Commanders one of five teams that could 'shake up' Super Bowl race

Could the Washington Commanders go from 5-12 to Super Bowl contenders in one year? Before you say no, remember, the Commanders were 4-13 in 2023, improved to 12-5 in 2024 and reached the NFC Championship Game.

General manager Adam Peters had a mission this offseason. He stated this mission right after the 2025 season ended, declaring his intent to make the Commanders "younger and faster" in 2026. Four months later, Peters accomplished that mission. Will that lead to an improved record in 2026? Well, that's a question that can't be answered until September, but, no question, Washington's roster is better.

Peters specifically focused on defense. Considering how bad that unit was last year, it was the correct decision. Washington completed its offseason defensive overhaul by selecting ridiculously athletic Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Adding Styles and Leo Chenal to Washington's linebacker group could make them the fastest unit in the league.

The true key to improvement in 2026 is the health of franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels. One year after carrying Washington on his back at times as a rookie, Daniels missed 10 games last season with three separate injuries. The offense suffered. He's healthy now. The Commanders also made some additions on offense, and they may not be done.

So, back to our original question: Could the Commanders be a Super Bowl contender? CBS Sports recently looked at five Super Bowl long shots who could suddenly thrust themselves into contendership in 2026. Washington was one of those five teams. Here's part of Tyler Sullivan said about the Commanders.