brought in Braxton Berrios to fill a role on special teams. Former 2023 third-round pick Jalin Hyatt is a name on the chopping block as head coach John Harbaugh turns his attention elsewhere. Eagles quarterbacksPhiladelphia's plan at quarterback may be as simple as trying to slip fifth-round pick Cole Payton onto the practice squad. The team traded for veteran Andy Dalton this offseason despite having Tanner McKee to back up Jalen Hurts, then drafted Payton. The Eagles view the position as an asset where they could potentially flip a player for a larger return when the time is right. Cleveland has taken a similar approach in recent years and the two staffs each have a twin Berry: Andrew is the Browns' general manager and Adam is the assistant general manager to Howie Roseman. Titans quarterbacks Tennessee will not carry four quarterbacks. Last year's No. 1 overall selection, Cam Ward, is safe. Given Mitchell Trubisky's history with offensive coordinator Brian Daboll in Buffalo, he too, is also likely immune. The decision boils down to either Will Levis or Hendon Hooker. The latter was signed by new leadership this offseason and moving on from Levis would sever ties to the prior staff. Levis may desire a fresh start at this stage of his career."

"Last season was a down year for the AFC's superstar quarterbacks I like to call the "big four." None of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson or Joe Burrow made the AFC title game. Mahomes, Jackson and Burrow all missed the playoffs and combined to miss 16 regular-season games.Now, don't get me wrong, confidence is still understandably high in this group. Our experts ranked them as four of the best five quarterbacks in the league entering this season. But, maybe 2025 was more than a fluke. Maybe, just maybe, they are in the midst of, or entering the sports version of a midlife crisis. Think about it. They are getting up there in age. All four quarterbacks are either approaching age 30 or have already turned 30 years old. Could they be questioning their careers? Allen and Jackson still haven't made the Super Bowl and this is the age when mobile quarterbacks start to decline. Burrow had some midlife crisis-type comments last year. Mahomes is coming off a serious knee injury and the Chiefs fell apart last year. What's next? Mood swings and impulsive decisions? Maybe a little jealousy? The next generation of star quarterbacks could be waiting in the wings (Justin Herbert, C.J. Stroud, Drake Maye, Fernando Mendoza??) In all seriousness, each future Hall of Fame quarterback is entering the second half of their career with plenty of promise but also some concerns about their Super Bowl windows. That's why I'm looking at a case for and against a midlife crisis for each one with a verdict included. Patrick MahomesCase for midlife crisisComing off torn ACL/LCLChiefs 6-11 last season and 19th in scoring offense in past three seasonsTravis Kelce decline, Rashee Rice availability and Xavier Worthy strugglesAFC QB competition: Allen, Jackson, Burrow, Maye, HerbertPrecedent: Tom Brady 10-year drought between third and fourth titlesMahomes is the most fascinating case. He's only 30 years old and is already one of three players all time with three Super Bowl MVPs (Brady and Joe Montana). As he chases Brady for GOAT status, it's actually Brady who provides the blueprint for what Mahomes' midlife crisis could look like. Like Mahomes, Brady tore his ACL in his ninth season. He also went a decade between his third and fourth rings as he competed with the likes of Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco and Philip Rivers in the AFC. Mahomes also has plenty of talent to compete with in the AFC who are champing at the bit after he's been ring blocking for years.You can definitely make a case the Chiefs' dynasty is over (at least version 1.0) as players decline and bills come due. Kansas City needed to trade Tyreek Hill a few years ago. They moved Joe Thuney last year. This offseason we saw most of their secondary get dismantled headlined by Trent McDuffie's trade to the Rams. Kelce lost a step (or two) and Chris Jones is beginning to decline. You can see the toll all of that has taken as the Chiefs sputtered last year. They have also been struggling on offense for three years now. We are looking at a 50+-game sample where the Chiefs are below average in scoring. Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers and Brady never had a 30+-game stretch in their careers where their team was below league average in scoring. There doesn't appear to be a solution in sight as Worthy hasn't lived up to the 4.21 40 hype and Rice can't stay on the field.I was shocked when I found this stat recently. The Chiefs are the only team in the NFL without a 1,000-yard rusher or receiver in a season in the past three years. The lack of playmaking around Mahomes has caught up to them. So has how defenses are playing them. Mahomes has just seven pass touchdowns on deep throws (20+ air yards) since Hill was traded in the 2022 offseason. That's tied for 27th in the league. He had 41 in four seasons prior to that, easily the most in football. We're all waiting for 50-TD Mahomes to walk through that door again. But with all of the above in mind, it's probably going to take some time. Plus, I buried the lede. Mahomes is coming off last year's knee injury. Although he's healthy for the start of the year, we still don't know how this could impact a quarterback who relies on his legs a lot. He leads the NFL in passing first downs (114) and rushing first downs (60) outside the pocket in the past three seasons. As you can see in the chart below, Allen is the only one who comes close to succeeding with his legs in both facets of the game like Mahomes. TruMedia Sports This could be enough to be a contributing midlife crisis factor if this injury slows him down a little bit or it takes him time to evolve other parts of his game to make up for losing some explosiveness. Case against midlife crisisHe's Mahomes (two-time NFL MVP and three-time Super Bowl MVP)Andy Reid is still there and Eric Bieniemy is backRice is a WR1 when availableKenneth Walker III signingPrecedent: Montana's longest title drought in 1980s was three seasonsLet's be real, though. This is Patrick Mahomes! He's one of one. He makes plays that no other QB can make. He performs in the clutch like no other. He made seven straight AFC title games! Shouldn't we give him the benefit of the doubt that he is an alien and will return from injury better than ever? He also still has Reid, one of the greatest coaches ever. And maybe the return of Bieniemy busts the Chiefs' offensive slump. The Chiefs averaged over 30 points per game in five seasons with him at OC from 2018-22. Perhaps Kansas City was missing an edge, or lost focus on fundamentals, and Bieniemy can bring the best out.There's also a chance Rice becomes reliable, right? He has 120 catches, 1,377 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in his past 17 games when healthy. That's top-five WR in the NFL production. I've given up on Worthy's breakout for now, but the Walker signing could definitely spark the run game. The Chiefs RBs were historically bad last year. They had one 25-yard run all season. Walker had two on one drive in the Super Bowl.Verdict: Settlement (five-year Super Bowl drought)I've weighed the evidence and while I don't think we are looking at a 10-year Brady-esque Super Bowl drought for Mahomes, I think it'll be a few years. Montana went three seasons without a ring when he won four in the 1980s. The defense has agreed to a settlement offer. My sentence for Mahomes is five years without a title. He will still get at least five rings at the end of the day, but it's going to take a few years to get another as the Chiefs' roster reboots, Mahomes adjusts to his knee and he contends with the other great QBs and teams in the conference. Josh AllenCase for midlife crisisHe missed his best chance last postseason (Mahomes, Jackson, Burrow not in field)The Bills did not do enough to address needs (WR, edge rusher, run defense)Buffalo is cursed and he can't get past Mahomes in the playoffsPrecedent: Cam Newton (bruising style will catch up to him at age 30)Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. Allen has the most playoff wins without a Super Bowl appearance by a QB all time (eight). If it was ever going to happen for him, it would have happened last year when the path to a Super Bowl didn't go through Mahomes and the Chiefs (or Jackson or Burrow for that matter). That's what a Bills pessimist would say. Buffalo had its chance and blew like it always does, in heartbreaking fashion. The Bills' offseason moves didn't inspire a ton of confidence, either. They traded for WR DJ Moore, who looked like Chicago's third-best receiver last year behind Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III. They brought in Bradley Chubb, who will probably be another veteran who isn't the closer off the edge that Buffalo desperately needs and couldn't find with Von Miller or Joey Bosa. Plus, at what point does Allen's bruising style of play catch up to him? How long can he keep up the one-man-band act? He has 100+ rushes in seven straight seasons, tied with Jackson for the longest streak by a quarterback all time. His body type and punishing running style reminds me of Newton, a former MVP with video game numbers who started just 22 games in his 30s. I think Allen is a more polished passer than Newton, and so far he's proven to be more durable (active streak of 137 straight starts including playoffs). But, the NFL is a game of very thin margins. If he loses some of his edge as a rusher will the Bills' Super Bowl window start closing?Case against midlife crisisHe's Josh AllenJoe Brady is his new head coachMoore will have a Stefon Diggs-like impact on offensePrecedent: Peyton Manning won first title in ninth seasonMuch like Mahomes, Allen's defense starts with "this is Josh Allen we are talking about!" He already has the most total touchdowns (301) through nine seasons in NFL history and he's ENTERING his ninth season. He's averaged 40+ touchdowns over the past six years, something no player has done in a six-year span in league history. He may be 30 but he's just different and Father Time doesn't apply to him, at least not yet.He also reminds me of another superstar quarterback who took a while to win his first ring after putting up video game numbers with nothing to show for it (and living in another GOAT's shadow). Peyton Manning won his first title in his ninth season after watching Brady win his first three rings. Allen has had a similar experience with Mahomes so this is the blueprint for Allen to get over the top. Manning also experienced a heartbreaking playoff loss in his eighth season when Brady wasn't even in the playoff field (sound familiar?). The Colts lost to the Steelers in the 2005 divisional round on a famous play where Ben Roethlisberger prevented what should have been a Colts defensive touchdown. Mike Vanderjagt shanked a potential game-tying field goal. If Manning can finally win one, so can Allen. The Bills also have to be energized by a new head coach in Brady and a new stadium. Allen has played the best ball of his career in the last few years with Brady as his OC, specifically getting over the turnover bug. Maybe the Bills just need a new voice. The best years of Allen's career also came with Diggs. Moore could be the closest thing Allen has had to Diggs since he left. Verdict: Settlement (one-year probation)History isn't going to repeat itself twice with Allen winning his first title in his ninth season like Peyton Manning. He's also not Newton. But, I didn't like the Bills' offseason moves and I think they'll need to go back to the drawing board and find a true WR1 and sack artist in 2027 before they break through. The prosecution goes easy on the settlement offer and the judge rules for one year of probation. Lamar JacksonCase for midlife crisisRushing decline has already startedPlayoff woes (3-5 record and no Super Bowl trip)Injuries (missed at least four games in three of last five years)Precedent: Michael Vick, Russell Wilson, Newton, Randall Cunningham declines between ages 29-33Jackson relies on speed and explosiveness more than the rest of the group here so his case is particularly troubling. He already missed four games with a hamstring injury last year and it completely zapped his production when he returned (259 total YPG, 11 TD, 2 TO before injury and 207 total YPG, 12 TD, 8 TO after injury). He also missed time in 2021 with an ankle injury and 2022 with a knee sprain. Father Time is catching up to him quickly and the leg injuries could continue to mount. When they do, how will the loss of his elite running ability impact his passing game? His passing stats are Hall of Fame worthy by themselves, but some of his effectiveness has to be tied to his running. That was already on the decline before last year's injury. He averaged 80.1 rushing yards per game in his first two seasons from 2018-19, 65.0 from 2020-22, 52.6 from 2023-24 and 26.9 last year. That lines up with the steady decline the other best running QBs ever faced. Newton hit a wall at age 29. Cunningham tailed off at age 30. Vick fell off at 32 and Wilson at 33. There's no exact blueprint for when Jackson's game will fall off a cliff, but you can figure it's already starting and could progress rapidly at any point in the next few seasons.Finally, even if Jackson does defy Father Time, his playoff resume suggests he won't be able to capitalize on a Super Bowl window that stays open. Remember, 2024 was his best chance when Derrick Henry and him were both playing at MVP levels and he turned it over twice in the first half in a playoff loss in Buffalo (marred by Mark Andrews' dropped two-point conversion). Case against midlife crisisNew head coach (Jesse Minter) and OC (Declan Doyle)Henry is still eliteDefense added Trey HendricksonPrecedent: Vick had an elite season at age 30Forget how all elite rushing QBs age. The only blueprint for Jackson is Vick, and even that isn't perfect. Vick was still effective at age 30 in 2010 when he had 3,000+ pass yards, 600+ rush yards and 30 total TD in just 11 starts for the Eagles. Plus, that was after he had just spent two years in prison. Despite last year's hamstring injury, Jackson could still have a few years of juice left in his legs, and don't forget about his arm. At one point last year he was the all-time leader in passer rating and rushing yards among QBs. His passing game is superior to Vick which should extend his prime.The Ravens also have a fresh voice who could jump-start a title run. Jesse Minter is the new head coach and Doyle is the new offensive coordinator. Declan Doyle coached under Ben Johnson last year, so perhaps he can breathe some new life into Jackson and the Ravens' offense. They will likely be going under center more in 2026 which could lead to a more explosive ground and play-action game in Baltimore. Henry certainly proved he's still elite with 1,500+ rush yards on over 5 yards per carry last year. Finally, the Ravens had zero pass rush last year. Hendrickson is also showing signs of decline at age 31 coming off an injury-plagued year, but a rebound season wouldn't be a shock for him, either.Verdict: Guilty (midlife crisis with one-year delayed sentence)The evidence really piles up against Jackson. It's hard to ignore the history of injuries, bad playoff performances and the trend of elite rushing QBs declining. I think Baltimore's Super Bowl window is very close to closing, but I was swayed slightly by Vick's 2010 season. So it's a guilty verdict with the sentence of a full on midlife crisis delayed by one year. I think Jackson could have another MVP-caliber season in him this year, paired with a productive Henry and improved defense. So let's say it's Super Bowl or bust for Jackson in 2026. Joe BurrowCase for midlife crisisLast year's cryptic commentsBengals wasting three years of his prime alreadyBurrow's injury historyPrecedent: Andrew Luck early retirement, Dan Marino never returning to Super BowlYou don't have to look too hard to find evidence for a Burrow midlife crisis. He's already right in the middle of it. There's the injuries (played 10 or fewer games in three of his six seasons), the wasted prime due to a horrible defense (missed playoffs in the last three years) and comments of frustration. There's also precedent here. Andrew Luck's first six seasons look an awful lot like Burrow's. Luck retired after a seventh season when the physical and mental toll became just too much. The physical toll is certainly there for Burrow as he continues to take a beating behind one of the worst offensive lines in the league. The frustration from losing is understandably there too. He's the only quarterback in NFL history with a 100+ passer rating and zero playoff starts in a three-year span (min. 30 starts). Another precedent is Dan Marino. Both Burrow and Marino made a Super Bowl in Year 2, lost in the AFC title game in Year 3 and didn't make the playoffs in years 4, 5 or 6. Marino never made it back to the Super Bowl and a dreadful Miami defense was one reason why. Burrow could suffer the same fate. The Bengals haven't drafted a defensive player who eventually made a Pro Bowl for them since 2010 (Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap). I don't have much faith in Bengals owner Mike Brown or the smallest scouting department in the NFL (led by Duke Tobin) turning this around. They may have spent some money and draft capital to overhaul the defense but their track record for drafting and developing on that side of the ball is bad.Case against midlife crisisAll-time great numbersJa'Marr ChaseImproved defensePrecedent: Matt RyanThere's a lot of precedent for star QBs with playoff droughts during their primes like Burrow as I laid out a few months ago. There's also some nice rebound stories in there. The closest comparison is probably Matt Ryan. He missed three straight postseasons after making it to the 2012 NFC title game. But the presence of Julio Jones and some reinforcements on defense (plus Dan Quinn and Kyle Shanahan on his coaching staff) helped Ryan win an NFL MVP and nearly a Super Bowl in 2016.Burrow clearly has the talent (top five all time in completion rate, pass yards per game and TD-INT ratio) and firepower (Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Chase Brown) to make another run. The Bengals also went all in by acquiring Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook and Kyle Dugger to fix what was an all-time bad defense for most of last year. Verdict: Exile As much as I would like to believe the Bengals have fixed their problems along the offensive line and on defense, their solutions are like putting Band-Aids on bullet holes. Burrow and the Bengals could have a rebound season like Ryan and the 2016 Falcons. Realistically, though, this is a poorly run franchise and the changes they made will not lead to sustainable success. My sentence to Burrow is exile, which might be fitting given last year's cryptic comments. Exile worked out pretty well for Matthew Stafford from Detroit. He went from a QB with a lot of arm talent and zero playoff wins to one who will probably be in the Hall of Fame and has since won an MVP and Super Bowl. If only Burrow could get so lucky."

"The Commanders have been hoping to see former second-round defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton live up to his draft status as he enters Year 3, but that hope will have to wait as NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports Newton “is expected to miss significant time” after undergoing “surgery for a torn pectoral muscle.” The 23-year-old played in all but one game over his first two years of NFL play, but he’s now likely to miss most of his third season. A standout defensive tackle at Illinois, Newton finished his collegiate career as an All-American, totaling 13.0 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss over his final two years. The Commanders took him early into the second round in 2024 despite rostering Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, and another former second-rounder in Phidarian Mathis at the time. Having so many capable bodies in the room made it so that a resurfaced foot injury that would end up holding Newton out of his rookie season opener was not a bit deal. Newton recovered quickly, though, and was able to make his NFL debut in Week 2. This was a huge help for Washington as Allen and Mathis would go on to miss a combined 14 games. Newton found himself in the starting lineup by Week 7 and stayed there for the rest of the regular season. Allen returned from injury when the postseason rolled around, but Newton still played a significant role off the bench as the Commanders made their way to the NFC Championship Game. He finished his rookie year with two sacks, six tackles for loss, and seven quarterback hits in 16 games with 11 starts. More to come."

"The term "hot seat" is often reserved for NFL coaches, but really, every player's seat is hot -- in some way or another -- every year. Whether it's making a roster, making a jump or winning a Super Bowl, there's always pressure to perform.Not all hot seats are created equal. For a coach on this list, a bad performance might mean they don't have a job next year. For a player, it might mean a drastically reduced role or salary, a new team or simply the need to play at a higher level. With that in mind, here's the hottest of hot seats for all 32 teams.NFC East Defensive coordinator Christian ParkerIt may be unfair to put Christian Parker -- a highly regarded defensive mind in his first year as a coordinator -- here, but when you're trying to fix any Cowboys weakness, you're under the gun. The Cowboys drafted two first-round defenders (S Caleb Downs and EDGE Malachi Lawrence), signed S Jalen Thompson and CB Cobie Durant, traded for EDGE Rashan Gary and LB Dee Winters and will have star DL Quinnen Williams for a full season. This defense still isn't overflowing with talent, but it's in a better spot after finishing 30th in yards per play allowed and 32nd in net yards per attempt allowed. Parker, who previously coached the excellent Eagles secondary, will go a long way in determining whether this loaded offense has enough support on the other side of the ball. If Dallas is middle of the pack -- or really just mediocre -- defensively, it will be a playoff team. If it's better than that, it can be a true Super Bowl contender. Von Miller eyes storybook ending to Hall of Fame career by helping hometown Cowboys replace Micah Parsons Carter Bahns EDGE Kayvon ThibodeauxKayvon Thibodeaux has seen the Giants both draft (EDGE Abdul Carter) and trade (EDGE Brian Burns) over him, and both players have been more productive than he has. The 2022 No. 5 overall pick registered just 2.5 sacks in 10 games (shoulder), a far cry from his 11.5-sack 2023 season that seemed to hold so much promise. Thibodeaux is heading into the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, so it's a big year for his wallet, too. Offensive coordinator Sean MannionNick Sirianni's offensive coordinator selections have been hit or miss. Shane Steichen was excellent from 2021-22 before taking the Colts coaching job. Brian Johnson was bad in 2023. Kellen Moore was excellent in 2024 and took the Saints coaching job. Kevin Patullo was bad last year. The pattern seems to favor Sean Mannion, who is only 34 years old, was on an active NFL roster as recently as 2023 and has never called plays before.Mannion's philosophies are a big change for QB Jalen Hurts, specifically when it comes to playing from under center and targeting the middle of the field. Hurts and Sirianni were both options for this spot, but history says Philadelphia offensive coordinators either take huge leaps or get run off by season's end. Head coach Dan QuinnIn 2024, Quinn led one of the most stunning single-season turnarounds as Washington went 12-5 and made the NFC Championship Game. In 2025, the Commanders fell to 5-12, and Quinn admitted he missed the mark in several areas. He fired both coordinators and is staking his hopes in a crucial year on first-time offensive coordinator David Blough (who is 30 years old and was on a practice squad in 2023) and first-time defensive coordinator Daronte Jones. The defensive personnel has been overhauled, and QB Jayden Daniels looks excellent. Will it be enough?NFC North CB Kyler GordonCoach Ben Johnson was the first person this offseason to show frustration with Kyler Gordon's injury issues, and now that frustration is spreading around the team. "Everybody is a little fed up the guy's not out there," CHGO's Adam Hoge said. Gordon played in just three games last year due to calf and groin injuries. The calf issue landed him on the PUP list to start training camp, and he has yet to come off it. Making matters worse, the Bears made Gordon the highest-paid slot corner in the NFL last offseason. This problem doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon. RT Blake MillerWelcome to the NFL, Blake Miller! Your role? Step into the spot vacated by arguably the best offensive lineman in the game on a team that desperately needs to bounce back and, viewed through some lenses, could still be a Super Bowl contender.Miller will slot in at right tackle as Penei Sewell switches to the left side for the Lions. QB Jared Goff is heavily dependent on pass protection, so Miller's performance will be crucial. There are plenty of question marks on defense who could have landed on this list -- several cornerbacks, injured S Kerby Joseph and DL Tyleik Williams -- but Miller will be under trial by fire right away. EDGE Lukas Van NessWith EDGE Micah Parsons expected to miss at least the first third of the season, someone has to generate pressure for the Packers, and Lukas Van Ness is the best bet. The 2023 first-round pick played in just nine games due to a foot injury last year and registered only 1.5 sacks.But the beneath-the-surface numbers are more encouraging: a 16.3% pressure rate and a 2.5-second average time to pressure. There are some impressive moments on tape, too, such as him bulldozing LT Ronnie Stanley for a pressure or blowing past LT Orlando Brown Jr. for a sack. It just has to be more consistent. QB Kyler MurrayKyler Murray winning the Vikings' starting quarterback job wasn't a surprise, but it wasn't the smoothest sailing, either. Now, the 2019 No. 1 overall pick has a chance to resurrect his career in the best situation of his career: Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison at wide receiver, a solid projected offensive line and Kevin O'Connell dialing up plays.Murray will have his ups and downs in individual games, but generally, he has been pretty steady. Even at his worst, he has been miles better than the Vikings quarterbacks were last year. Murray playing from under center and throwing over the middle of the field are keys here. There's a legit chance he plays well and gets a big contract this offseason. There's also a legit chance he struggles and his time as a meaningful NFL starter gets even closer to its end. Vikings name Kyler Murray starter: Why it was the right move and why Minnesota might need a new QB in 2027 Garrett Podell NFC South QB Tua TagovailoaThe bridge/maybe more(?) quarterback train chugs on from Minnesota to Atlanta, where Tua Tagovailoa seemed to be the leader in the clubhouse over Michael Penix Jr., if only because Penix still isn't taking part in full team drills. Then Tagovailoa had an uninspiring preseason Week 1 -- "definitely not up to standard," he said -- and he's already in the hot seat as the presumed starter. Not great. QB Bryce YoungThe Panthers picked up Bryce Young's fifth-year option not because he has been overly impressive, but because it made sense at the most basic level. If he plays well this season, he'll be one of the cheaper starting quarterbacks in 2027, and if he doesn't, his cost is far from prohibitive.In that sense, this is a make-or-break year for the former Alabama star. After a disastrous rookie season, Young took a step forward near the end of his second year and another step last year, but he still ranked just 29th in net yards per attempt, 26th in EPA per play and 25th in interception rate. His size and major limitations as a thrower leave little room for error. The Panthers added premier defensive talent this offseason and have assembled some real talent on offense. They won the NFC South last year and expect to take another step, but Young could be the limiting factor -- and a significant one at that. QB Tyler ShoughOn one hand, Tyler Shough had some strong moments after taking over as the starter midway through last season. He showed high-level accuracy on short and intermediate throws. In fact, his 69.2% completion rate as a starter was the best ever by a rookie.That's all well and good, but if the Saints are to make the leap from "fun team down the back half of last season" to legitimate playoff contender, Shough has to raise his level of play significantly. He struggled as a downfield thrower, with an NFL-worst 26% completion percentage on throws 20-plus yards downfield. He also had the second-worst pressure-to-sack ratio in the NFL. Missing on big plays and taking a lot of negative ones is a tough combination. New Orleans added RB Travis Etienne Jr., OG David Edwards and WR Jordyn Tyson this offseason. If Shough fails to deliver, the Saints could be back in the quarterback market. NFL worst-to-first contenders for 2026: Saints could surprise, Cardinals have very slim hopes John Breech Head coach Todd BowlesThe Buccaneers failed to make the postseason for the first time in the Todd Bowles era, which began in 2022, and a second-half collapse (2-7 after the bye) raised questions about Bowles' job security. Ultimately, Tampa Bay retained him, but he's definitely on notice, especially considering how much is changing around him.WR Mike Evans is gone. LB Lavonte David is gone. DL Vita Vea wants a trade. QB Baker Mayfield is in the final year of his deal. Bowles' defense sank to 19th in yards allowed and 20th in points allowed last season, another bad sign.NFC West WR Marvin Harrison Jr.Over the past two seasons, 43 players have been targeted at least 180 times. Marvin Harrison Jr. ranks 42nd in reception rate, having caught just 103 of the 189 passes thrown his way. Whether most of the blame lies with Kyler Murray, Harrison or the offense itself is up for debate, but what's not up for debate is that Harrison has failed to live up to the lofty expectations that come with being the No. 4 overall pick.Last year, he got passed in the pecking order not only by TE Trey McBride, but also WR Michael Wilson. A big year for Harrison gets him back on track ... and could get him paid. Another inconsistent year raises even more questions. WR Puka NacuaArguably the best wide receiver on the planet landing on the hot seat? That's the case for Nacua, who entered rehab this offseason "to improve his overall behavior in every aspect of his life," his agent said in April. About a week earlier, a woman filed a lawsuit against Nacua alleging he bit her and used antisemitic remarks. Nacua denied the allegations. During the season, Nacua drew backlash for promising to do a touchdown dance with antisemitic origins; he later apologized.Most recently, Nacua revealed he suffered a gash on his face when he accidentally ran into a window at Michael Rubin's "White Party," though the injury has not affected his availability this training camp.On the field, Nacua is a superstar. He led the NFL with 107.2 receiving yards per game last year, and his 95.3 career mark is on pace to be the best ever. He's headed into the final year of his rookie deal with no extension in sight. He could easily reset the wide receiver market with another strong year. A year with struggles off the field, though, would make things a bit shakier. EDGE Nick BosaNick Bosa played in just three games last season before tearing his ACL, and his absence was a devastating blow for San Francisco. The 49ers finished dead last in sacks and 30th in pressure rate.Bosa had 18.5 sacks in his Defensive Player of the Year-winning 2022 season but fell to 10.5 sacks in 2023, nine in 2024 and two last year. He turns 29 in October and simply hasn't been close to the dominant player he was at his peak. Can he get back close to that level? It's also worth noting he has been in and out of training camp (mostly out) with tendinitis in his surgically repaired knee. Carrying a huge salary cap number in 2027 and 2028, Bosa is in a prove-it year. Offensive coordinator Brian FleuryIt's pretty straightforward here: Brian Fleury is a first-time offensive coordinator taking over for the reigning Super Bowl champions. His predecessor, Klint Kubiak, did a terrific job with QB Sam Darnold and WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but now he's off to Las Vegas.Fleury will be Mike Macdonald's third offensive coordinator in three years. Macdonald fired Ryan Grubb after his first year, showing he's willing to make changes if things aren't to his liking. Five NFL teams we're not talking about enough: Seahawks under the radar again? Packers take next step? Zachary Pereles AFC East EDGE Bradley ChubbBradley Chubb is the Bills' latest big-name veteran pass rusher (see: Joey Bosa, Von Miller) tasked with leading the Bills' EDGE group in the twilight of his career. Buffalo gave the former first-round pick a sizable three-year, $43.5 million deal. After missing all of 2024, Chubb bounced back with a solid 2025 (8.5 sacks, 13% pressure rate), but he's now 30 years old. The Bills would love to see him return to his pre-ACL 2023 form, but is that really in the cards? RG Jonah SavaiinaeaJonah Savaiinaea really struggled as a rookie, and now, with a new regime (GM Jon-Eric Sullivan, head coach Jeff Hafley) in town, the 2025 second-round pick will have to prove he belongs. The Dolphins actually have the makings of a potentially solid offensive line, with All-Pro C Aaron Brewer, first-round rookie LG Kadyn Proctor and intriguing LT Patrick Paul as the highlights. Longtime RT Austin Jackson is solid when healthy. Savaiinaea is the clear starter at right guard, but if he doesn't improve significantly from his rookie season, he might not be there for long. NFL preseason 2026: Eight teams that need August reps the most, from Dolphins to Browns Jordan Dajani LT Will CampbellBefore injuring his knee, Will Campbell was a perfectly fine left tackle. From Weeks 1-12, he allowed five sacks and graded out positively in PFF's metrics. Then he sprained his MCL, and when he returned, he struggled on the biggest stages, allowing four sacks in four postseason games.The NFL is a "what have you done for me lately?" league, meaning Campbell's solid first 12 weeks have been nearly forgotten, and his tough postseason has left some wondering if he can hold up protecting Drake Maye's blind side.The No. 4 pick in the 2025 draft, Campbell has a chance to quiet that chatter. If not, 2026 first-round pick OT Caleb Lomu could be waiting in the wings. Head coach Aaron GlennJets owner Woody Johnson publicly backed Aaron Glenn -- while throwing QB Justin Fields under the bus -- during the team's 0-7 start last year. That's easy for Johnson to do considering he helped pick the coach, not the quarterback.New York went 3-14 in Glenn's first year. He's rightfully getting another year to get things moving in the right direction, but if it's a disaster again, he won't get a third chance. The Jets have brought in significant defensive help, and that's Glenn's area of expertise.AFC North CB Marlon HumphreyAfter being an All-Pro in 2024, Marlon Humphrey allowed 13 passes of 20-plus yards in 2025, tied for the most in the NFL. The veteran corner still nabbed four interceptions, so the ball production is still there, but surrendering big plays was a major issue for not only him but the Ravens as a whole. Humphrey turned 30 this offseason, and the age cliff can come quickly at his position, but new coach Jesse Minter excels at coaching secondaries and limiting big plays. Humphrey is in a contract year. Head coach Zac TaylorAll three other AFC North teams have new coaches this year. It's past time for Zac Taylor to get things back on track in Cincinnati. For the first time in a long time, the Bengals have invested heavily on defense, trading the No. 10 pick for Dexter Lawrence, signing EDGE Boye Mafe, S Bryan Cook and DL Jonathan Allen and drafting EDGE Cashius Howell. The Bengals are also trying to implement more under-center plays for Joe Burrow.Cincinnati has missed the postseason three straight seasons. If it happens again, it's hard to envision Taylor sticking around. QB Deshaun WatsonFrom 2022-24, Deshaun Watson alternated between horrible and historically bad. Then he tore his Achilles midway through the 2024 season. Then he tore it again in early 2025, sidelining him all of last year. The Browns trading for him and signing him to a fully guaranteed $230 million deal remains one of the worst acquisitions in professional sports history.And yet here he is with a chance -- and perhaps in the lead -- to win the Browns' starting quarterback job. The Browns have upgraded at wide receiver (KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston) and in a major way along the offensive line. Cleveland can finally get out of his contract after this year, making this his last chance to prove he belongs in the league, one way or another. Deshaun Watson outplays Shedeur Sanders in preseason opener, but Browns QB battle leaves plenty to be desired Jordan Dajani WR DK MetcalfWhen the Steelers sent a second-round pick to the Seahawks for DK Metcalf and then gave Metcalf a four-year, $132 million extension, they certainly didn't expect him to post his fewest catches (59) and yards (850) since his rookie year. Blame QB Aaron Rodgers' penchant for checking it down or the offense as a whole, but it wasn't good enough, and Pittsburgh desperately needs it to be better. Despite his hulking size, Metcalf isn't a great contested-catch winner, and he wasn't a great separator last year. That's not a great combination.AFC South QB C.J. StroudLike Campbell, C.J. Stroud's regular season was much better than his postseason, but it's the postseason that's stuck in everyone's head -- and at least somewhat rightfully so. Stroud was truly awful -- inexplicably awful, in fact -- in the playoffs, with five interceptions and five fumbles (two lost) in two games.But in the regular season, he was 14th in EPA per dropback and net yards per attempt and 16th in touchdown-to-interception ratio. He had the fifth-lowest negative play rate despite playing behind a leaky offensive line and an awful running attack. The Texans have upgraded both significantly. Can Stroud be a top quarterback like he appeared to be on track to become during a terrific rookie season? Maybe not. But can he be a top-dozen option? Absolutely. And that, plus a nightmare-inducing defense, would make the Texans Super Bowl contenders. QB Daniel JonesDaniel Jones' quick recovery from a torn Achilles is encouraging, but just because he's nearly back to playing doesn't mean he's all the way back to what he was pre-injury.Jones' mobility was crucial in Shane Steichen's system, and last year, he was playing the best ball of his career. Handling the under-center work, the rollouts, the RPO game ... those are all taxing on an Achilles tendon. Will Jones be able to drive the ball like he did last year?He'll be without his most reliable wide receiver, Michael Pittman Jr., who landed in Pittsburgh via trade as the Colts opted to prioritize WR Alec Pierce's extension. Pierce, meanwhile, is on the PUP list with a troublesome ankle.The Colts went all-in right before Jones' injury, trading two first-round picks for CB Sauce Gardner. They lost the final seven games of the season, mostly with Jones sidelined. Is this still a win-now team, and how high is the ceiling with Jones? Then there's the contract: two years, $88 million, but with an out after this season if it all goes sideways. There's a lot on the line here. GM James GladstoneAt his introductory press conference, James Gladstone promised to be bold, and he has lived up to that. He traded up for WR/CB Travis Hunter last year. This year, his lone pick in the top 80 was tight end Nate Boerkircher, whom many had ranked much lower.Hunter has to take a huge leap this year after a slow start to a rookie season that ended prematurely due to injury. The Jaguars lost All-Pro LB Devin Lloyd and standout RB Travis Etienne Jr. this offseason, putting a spotlight on RB Bhayshul Tuten, drafted by Gladstone last year, and RB Chris Rodriguez Jr., signed by Gladstone this year. Will his boldness pay off? The Jaguars finally took a big, meaningful leap forward last year. LT Dan Moore Jr.Both Dan Moore Jr. and RT JC Latham could have been the pick here, but Moore got the nod because he's on a much bigger contract and was worse last year. Tennessee gave the former Steeler a four-year, $82 million contract last offseason, only to see him rank 49th out of 62 qualified tackles in PFF's grades. (Latham, for what it's worth, was 38th.) QB Cam Ward's improvement in Year 2 hinges on better protection. Plus, the Titans have a potential out in Moore's contract after this year. NFL preseason Week 1 overreactions: Do Titans have Cam Ward problem? Niners have OROY candidate at WR Tyler Sullivan AFC West Offensive coordinator Davis WebbPart of Sean Payton's genius is his play calling, so for him to give that up to offensive coordinator Davis Webb could not have been an easy decision. Webb is only 31 years old and a rising star in the profession, so getting the play-calling duties may have helped keep him in Denver this season, especially considering he drew head-coaching interest elsewhere. Expect Payton to still be heavily involved in the offense throughout the week and even on game days, but it'll ultimately be up to Webb to lead the way for a team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. WR Rashee RiceRashee Rice spent 30 days in jail this offseason for violating his probation stemming from his 2024 high-speed car crash. The jail time not only caused him to miss Chiefs OTAs and mandatory minicamp, but also forced him to rehab from knee surgery in a clearly less-than-desirable setting. Rice has looked predictably stiff and slow in training camp as a result, and the ramp-up process seems likely to bleed into the regular season. Simply put, Rice's inability to be reliable off the field is now impacting his considerable on-field abilities. QB Kirk CousinsThe Raiders brought in Kirk Cousins to be on the hot seat. The sooner Fernando Mendoza takes the reins, the better; it's not like in 2024, when the Falcons stunned him (and everyone) by taking Penix.But that doesn't mean Cousins is just going to roll over and give up his spot. It's crucial for him to provide a good offensive environment for not only Mendoza, but also RB Ashton Jeanty, TE Brock Bowers and a plethora of young wide receivers. Plus, Cousins will want to prove he still belongs; he didn't play that poorly in Atlanta last year, even if his time there as a whole didn't go to plan. Cousins will gladly take another starting opportunity at this stage in his career, no matter how hot the seat. Fernando Mendoza looked the part in his NFL preseason debut, will he force the Raiders' hand? Carter Bahns Offensive coordinator Mike McDanielJim Harbaugh finally gave in. After years of entrusting his offense to old-school, run-heavy Greg Roman, he did a complete 180 and brought in one of the best modern offensive minds in the sport: Mike McDaniel. From the pre-snap motion to the creative passing game to the excellent, versatile run game to even his outfits, McDaniel is where the sport is going from an offensive standpoint.It could be awesome. It could also take some time.If the offensive line is healthy, QB Justin Herbert could have a career year. That would be the "awesome" outcome. But Herbert is going into a quick-hitting offense after being a guy who wants to hang in the pocket for most of his career. That's an adjustment. There are adjustments all over the place. The Chargers are a win-now team making a massive change. McDaniel could take the offense to a new galaxy, but it has to be the right one."

"After a woeful follow-up to their NFC runner-up campaign, the Commanders made major coaching staff tweaks. Our Offseason Outlook covered the rise of David Blough — in a banner year for recent second- and third-string QBs-turned-coaches — and the Daronte Jones DC hire. Dan Quinn‘s team soon made a host of quality additions, most of which being tasked with bolstering a struggling defense. The Commanders did make a late offensive splash, however. Despite the Brandon Aiyuk noise (and the wideout making the interesting decision to buy a home in Virginia), Washington filled its evergreen Terry McLaurin complementary need with Maryland native Stefon Diggs. McLaurin again has some new pieces around him ahead of a pivotal year for Jayden Daniels‘ future. As the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year looks to rebound from an injury-marred 2025, Quinn’s future as an NFL head coach hangs in the balance. Free agency additions: Odafe Oweh, DE. Four years, $96MM ($50.6MM guaranteed) Chig Okonkwo, TE. Three years, $27MM ($16.7MM guaranteed) Leo Chenal, LB. Three years, $24.75MM ($12.4MM guaranteed) Amik Robertson, CB. Two years, $15MM ($7.35MM guaranteed) Tim Settle, DT. Three years, $24MM ($7.3MM guaranteed) Stefon Diggs, WR. One year, $8MM ($7.15MM guaranteed) Nick Cross, S. Two years, $13MM ($6.05MM guaranteed) Charles Omenihu, DE. One year, $4MM ($3.3MM guaranteed) Rachaad White, RB. One year, $2MM ($1.72MM guaranteed) Rasul Douglas, CB. One year, $1.81MM ($580K guaranteed) Van Jefferson, WR. One year, $1.4MM ($528K guaranteed) Jerome Ford, RB. One year, $1.4MM ($438K guaranteed) Dyami Brown, WR. One year, $1.75MM ($250K guaranteed) DJ Davidson, DT. One year, $1.33MM ($20K guaranteed) Daniel Brunskill, G. One year, $1.3MM Matt Haack, P. One year, $1.3MM Fabian Moreau, CB. One year, $1.3MM Byron Cowart, DT. One year, $1.22MM River Cracraft, WR. One year, $1.22MM Trey Hill, C. One year, $1.15MM Nicholas Petit-Frere, RT. One year, $1.5MM The early training camp period brought the highest-profile solution effort to the Commanders’ perennial McLaurin wingman issue. This is a homecoming for Diggs, who played his college ball with the Terrapins. Far outplaying his fifth-round draft position, Diggs is a seven-time 1,000-yard receiver. He has broken into four-digit territory with three teams and was on pace to do so with a fourth (the Texans) before an ACL tear. The 12th-year veteran bounced back from the tear in New England, leading the AFC champion Patriots in receiving yards (1,013) — the team’s first 1,000-yard receiving season since Julian Edelman (2019). Diggs, 32, comes with baggage. The Bills tired of his antics by 2024 and took on a then-receiver-record in dead money in trading him to the Texans. Diggs also was accused of assault by his former chef, leading to a 2026 trial. The veteran wideout was acquitted in May, however, and the NFL soon announced no personal conduct policy suspension would arise. That accelerated Diggs’ market, but it still took nearly two months for him to land a deal. Weeks after PFR’s Connor Byrne mentioned Diggs as a fit for the Commanders, a rumor connecting him to a Mid-Atlantic return emerged. Despite the endless Aiyuk connections, Washington brought in Diggs, who was probably the top healthy option available. The team signed Diggs despite 2025 McLaurin complementary piece Deebo Samuel remaining available. Tyreek Hill‘s resume outflanks Diggs’, but the speed merchant — who may face a suspension — does not yet appear close to full strength after a severe September 2025 knee injury. Enter Diggs, who will attempt to follow Brandon Marshall and Brandin Cooks in posting 1,000-yard receiving seasons with four franchises. The Diggs signing came after an aggressive push for this market’s top receiving options in March. The Commanders looked to have finished second in the Alec Pierce and Romeo Doubs derbies. PFR’s top free agent wideout, Pierce re-signed with the Colts — on a monster four-year, $114MM pact — just before the legal tampering period opened March 9. A day later, Doubs chose the Patriots on a four-year, $68MM deal. Washington regrouped and saved plenty by adding Diggs as an $8MM stopgap — albeit one whose resume laps the younger, higher-priced WR options. Although the four-time Pro Bowler’s signing naturally commanded considerable attention, Washington’s top free agency money went to filling a dire need. The Commanders did not sufficiently stock their pass rush in 2025, largely punting on the position until a one-year Von Miller deal. That Miller pact became important, but seeing a 36-year-old rental lead the team in sacks (nine) was more indictment than shrewd investment. Washington got to work much earlier in 2026, and Dorance Armstrong has some young pieces to work with. PFR’s top 50 free agent list ranked Oweh 10th, just behind Jaelan Phillips and Trey Hendrickson among edge rushers, and the former Ravens first-rounder indeed attracted a hot market. The Chargers showed interest in retaining the productive trade rental, and they made an offer. Los Angeles was believed to be more competitive in its attempt to re-sign Oweh compared to guard Zion Johnson, but both ended up leaving. The Bolts, who had already re-signed Khalil Mack, ended up drafting Akheem Mesidor in Round 1. The Commanders addressing their EDGE need in free agency opened the door to more flexibility in the first round. ESPN slotted Oweh 10th in pass rush win rate last season. This came after a career-high 10 sacks and 23 QB hits in 2024. Oweh’s 28 QB pressures ranked 27th in 2024; he tallied 23 pressures in ’25. Helping the Chargers during a season in which Mack needed an IR stint, Oweh (27) is four years younger than Hendrickson and has far fewer injury red flags than Phillips. The other two each collected $30MM-per-year deals — from the Ravens and Panthers, respectively — and each received $60MM at signing. Oweh’s $50.6MM all comes from 2026-27, with Washington guaranteeing him nothing beyond that point. After skimping at defensive end in 2025, the Commanders look to have tried to pair Oweh and Hendrickson. The team made an aggressive push for the Bengals All-Pro even after the Oweh deal commenced, per The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala. They also were an early Jonathan Greenard trade suitor; the Vikings didn’t move on until draft weekend (sending him to the Eagles), but trade rumors swirled weeks earlier. A day after Hendrickson chose the Ravens’ big-ticket offer, the Commanders zeroed in on Chaisson. The former Jaguars first-rounder opted for a “prove it” deal in Washington — with eyes presumably on a bigger 2027 market — than a multiyear New Orleans offer. The Saints were not offering much more (if any) than the Commanders, leading the 27-year-old defender to bet on himself. This is probably a wise move, as Chaisson has shown himself to be a late-blooming talent (after teetering on the bust cliff in Jacksonville). Chaisson finished with 7.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and 18 QB hits for the AFC champion Patriots. The 18 hits were nine more than the LSU product totaled in any prior season, and he stuck the landing by sacking Justin Herbert twice and C.J. Stroud once in the playoffs. Washington’s 42 sacks last season did rank 12th leaguewide, sitting 18th in pass rush win rate, but its highest-paid EDGE at the time (Armstrong) only tallied 5.5 on seven QB hits. Armstrong, who worked as an auxiliary rusher in Dallas behind Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, looks set for a role reduction. This comes on the heels of an October ACL tear. Zach Ertz‘s ACL tear — ahead of a potential age-36 season — moved him off the free agency radar, and the Commanders replaced him with Okonkwo. The ex-Titans starter was part of a deep tight end contingent available, and Washington did well to land him at a lower AAV than Cade Otton collected this year or Juwan Johnson landed in 2025. Even when rookie deals are excluded, the Commanders nabbed Okonkwo for the No. 13 TE guarantee at signing. This is still a tight end-record guarantee for the franchise, which had Ertz on two one-year contracts. It can easily be argued Okonkwo’s best years are ahead, as his starter run in Tennessee overlapped with Will Levis‘ struggles and Cam Ward‘s erratic rookie season. Like Engram, the soon-to-be 27-year-old TE has not been an end zone regular (eight TDs in four years), but he has twice cleared 520 receiving yards and has 42 career starts. The receiving option should bring upside, as a quarterback upgrade awaits. While Chenal’s most memorable play came on special teams — a game-saving field goal block against the Broncos in 2024 — he was a Chiefs regular for most of his Missouri run. Logging a career-high 53% defensive snap share last season, Chenal may join Okonkwo as a value buy. He worked as a part-time LB behind Nick Bolton in Kansas City, which opted to retain Drue Tranquill on a pay cut after letting Chenal walk. PFF’s No. 19 overall off-ball LB last season, Chenal ranked as a top-15 coverage ‘backer. He also finished with seven sacks from his off-ball post during his four-year Chiefs career, adding an eighth in the playoffs as a rookie. The Chiefs just added a boatload of guaranteed money to Patrick Mahomes‘ contract, as they let several defensive regulars — Chenal, Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Bryan Cook, Mike Danna — go this offseason. Supplanted as the Buccaneers’ starting running back by Bucky Irving, White resurfaced as the team’s lead option after the younger RB’s 2025 injury trouble. That did not drive much of a market. Next Gen Stats’ rush yards over expected per attempt metric placed White as the seventh-worst RB last season — at minus-0.25 yards per carry — though that metric viewed the former third-rounder as a mid-pack option in 2024. White’s best season came in 2023, when he tallied 1,539 scrimmage yards and nine TDs. White contributed 549 through the air that year and looks to be Washington’s Austin Ekeler replacement alongside Jacory Croskey-Merritt. RYOE per attempt slotted Croskey-Merritt ninth (0.8) last season, and he appears destined for more run-game work after the team nontendered Chris Rodriguez as an RFA. After missing with the Marshon Lattimore trade, the Commanders tried again at corner this offseason. Robertson, primarily a boundary corner with the Raiders and a slot player as a Lion, looks set for nickel duty alongside Mike Sainristil and Trey Amos. PFF graded both Sainristil and Amos poorly last season (95th, 106th) among qualified CBs, but the Commanders are pushing back on those assessments. Robertson logged 696 slot snaps and 673 perimeter plays in two Lions seasons, giving the Commanders options. Heading into his age-25 season, Cross looks to join Okonkwo and Chenal as a potential value add. He was wildly productive in two seasons as a Colts starter. This contract reminds of the one the Rams gave ex-Commanders safety Kamren Curl in 2024, and Cross will attempt to boost his market on this midlevel deal (Curl doing so led to a $12MM-per-year Rams re-signing). Cross spent much of his time in the box in Indianapolis, racking up 266 tackles (11 for loss) from 2024-25, but he still played nearly 700 free safety snaps and intercepted four passes in that span. His 2028 market — or Commanders extension before that point — will be something to monitor. A year after signing Jonathan Jones ahead of an age-32 season, Washington went to this well again by adding Douglas (31 this month) as experienced depth. Miscast as a Packers slot option in 2022, Douglas played well for the Bills and Dolphins in recent years. PFF’s No. 24-ranked corner last season, the veteran (93 career starts) will provide insurance against Amos second-year struggles. With Douglas and Moreau here — the latter returning after UFA pickup Ahkello Witherspoon‘s unexpected retirement — and both Sainristil and Robertson having versatile backgrounds, the Commanders have more options than in 2025. Settle returns after four years away. Formerly a role player on Washington D-lines housing the Montez Sweat–Chase Young–Jonathan Allen–Daron Payne first-rounder quartet, Settle spent two seasons in Buffalo and two in Houston after his rookie deal expired. He impressed on the 2024 Texans, registering five sacks and 10 TFLs before starting all 12 games he played for a dominant Texans defense in 2025. A nose tackle role may well await the Virginia Tech alum back in Washington, which still houses Payne, Javon Kinlaw and Jer’Zhan Newton as rush options in Daronte Jones‘ new 3-4 base defense. Re-signings: Marcus Mariota, QB. One year, $7MM ($6.39MM guaranteed) Nick Allegretti, G. Two years, $7.59MM ($3.93MM guaranteed) Andrew Wylie, OL. One year, $3.75MM ($3.7MM guaranteed) Tress Way, P. One year, $3.04MM ($3.01MM guaranteed) Chris Paul, G. One year, $3MM ($2.48MM guaranteed) Jeremy McNichols. One year, $1.49MM ($563K guaranteed) Drake Jackson, DE. One year, $1.4MM ($500K guaranteed) Treylon Burks, WR. One year, $2.35MM ($400K guaranteed) Jake Moody, K. One year, $1.5MM ($125K guaranteed) Trenton Scott, T. One year, $1.49MM ($100K guaranteed) Deatrich Wise, DE. One year, $1.45MM ($75K guaranteed) Shy Tuttle, DT. One year, $1.4MM ($50K guaranteed) Another offseason, another Mariota one-year contract. The Commanders needed far more from Mariota last season than they did in 2024, and although the Commanders sunk to a 5-12 record, they will continue to lean on the dual-threat vet (82 career starts) as their QB2. Mariota is nearly two years older than Blough and has far more experience in the NFL, adding an interesting wrinkle to the team’s updated play-calling situation. The Commanders still have Sam Hartman rostered and used a seventh-round pick on Athan Kaliakmanis in April. Mariota’s guarantee effectively ensures he will remain Daniels’ top backup — a rather important position after the starter’s 2025 setbacks. Rumors placed the Commanders in the thick of the Tyler Linderbaum market, as the team needed a Biadasz center replacement. After bailing on a $10MM-per-year center, Washington bowed out of the Linderbaum derby — one that ended with a record-obliterating $27MM-AAV number (via the Raiders). The Commanders then decided to keep center costs low. Both Wylie and Allegretti joined the Commanders before the Quinn-Adam Peters regime’s arrival. Wylie followed Eric Bieniemy to Washington from Kansas City but saw the OC become a one-and-done. Despite Wylie being a Ron Rivera signee and Allegretti being benched early last season, both return. Allegretti entered the offseason as the more important ex-Chiefs O-lineman, but after Laremy Tunsil‘s triceps injury, Wylie represents a possible left tackle option (though, the utilityman does not have much experience there; his primary K.C. tackle work came at RT). Washington is trying Allegretti at center, marking a notable late-career pivot for the former Super Bowl guard starter. He of 88 career center snaps from 2019-24, Allegretti logged 100 last season. The Commanders apparently liked what they saw enough to bail on their upper-middle-class center contract (Tyler Biadasz‘s three-year, $30MM deal) and try a guard there. Allegretti, 30, entered camp competing against Julian Good-Jones — a seventh-year veteran with one career offensive snap — at center. Allegretti’s chances seem good based on this one-sided matchup, though a calf injury has him out of action presently. The Allegretti injury looks to have prompted the Commanders to sign Brunskill, who has two 400-plus-snap seasons at center (2020, 2024). The 2020 season came with the 49ers during Peters’ time in their front office. Brunskill, 32, has spent more time at guard but could be a late-arriving option at the pivot. Paul took over starting guard duties early last season, starting the team’s final 15 games. He had only eight career starts prior to that takeover. Although Paul gave Washington stability at left guard, he did not command much of a market. The team has a starter back for just $3MM. Tunsil’s triceps injury figures to keep Paul in the Commanders’ lineup, as an in-house tackle move would take a backup guard — Wylie or Brandon Coleman, the team’s primary 2024 left tackle — and slide him in as a replacement. Notable losses: Nick Bellore, LB (retired) Tyler Biadasz, C (released) Noah Brown, WR Sheldon Day, DT Jeff Driskel, QB Chase Edmonds, RB Austin Ekeler, RB Zach Ertz, TE George Fant, T Eddie Goldman, DT Jalyn Holmes, DE Noah Igbinoghene, CB Tyree Jackson, TE Josh Johnson, QB Jonathan Jones, CB Marshon Lattimore, CB (released) Jacob Martin, DE Von Miller, DE Chris Moore, WR Lucas Niang, RT Chris Rodriguez, RB (nontendered as RFA) Preston Smith, DE Bobby Wagner, LB Ahkello Witherspoon, CB (retired) Miller and Wagner’s Hall of Fame montages are unlikely to feature considerable Commanders footage, but it is certainly notable two of this century’s best defenders played together for a season. Wagner spent two years in Washington, reuniting with ex-Seattle DC Quinn and delivering his typical work. Long holding the highest regard for Wagner, PFF slotted him 10th among off-ball ‘backers last season. The future Hall of Famer, who had re-signed on a one-year deal worth $9MM, made 162 tackles and registered 4.5 sacks. Last season did halt Wagner’s staggering 11-year All-Pro streak. While that is a rather high bar, the 14-year vet remains unsigned. As does Miller, who at 37 is a year older. The Commanders left the door open for a Wagner reunion in late March, but the team’s Sonny Styles first-round pick may have nixed that. Styles joins LBs Chenal and Frankie Luvu, and while his resume laps just about every linebacker to come through the NFL this century, it is quite interesting a player this durable and productive remains available midway through training camps. Wagner will likely receive another opportunity, but some conditions will surely need to be met. Wagner working as a part-timer or playing for a noncontending team would be hard to envision. Miller expressed interest in rejoining the Commanders, but he has since admitted he made the wrong choice when it came to deciding on Washington over eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle — which sent the OLB legend an offer — last summer. Miller has also let it be known once again he is interested in rejoining the Broncos, his original NFL team. Denver has not reciprocated this interest, though a Jonathon Cooper personal conduct suspension could affect the team’s thinking. Posting 15 QB hits along with his nine sacks, Miller earned incentive money with his 2025 season. The two-time Super Bowl winner now has 138.5 career sacks — ninth all time. If/when he catches on for at least one more season, the 15-year vet is three sacks away from sixth — Terrell Suggs, Jason Taylor and Michael Strahan currently hold the Nos. 6, 7 and 8 spots — in the official sack era. Biadasz joined Armstrong and Dante Fowler in following Quinn from Dallas to Washington. The Commanders did not save much money by cutting Biadasz, due to void years remaining on his contract, as they took on $8.1MM in dead money from the release. The seventh-year center — PFF’s No. 12 snapper in 2025 — caught on with the Chargers and landed the same 3/30 deal. The contract came with $15MM guaranteed at signing. While not exactly on the Deshaun Watson–Russell Wilson levels of modern trade infamy, the Commanders’ Lattimore acquisition — which cost third- and fourth-round picks — busted. Lattimore was ineffective before suffering an ACL tear in November. He was then arrested on a misdemeanor weapons charge. Washington moved on from the New Orleans-designed contract, saving $18.5MM in cap space without incurring any dead money. Lattimore, who was healthy for two regular-season games in 2024 after the NFC teams’ deadline trade, has missed 33 games over the past four seasons. The 30-year-old corner remains unsigned. One of the fliers Washington took following the Lattimore decision brought an unexpected conclusion. The Commanders gave Witherspoon a low-cost deal ($1.41MM, $125K guaranteed) in late March but saw him land on the reserve/retired list days into camp. A third-round 49ers pick during Peters’ San Francisco stay, Witherspoon spent the past three years as a part-time Rams starter. He and Douglas represented a two-30-something CB array in Washington. The team still has that setup even post-Witherspoon, with Moreau now in his age-32 season. Washington received decent Ekeler contributions in 2024, as a team light on wide receiver depth relied on the pass-catching back and Zach Ertz in Jayden Daniels‘ rookie year. Two games into last season, however, the veteran running back suffered an Achilles tear. Unsigned ahead of a potential age-31 season, Ekeler may well see that injury end his career. The two-time NFL touchdown kingpin as a Charger played out a two-year, $8.43MM Commanders deal. Rodriguez received more time as a result of the Ekeler injury and Brian Robinson trade, and he operated in a timeshare with Croskey-Merritt. A much better market awaited Rodriguez compared to a low-end RFA tender, as the Jaguars gave the 2023 sixth-rounder a two-year, $10MM deal with $6.25MM guaranteed upfront. Might he annoy Bhayshul Tuten fantasy GMs like he did Croskey-Merritt’s? Extensions and restructures: Gave LT Laremy Tunsil two-year, $60.2MM extension ($52.67MM guaranteed) Reached one-year, $3.5MM extension with S Jeremy Reaves Credit Tunsil as one of this era’s great leverage artists. He has now secured three contracts that made him the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman. The Texans rewarded Tunsil months after acquiring him in a trade package featuring two first-rounders, and they did so again in March 2023. After Houston bailed on Tunsil in 2025, he played one season on his second Texans contract in Washington before another negotiation yielded a record-setting payout. Peters is now GM No. 3 to reward Tunsil, following Bill O’Brien and Nick Caserio. For all Tunsil’s success on this front, the tackle market has not moved in the way other premium positions’ have in recent years. For a few months, the NFL’s first $30MM-per-year O-line contract felt like a bargain. When Tunsil signed his first Texans extension in April 2020, his $22MM AAV matched where the wide receiver market was at the time. Jaxon Smith-Njigba‘s market-topping deal now betters Tunsil’s by $12MM. Russell Wilson‘s $35MM-per-year contract paced quarterbacks at that time; Patrick Mahomes is now at $64MM AAV. Ditto the EDGE market, which featured Khalil Mack‘s $23.5MM number leading the way in April 2020. Ex-Tunsil teammate Will Anderson Jr.‘s current market-setting number: $50MM. While it could have been argued at the time the Commanders capitalized on the only premium position to involve a slow-moving market, Tunsil has since suffered a triceps tear. That injury will lead the Pro Bowl tackle to IR, and it will not be a certainty he plays this season. Tunsil, 32, already secured his 2027 compensation fully guaranteed. If Tunsil is on the Commanders’ roster by Day 5 of the 2027 league year, $8.85MM of his 2028 salary locks in. Suddenly, that date looks to matter more. Tunsil has missed more than three games in a season just once — in a 2021 campaign in which the Texans were starting a rebuild — so the Commanders can operate with a level of confidence they will have him back at full strength by next season at the latest. Thanks to the void years and option bonuses, Tunsil’s deal will likely remain on Washington’s payroll through at least the 2027 season. But it looks likely the player he replaced — Coleman — will be stepping back in. The 2024 third-round pick made 12 LT starts as a rookie before being shuttled to RT and then guard. Coleman had been competing with Paul for the LG gig. If the Commanders are not confident in Coleman — in a make-or-break Quinn year — Taylor Decker remains available. Assistant GM Lance Newmark was with the Lions when they drafted Decker and when they gave him his first extension. In Washington since a short UDFA stint in Philadelphia ended before his 2018 rookie season, Reaves has put together a strong offseason. The All-Pro special-teamer is competing with Rivera-era second-rounder Quan Martin for the Commanders’ starting safety job alongside Cross. Heading into an age-30 season, Reaves would make for one of the more interesting NFL starters to open this season should he win this matchup against a 37-start player. Draft: Round 1, No. 7: Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State) (signed) Round 3, No. 71: Antonio Williams (WR, Clemson) (signed) Round 5, No. 147: Joshua Josephs (EDGE, Tennessee) (signed) Round 6, No. 187: Kaytron Allen (RB, Penn State) (signed) Round 6, No. 209 (from 49ers): Matt Gulbin (C, Michigan State) (signed) Round 7, No. 223: Athan Kaliakmanis (QB, Rutgers) (signed) Although connections to Caleb Downs surfaced during the pre-draft process, the Commanders spent extensive time with Styles. They passed on Downs, for whom the Cowboys traded up to No. 11 minutes later, to take a converted safety in Styles. The versatile linebacker drew major hype heading into Round 1, and the Commanders — yes, this has become a post-draft trope of sorts — reportedly did not expect him to be there at No. 7. Checking in third on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board, Styles dazzled at the Combine. According to NFL Research, Styles stands as the only player north of 230 pounds to run a sub-4.5, drop a vertical jump of 40-plus inches and a broad jump of 11-plus feet. Styles did this at 6-foot-4 and 244 pounds. Washington secured probably the top physical freak in this draft class, and although the NFL has deemed off-ball LB fifth-year options a non-starter since the Buccaneers regretted exercising Devin White‘s in 2022, the Commanders are rolling the dice on a non-rush ‘backer with a top-seven pick. Luvu spent more time on the edge in 2025 compared to his 2024 role, opening the door for Styles to work alongside Chenal frequently in sub-packages. Though, the Commanders will have more pass rush options this year after signing Oweh and Chaisson to accompany Armstrong. Luvu is also in a contract year, and Styles’ arrival points the ex-Panther breakout player toward another free agency trip come 2027. Receiving a Fred Warner comp from Jeremiah, Styles is a strong coverage ‘backer — as his safety past makes rather clear — and he showed blitz effectiveness during the Buckeyes’ 2024 national title run. Styles’ first LB season supplied six sacks and 10.5 TFLs. While Washington’s previous regime saw its Jamin Davis first-round choice (at No. 19) backfire, Styles is on a different tier as a prospect. McLaurin became a clear hit as a 2019 third-rounder, but beyond the team’s current WR1, Washington has struggled to draft receivers over the past several years. The team saw first-rounders Josh Doctson and Jahan Dotson bust, while Dyami Brown disappointed from Round 3; Peters-era third-rounder Luke McCaffrey has done little through two seasons. Nevertheless, the franchise will try again via the Williams selection. In addition to the Pierce and Doubs offers, the Commanders were in the Mike Evans market. The team did not have a second-round pick, thanks to the 2025 Tunsil trade. That hamstrung Washington re: this class’ top receiver prospects. The team passed on Jordyn Tyson, who went to New Orleans at No. 8, after meeting with a host of wideouts (Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, Denzel Boston, Omar Cooper) pre-draft. Williams arrives with less fanfare, and Diggs’ arrival figures to limit the rookie’s contributions. Clemson’s second-leading receiver in 2025, Williams benefited from Bryant Wesco‘s season-ending neck injury to reach that status. Williams still may complement McLaurin and Diggs well, having played in the slot on 78% of his Clemson snaps. At 5-11, Williams — Jeremiah’s No. 57-ranked prospect — figures to challenge for the slot role McCaffrey has been unable to seize. Coaching/front office: Senior personnel exec Scott Fitterer left team; Vikings’ Demetrius Washington named replacement Fired tight ends coach Ben Steele; Wes Welker working as replacement Hired Ryan Kussenich as college scouting director VP of football initiatives Dave Gardi took job in Titans’ front office Area scouts Paul Skansi, Chuck Cook retired; Alberto de la Guardia, Miles Turner fill roles Jake Olsen backtracked on commitment to join staff, agreed to stay at LSU The Commanders hired Fitterer in July 2024, but the veteran exec did not last two years with the team. The former Seahawks staffer-turned-Panthers GM was out by July 2026. Teams regularly restructure front offices after drafts, but Fitterer exited the NFL to join the Athletes First agency. He had been an NFL exec since 1998. Steele joined the Commanders’ coaching staff this offseason but was arrested on a DWI charge in June. The former Cardinals TEs coach was on Quinn’s Falcons staff from 2019-20. Welker served as wide receivers coach for the 49ers and Dolphins from 2019-24, but the former All-Pro wideout has been on the Commanders’ staff for three years now. Other: 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk lobbied to join team DE Dorance Armstrong receives one-game suspension No 2026 extension for DT Daron Payne on radar Signed nine UDFAs For a time, it looked like Washington would be Aiyuk’s landing spot. Peters was in San Francisco when the mercurial receiver was drafted and when he earned second-team All-Pro honors three years later. The team carried its annual WR2 need into another offseason. With Diggs having been brought in at a late juncture to fill that, Aiyuk looks to be in NFL limbo. We cannot quite place Aiyuk on the Antonio Brown level for wide receiver antics; he might be moving past the Diontae Johnson tier, however. Unlike Brown, however, Aiyuk has not flashed Hall of Fame-level talent that would warrant him third and fourth chances. No Tom Brady-like rabi figure — Brown’s saving grace amid his controversial post-Pittsburgh period — has emerged. The player seemingly set to fill that role — Daniels, Aiyuk’s teammate at Arizona State — was on the receiving end of one of Aiyuk’s strange social media salvos recently. Many of those have emerged this summer, and the Commanders were the subject of several. For a bit, it looked like the Commanders were considering Aiyuk. His antics on social media have prompted concern and confusion from around the NFL world, and the actions apparently impacted Washington’s interest. Aiyuk remains on the 49ers’ reserve/left squad list, as this strange standoff persists. Armstrong, who recently came off the active/PUP list following ACL rehab, received a one-game ban for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The Commanders changed Armstrong’s role with the Oweh and Chaisson signings, and the third-year Washington defensive end is not signed beyond the 2026 season. One season remains on Payne’s 2023 extension. Unlike fellow late-2010s first-round DT draftees extended that offseason — Jeffery Simmons, Ed Oliver, Quinnen Williams, Dexter Lawrence — Payne received the franchise tag. The rest of that lot tacked four years onto their rookie deals, putting them under contract through 2027. Lawrence, Simmons and Williams each landed big-ticket paydays this year. Payne’s four-year, $90MM pact expires at season’s end. Lawrence and Williams needed to find trade partners to greenlight extensions, while Simmons signed his new deal under a different Titans regime. A different Commanders staff is in place from when he was extended (under Rivera and then-GM Martin Mayhew), and no traction has emerged on a second extension. As you can see below, Payne’s cap charge is by far this payroll’s top figure. Washington could reduce that significantly with an extension, but Payne has been less productive in Quinn’s scheme compared to Jack Del Rio‘s. The 29-year-old vet could reestablish a market with a quality season. The Commanders would have until next year’s legal tampering period to negotiate exclusively with their 2018 first-round pick. Top 10 cap charges for 2026: Daron Payne, DT: $27.95MM Sam Cosmi, G: $20.26MM Terry McLaurin, WR: $18MM Javon Kinlaw, DT: $16.2MM Dorance Armstrong, DE: $12.06MM Laremy Tunsil, LT: $11.91MM K’Lavon Chaisson, DE: $11.47MM Frankie Luvu, LB: $11.3MM Jayden Daniels, QB: $10.29MM Odafe Oweh, DE: $9.2MM The Commanders aimed higher at both wide receiver and defensive end but still came away with intriguing answers to lingering issues. The Tunsil injury stings, of course, though the Commanders do have better left tackle backup options than some teams. Daniels did not need a Pro Bowl LT to dazzle as a rookie, but Tunsil’s absence will naturally bring concern about the quarterback’s health this season. Last season’s 5-12 showing can be written off to a degree due to Daniels’ injuries. While the Washington roster was unnecessarily old, a similar crew voyaged to the franchise’s first NFC title game in 33 years. Daniels’ health will be paramount to Quinn’s future. This will be Quinn’s ninth season as an NFL HC. A third chance will be unlikely for the soon-to-be 56-year-old leader. If Daniels goes down again, Quinn — who looked to be the team’s third choice behind Ben Johnson and Mike Macdonald in 2024 — may endure a repeat of his 2020 in-season Falcons firing. Daniels having Diggs to target alongside McLaurin could also provide a boost the QB lacked even in his runaway Offensive Rookie of the Year season. Daniels moving back on the right track would probably buy Quinn more time, though Blough’s inexperience as his team’s top offensive voice — as opposed to recently retired QBs-turned-OCs Davis Webb and Sean Mannion, who each work for offense-oriented HCs — is an area of concern. Will Washington restore its place as an NFC contender or be part of next year’s head coaching carousel?"