Commanders 'in line for a turnaround' in 2026

The 2026 season is a critical one for the Washington Commanders. After shocking the world by going 12-5 and reaching the NFC Championship Game in 2024, Washington fell back, finishing 5-12 in 2025. This led to some changes for the Commanders, including a new offensive and defensive coordinator.

The 2026 season will be the third year for general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn. They need to win, specifically, Quinn needs to win. With many holes on both sides of the ball, Washington attacked free agency with urgency, signing over a dozen external free agents. The Commanders were purposeful in their signings, aiming to get younger and faster. Mission accomplished.

Now, Washington heads into the 2026 NFL Draft in a position to select the best available player, rather than forcing a pick to fill a need.

While not everyone has loved the Commanders' offseason thus far, the majority have. You can add NFL senior columnist Judy Battista to the list of those who have liked Washington's moves. In her latest for NFL.com, Battista named five teams "in line for a turnaround" in 2026. The Commanders were one of those teams.

Their regression last season was startling. With a free agency blitz, they remade their defense, bringing on Odafe Oweh, K'Lavon Chaisson, Leo Chenal, Amik Robertson, Nick Cross and Tim Settle. On offense, they got Rachaad White and Chig Okonkwo. They probably need more around Jayden Daniels, especially with a receiver to pair with Terry McLaurin, but if Daniels can stay healthy -- admittedly, a significant question -- the Commanders should have a bounce-back season. It was only a year ago when the Commanders made a surprising run to the NFC Championship Game. These additions should at least make them competitive for a playoff spot.

Regardless of what anyone says, the Commanders did get better this offseason. How much better? We won't know until September. And, as Battista alluded, nothing matters if quarterback Jayden Daniels can't play. A healthy Daniels is the biggest key to Washington returning to contention in 2026.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: One of five teams in line for a 2026 turnaround