We’re back with another mock draft roundup as the NFL prepares for the conference championship games on Sunday. The Washington Commanders were still in playoffs at this time last year season, but not after they finished with a 5-12 record, and the No. 7 overall pick in this year’s draft. The Commanders shook up their coaching staff after that massively disappointing season, with assistant QB coach David Blough replacing offensive coordinator, and assistant OL coach Darnell Stapleton replacing OL coach Bobby Johnson. Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr was also fired, and the search for his replacement continues after two of their top options stayed with their teams.
This roundup has 38 mock drafts and 23 of them feature EDGE rushers. Miami’s Rueben Bain and Texas’s David Bailey are tied for the most popular choice, with 10 mocks sending them to D.C. Auburn’s Kevin Faulk rounds out the group with his name called twice for Washington this week.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr went with Bailey in our last roundup, but has the Texas pass rusher going to the Tennessee Titans at No. 4 overall for new head coach Robert Saleh. The Commanders get the consolation prize of Miami’s Reuben Bain who Kiper said “has a great mix of power, speed and bend, and the Commanders could move him around on the defensive line to create mismatches.” Lack of pressure due to injuries and lack of top talent severely limited Washington’s defense last season, and Adam Peters stated the team needed to add more pass rushers in his post-season presser.
Ohio State safety Caleb Downs continues to be a Top-10 pick, and he gets called the best player in the draft a lot….for a safety. He’s picked for Washington 10 times in this week’s roundup, one less time than in our last roundup. People will argue the positional value isn’t there for a safety this high, but Washington’s defense continues to have a need at the position. Downs is a smart player who would elevate a defense that needs a new direction.
There are two more edge rushing options with Keldrick Faulk and Cashius Howell rounding out the biggest position group need for Washington. Ohio State LB Arvell Reese is expected to be a Top-5 pick, but gets linked to Washington one time this week to give fans a glimmer of hope.
Wide receiver and running back round out the roundup, with two picks each. Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State’s Carnell Tate have been getting mentions for the Commanders new offense under Blough. Kiper has Tate going No. 5 overall to John Harbaugh’s new version of the New York Football Giants. Love goes to the Kansas City Chiefs to work with the returning Eric Bieniemy. The weapon Patrick Mahomes needs to comeback from a playoffs-season?
Position selections:
WR – 2
RB – 2
EDGE – 23
LB – 1
S – 10
Where will Washington pick, and who/what position should they take next year?
Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami
E$PN (Kiper)
Yahoo Sports (McDonald/Tice)
USA Today (Middlehurst-Schwartz)
Fox Sports
FanSided (Williams)
NFL Mocks (Basile-vaughan)
Bleacher Nation (Flowers)
Stadium Rant (Willey)
Fantasy Sports on SI (Morales-Smith)
TWSN (Bradshaw)
David Bailey, EDGE, Texas
The Athletic (Brugler)
Sporting News (Iyer)
SB Nation (Dator/Schofield)
Pro Football Network (Infante)
Sports Illustrated (Flick)
Draft Wire (Popejoy)
NFL Spin Zone (Scataglia)
Saturday Blitz (Rome)
Clutch Points (Crean)
NFL Mocks (Blair)
Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
CBS Sports (Wilson)
San Diego Union~Tribune (Brown)
Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
Pro Football Focus (McGuinness)
Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
Bleacher Report (Knox)
Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
CBS Sports (Edwards)
Pro Football Focus (Chadwick)
The Draft Network (Eisner)
The Draft Network (Melo)
Fantasy Pros (Janvrin)
Bleacher Nation (Rooney)
GMENHQ (Luciano)
Draft Countdown (Bosarge)
Mock Draft Database
Tankathon
Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Pro Football Network (Decker)
Walter Football (Campbell)
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Walter Football
A to Z Sports
Commanders links
Articles
Commanders.com
3 pass-rushers Washington could target in 2026 draft
Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State
Paulsen’s projection: Third round
Height: 6-5
Weight: 265
2025 stats: 42 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 3 FFs, 3 PDs
Why: He’s a big ole’ hoss. He’s kind of in this long lineage of Penn State edge rushers with Chop Robinson, Abdul Carter, all these guys that have come through. He’s a tier down [from Bailey]. I think you could take him with that third-round pick at 71. He’s bigger; he’s got a complement of moves. He’s more of a power rusher…but I think there’s more athletic juice. There’s more “pass-rusher” there. He’s got long arms. He’s got everything you want. He’s big; he’s heavy-handed. So, if you want just a solid rotational piece, he kind of falls into that mold.
A to Z Sports
Day 3 options at EDGE
Logan Fano, Utah
Logan Fano is an older draft prospect at 24 years old, but he has a high floor as a big-time run stopper who can still get to the quarterback. He doesn’t have the flashy sack numbers with only five in 2025, but he has a 24.5% win rate in true pass rush sets, so he wins his matchups. Fano has a bigger frame that you want in an EDGE defender at 6-5, 260 pounds, and a lot of experience that can help him produce day one for a defense.
Riggo’s Rag
Commanders could consider giving Tyler Biadasz a contract extension this offseason
Nicki Jhabvala from The Athletic thought the Commanders could lock down starting center Tyler Biadasz at some stage this offseason. He’s heading into the final year of his deal, and tying him up long-term would give quarterback Jayden Daniels even more stability beyond 2026.
Biadasz is a solid player. He’s been a dependable presence over the last two seasons, communicating pre-snap and effectively blending run blocking and pass protection. While the former Wisconsin standout isn’t a world-beater by any stretch, the Commanders could do a lot worse.
At 28, Biadasz has a lot of good football left. Dan Quinn knows him well from their time together on the Dallas Cowboys, and he made the lineman one of his most pressing targets in 2024 free agency. He’s done nothing to suggest he isn’t deserving of a new contract.
Commanders Wire
Who is Joe Cullen?
Many won’t know the name. Some will recognize the name “Joe Cullen” but are not sure who he is. A few will recall that he recently interviewed for the Washington Commanders’ defensive coordinator position.
One concern is that, with so many openings this offseason, the top candidates are taking the top jobs, leaving the Commanders with someone who has not previously been a defensive coordinator.
Cullen is not currently a defensive coordinator. But he has been a defensive coordinator, and more than once. Currently, the defensive line coach for the Kansas City Chiefs (2022-2025), Cullen, a former college noseguard at the University of Massachusetts, graduated in 1990 with a Bachelor’s in Sports Management.
Getting his early coaching experiences in college football, Cullen coached defensive line at UMass, Richmond, LSU, Memphis, Indiana and Idaho State. He has college defensive coordinator experience at Richmond and Indiana. There is plenty of NFL experience too, where he coached defensive line for the Lions, Jaguars, Browns, Bucs, Ravens and Chiefs. He also has one year of NFL defensive coordinator experience, having led the Jaguars’ defense in 2021. Unfortunately for Cullen, Urban Meyer’s lone NFL season was a failure, and he never really had a chance.
When it was reported that Cullen interviewed with the Commanders, Chiefs star defensive tackle Chris Jones made it clear he didn’t want his coach to leave.
Commanders Wire
5 Washington Commanders who shouldn’t return in 2026
Quan Martin, S
Quan Martin did play in all 17 games for the Commanders in 2025, but the results weren’t exactly promising. The safety racked up 99 tackles, one tackle for loss, and three pass deflections.
Pro Football Focus was not a fan of Martin’s play, giving the defender a pitiful 50.2 grade in 2025. That ranked 89th out of 98 qualified safeties, and the Commanders could almost assuredly find better production elsewhere. The team could free over $3 million by cutting Martin before June 1.
Podcasts & videos
Top-Tier Tight Ends + NEW Stadium Reveal Reactions! | Command Center | Washington Commanders | NFL
NFC East links
ESPN
Source: Cowboys reach DC agreement with Eagles’ Christian Parker
Parker, 34, has spent the past two seasons as the Philadelphia Eagles’ passing game coordinator and secondary coach. He has worked under Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio since 2021 when they were with the Denver Broncos.
He helped develop Eagles cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean into Pro Bowlers in their second seasons while also getting productivity from veterans like Darius Slay, C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Reed Blankenship. DeJean was effusive in his praise of Parker on X, writing “wouldn’t be the player I am without Coach CP.”
This marks the first time since Monte Kiffin in 2013 that the Cowboys have not had a former NFL head coach as their defensive coordinator. Since then, they have had Rod Marinelli (2014-19), Mike Nolan (2020), Dan Quinn (2021-23), Mike Zimmer (2024) and Matt Eberflus (2025), who was fired after Dallas finished last in the league in points allowed and 30th in yards per game.
Bleeding Green Nation
Eagles reportedly lose Christian Parker to the Cowboys
Bad news for Philly
Losing Parker was likely inevitable. Losing him to a division rival isn’t very fun.
We previously touched on Parker’s value:
It’s possible that Parker is a good position coach but not a good defensive coordinator. And Dallas has a long way to go in remaking their talent on that side of the ball after it was such a disastrous unit under Matt Eberflus in 2025.
But it’ll be pretty annoying for the Eagles if Parker helps the Cowboys turn things around in a big way.
Big Blue View
Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator hiring good news for NY Giants
Charlie Bullen, Daronte Jones, Jim Leonhard bypassed by Dallas
Charlie Bullen, outside linebackers coach for the New York Giants the past two seasons and interim defensive coordinator the final five games of the 2025 season, will not become defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys.
The Cowboys are set to name Philadelphia Eagles passing game coordinator Christian Parker as their new defensive coordinator, replacing the fired Matt Eberflus.
In further good news for Harbaugh and the Giants, three other candidates believed to be in consideration to become Harbaugh’s defensive coordinator in New York were bypassed by the Cowboys. Those are Minnesota Vikings’ defensive pass game coordinator Daronte Jones, Baltimore Ravens’ defensive coordinator Zach Orr, and Denver Broncos’ defensive pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard.
NFL league links
Selected coaching updates
The updated NFL head coach landscape:
Ravens: Jesse Minter
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 22, 2026Articles
NFL.com
NFL Honors: Finalists announced for MVP, other awards from 2025 season
AP Most Valuable Player presented by Invisalign
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills QB
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars QB
Drake Maye, New England Patriots QB
Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers RB
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams QB
AP Defensive Player of the Year presented by TCL
Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans DE
Nik Bonitto, Denver Broncos LB
Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns DE
Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions DE
Micah Parsons, Green Bay Packers DE
AP Offensive Player of the Year presented by Microsoft Copilot
Drake Maye, New England Patriots QB
Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers RB
Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams WR
Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons RB
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks WR
AP Offensive Rookie of the Year presented by EA SPORTS Madden NFL
Jaxson Dart, New York Giants QB
Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR
TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots RB
Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers WR
Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints QB
AP Defensive Rookie of the Year presented by EA SPORTS Madden NFL
Abdul Carter, New York Giants LB
Nick Emmanwori, Seattle Seahawks DB
James Pearce Jr., Atlanta Falcons DE
Carson Schwesinger, Cleveland Browns LB
Xavier Watts, Atlanta Falcons S
AP Comeback Player of the Year
Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots WR
Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions DE
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars QB
Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers RB
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys QB
AP Coach of the Year
Liam Coen, Jacksonville Jaguars
Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears
Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks
Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots
AP Assistant Coach of the Year
Vic Fangio, Philadelphia Eagles DC
Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings DC
Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos DC
Klint Kubiak, Seattle Seahawks OC
Josh McDaniels, New England Patriots OC
ESPN
NFL quarterbacks with first start of season in playoffs
Check out other quarterbacks who made their first start of the season in the playoffs below:
- Taylor Heinicke, Washington Football Team (2020 wild card vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, L, 31-23)
- Connor Cook, Oakland Raiders (2016 wild card at Houston Texans, L, 27-14)
- Joe Webb, Minnesota Vikings (2012 wild card at GB, L, 24-10)
- Frank Reich, Buffalo Bills (1992 wild card vs. Houston Oilers, W, 41-38)
- Gary Danielson, Detroit Lions (1983 divisional round at San Francisco 49ers, L, 24-23)
- Roger Staubach, Dallas Cowboys (1972 NFC Championship at Washington, L, 26-3)
Discussion topics
ESPN
2026 NFL offseason WR market: Free agents, trade candidates
Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers
An occasionally tumultuous run for Doubs in Green Bay likely came to an end in the Packers’ wild-card loss to the Bears. The underrated Doubs was suitably impactful in his final game, catching eight passes for 124 yards and a touchdown. That goes well with a 151-yard performance in his playoff debut, a win over the Cowboys in the 2023 wild-card round, and an 83-yard follow-up the subsequent week against the 49ers.
Given how often the Packers run the ball and how willing they are to rotate a deep, flat receiving corps, Doubs has also gone missing at times. He literally did so for a few practices in 2024, leading the Packers to suspend their 2022 fourth-round pick for a game. Doubs returned and played out the rest of his Packers tenure without incident, but GM Brian Gutekunst used two of his top three picks in the 2025 draft on wide receivers and extended Christian Watson, who would have also been a free agent.
Doubs is therefore extremely likely to actually make it to free agency, which isn’t always the case for young wideouts. And there has been steady growth in his underlying metrics. Doubs’ yards per route run has improved during his time in Green Bay, from 1.4 during his rookie and second seasons to 1.8 in Year 3 and 1.9 in Year 4. Drops can be an issue, but the 6-foot-2 wideout produced a top-30 catch score this season, per ESPN’s receiver scores.
I’ll be fascinated to see where Doubs’ deal comes in. There’s a chance teams see him as only a midtier No. 2 receiver, leaving him something in the range of $15 million per year. I suspect there will be at least one team that sees him as a player with untapped potential who could blossom in a more pass-happy scheme and with a steadier, more reliable usage pattern. That team might be willing to go north of $20 million per season.
Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts
Last offseason, teams desperate for speed simply overpaid to sign replacement-level talent at wide receiver in free agency. The Rams brought back Tutu Atwell on a one-year, $10 million deal and got 192 receiving yards over 10 games, as the move into 13 personnel groupings and the ascension of Xavier Smith and Konata Mumpfield cut off Atwell’s access to the field as the third wideout behind Davante Adams and Puka Nacua.
The Jaguars signed Dyami Brown to an identical contract after a hot postseason in Washington, yet despite Travis Hunter’s knee injury, they essentially lost interest in Brown after a slow start. Jacksonville traded for Jakobi Meyers and promoted Parker Washington ahead of him in the lineup. Brown played single-digit snaps down the stretch and was a healthy scratch in the season-ending loss to the Bills.
If speedy receivers who barely see the field are worth $10 million deals, Pierce’s pending free agency poses an interesting question: What if a speedy receiver who was actually good hit the market? Pierce narrowly topped 1,000 yards for the first time as a pro with a 132-yard effort against the Texans in Week 18, but his breakout wasn’t really a product of better quarterback play in 2025. His rate of off-target potential receptions was roughly the same in 2024 (23.5%) and 2025 (23.8%).
Deebo Samuel, Washington Commanders
Catch Samuel on the right week and he’s devastating. Samuel led the league in yards after catch score (in ESPN’s receiver scores) in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and he was second in 2024. He dropped off only to 10th in 2025. He’s still a special talent when it comes to breaking tackles and making something out of nothing. And while Samuel has never put together a full healthy season as a pro, he did manage to play 16 games for the second time in his seven-year career this season.
On the other hand, Samuel has consistent problems with drops and fumbles, with three of the latter coming on 89 touches in 2025. He has become less impactful as a runner, where he managed just four first downs on 17 carries this season. And with each passing year, Samuel’s 1,405-receiving yard, 365-rushing yard campaign of 2021 looks more and more like an outlier. He averaged nearly 111 yards from scrimmage that season and is at 61 yards from scrimmage per game across his six other seasons, a figure that fell all the way to 50 yards from scrimmage per game in 2025.
Samuel spent most of the season playing with various backup quarterbacks as opposed to Jayden Daniels, which obviously hurt Samuel’s chance at a big season. But even if you prorate out Samuel’s six games with Daniels under center, we end up with 99 catches for just 850 yards, which tells you how much of Samuel’s production came on screens and lateral throws around the line of scrimmage. His average target with Daniels on the field traveled just 4.5 yards in the air, which would rank 65th out of 67 wideouts in terms of target depth over a full season.
There’s a useful player here, but Samuel’s injury history, problems holding on to the football and age (he turns 30 in January) will limit his market. It would be surprising if Samuel landed a multiyear guarantee, and he’s likely to take a pay cut from the $17.5 million he made this season.
Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills
Though Coleman had a 36-yard catch-and-run against the Jaguars, the 2024 second-round pick has clearly fallen out of favor in Buffalo. Coleman was both benched for disciplinary reasons and subsequently healthy scratched multiple times in 2025. When he has been on the field, Coleman managed 59 catches for 404 yards and four touchdowns, much of which came in a comeback win over the Ravens in Week 1. He had 112 yards in that win and hasn’t topped 50 yards in a game since then. It seemed telling in the wild-card round that Tyrell Shavers — who was literally playing through a torn ACL — had more snaps in the second half than Coleman.
Coleman still has two years left on his rookie deal and will make $3.8 million between 2026 and 2027, most of which is already guaranteed. That’s a pittance for a player whom teams saw as a Day 2 pick heading into the 2024 draft, which is why there will be interest if the Bills do decide that a fresh start is best for all parties involved. Given that owner Terry Pegula seemed to blame the decision to draft Coleman on fired coach Sean McDermott during an explosive news conference Wednesday, it’s safe to say that Coleman is better off getting out of Buffalo.
The Commanders received a third-round pick (and moved a fifth-rounder) when they sent Jahan Dotson to the Eagles, while the Cowboys sent a fourth-round pick to the Panthers for Jonathan Mingo and a seventh-round selection. The Bills should be able to get something in line with the latter price for Coleman, with teams betting they can get more out of his size and contested-catch ability than Buffalo.
aBit o’Twitter
During our Film Room today, @MarkBullockNFL highlighted the creative mind of David Blough.
From Detroit to Purdue to Washington, he’s always loved dabbling with trick plays designed to stymie a defense.
Check out the examples below. Who knew Blough had hands?#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/Ens6F4T2dB
— George Carmi (@Gcarmi21) January 22, 2026
Let's do this one better… only 4 NFL teams have similarly discounted jerseys on all current players online & in-person at Dick's
– Commanders: all except white "throwbacks"
– Falcons: all except black throwbacks
– Ravens: all
– Titans: all
Not only are those 4 teams I… https://t.co/kAR7LXDwVB pic.twitter.com/5EIqAMYsd4
— Zach Cohen (@ZachCohenFB) January 22, 2026@JoshPateCFB
Now that the Transfer Portal is "closed," what happens to all the players who are trapped in purgatory without a new team? pic.twitter.com/T7fWC2xJae
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) January 22, 202620 years of NFC Championship games
Can you spot the ONE team that hasn't made it?pic.twitter.com/StAQLTSfpe
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) January 21, 2026
Teryl Austin interviewed
The Washington Commanders reportedly prefer to hire a coach with play calling experience as their next defensive coordinator and they’ve added a new name to the list. The Steelers are searching for a new head coach after Mike Tomlin stepped down. His defensive coordinator Teryl Austin has interviewed to be Washington’s next DC.
Al Harris, next man up?
The Washington Commanders are interviewing Bears secondary coach Al Harris, who had the same role under Dan Quinn when they were with the Dallas Cowboys two years ago. Dallas blocked Quinn’s attempt to add Harris to his coaching staff in Washington. If Harris is hired, he would replace Joe Whitt Jr, who he worked with in Dallas.
Brian Flores signs extension to stay with Vikings as DC; only leaving for HC job
The Washington Commanders were the only team that Vikings DC Brian Flores interviewed with for a defensive coordinator position. He has been focused on becoming a head coach again, and he’s only going to leave Minnesota if he gets that opportunity. Flores’s contract was up after this season, but he’s signed an extension, taking him off the DC market.
Anthony Lynn gets a head coaching interview
Anthony Lynn hasn’t been a head coach since 2020 when he was fired by the Los Angeles Chargers after four seasons, but has his first interview opportunity with the Buffalo Bills. He was hired by the Washington Commanders as their run game coordinator. Lynn was part of Dan Quinn’s new coaching staff, and he brought a lot of experience as a former player, running backs coach, offensive coordinator, and his two stints as a head coach.
The Bills gave him his first taste of being a head coach, but it was on an interim basis after Rex Ryan was fired. He was a finalist to keep the job that eventually went to recently-fired Sean McDermott, and now gets another chance to get the gig full-time. Lynn was not interviewed for the Commanders OC job which went to assistant QB coach David Blough.
Darnell Stapleton and Shane Toub promoted
The Commanders fired OL coach Bobby Johnson on the same day they parted ways with former offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and are now promoting Johnson’s assistant OL coach to his old job. Darnell Stapleton is the Commanders new OL coach, and offensive quality control coach Shane Toub will be his new assistant.
Danny Etling hired as assistant QB coach
The Washington Commanders have hired their third new coach on offense, adding former NFL QB Danny Etling as assistant QB coach. He will work under new offensive coordinator David Blough and QB coach D.J. Williams. Blough was given the promotion from assistant QB to OC after Kliff Kingsbury’s departure earlier this month. Etling never played in a regular season NFL game, and spent the last two seasons in the UFL with the Michigan Panthers. This will be his first coaching job after retiring from playing football. Etling and Blough were teammates in college at Purdue.
D.J. Williams hired as QB Coach to replace Tavita Pritchard and to work under David Blough
The Commanders front office has been searching for a QB coach ever since announcing David Blough’s promotion last week. Today Adam Schefter and others reported the hiring of D.J. Williams, son of Washington legend Doug Williams, for the role.
After 2 years of entry level work in with the Saints, Williams joined the NFL coaching ranks as an offensive assistant for New Orleans in 2019. Williams was hired as the assistant quarterbacks coach for the Falcons in 2024, and promoted to quarterbacks coach in 2025. The Atlanta staff is in flux following the firing of head coach Raheem Morris, and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is seen as an attractive candidate for a number of teams trying to replace defensive coordinators, including the Commanders.
D.J. is the first new coach to join David Blough’s staff. The Commanders also interviewed Mike Bercovici, the Panthers assistant quarterback coach, for the position.
Brian Flores interviewing today
The Washington Commanders were hoping to interview Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator, and that is happening today. His contract is expiring, but Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has already said he’d like him back if he doesn’t get an opportunity to be a head coach again during this hiring cycle. The Commanders could use someone of Flores’s coaching pedigree, but he is in high demand, and a lot of people expect him to stay in Minnesota.
Washington interviews Seahawks DB coach/pass game coordinator Karl Scott
The Washington Commanders added another name to their defensive coordinator search list today. ESPN’s John Keim reports they have interviewed Seattle Seahawks DBs coach/pass game coordinator Karl Scott for the position formerly held by Joe Whitt Jr. He has been coaching since 2007, but didn’t get a job in the NFL until 2021 as a DBs coach with the Minnesota Vikings.
Scott has been with the Seahawks since 2022, and is highly-regarded around the league. The Seahawks have one of the top defenses in the league, and have several players Washington could be interested in adding in free agency this year. Scott is also the only known candidate who doesn’t have past experience as a DC.
Former Cardinals HC/Eagles DC Jonathan Gannon scheduled for DC interview
Dennard Wilson interviewed for DC job
Dennard Wilson is a veteran NFL coach who was the defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans the last two seasons. He is the latest name added to the Washington Commanders interview list for their open defensive coordinator position.
Wilson, 43, is a Hyatteville, MD native went to DeMatha High School and played at Maryland. His only season in the NFL was with the Washington Redskins in 2004, playing safety on the practice squad. Wilson entered coaching after an injury ended his first season, going back to DeMatha as their passing game coordinator & DBs coach. He spent two years as a graduate assistant at Maryland before getting his first opportunity to coach in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams as a defensive quality control coach. Wilson spent time with the Jets, Eagles, and Ravens, before getting his first coordinator job with the Titans in 2024.
Joe Cullen interviewed for DC job
Mike Garafolo reports that Chiefs DL coach Joe Cullen has interviewed with Washington as the replacement for fired defensive coordinator Joe Whitt. This is the first time Cullen’s name has been mentioned nationally this cycle. Back in 2024, prior to Super Bowl LVIII, Kansas City quietly inked him to a contract extension.
Cullen, 58, entered the NFL as a defensive assistant in 2006 with the Lions. He returned to the college ranks in 2009 before the Jaguars hired him as their defensive line coach a year later. He also was the defensive line coach for the Browns (2013), Bucs (2014-15), Ravens (2016-20) and joined the Chiefs in that role in 2022. In 2021, Cullen was the defensive coordinator of the Jaguars.
It would seem that his most obvious link to the Commanders decision-makers may have come from his 3-year stint (’06-‘08) as the Lions defensive line coach when Asst GM Lance Newmark was in Detroit, but relationships in the NFL often run deep.
Original story
The Washington Commanders moved on from offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., and offensive line coach Bobby Johnson yesterday. There are more changes expected with two new coordinators set to be hired. Kingsbury was expected to get head coaching consideration, despite the Commanders 5-12 season, but conflicts about offensive scheme reportedly led Washington to let him go shortly after the season ended.
There was more news from Washington yesterday, with Commanders assistant QB coach David Blough reportedly getting an interview with his former team, the Detroit Lions, for their newly-vacated offensive coordinator job. Johnny Morton was fired after one season of not being able to live up to the legend of Ben Johnson.
Blough was seen as a young, upcoming coach who was being groomed to take over OC when Kingsbury left for a bigger opportunity. QB coach Tavita Pritchard left Washington late last year for the head coaching position at his alma mater, Stanford, and Blough took on a lot of his responsibilities, along with Brian Johnson. Blough, along with other coaches that were seen as Kingsbury guys could also exit after yesterday’s news.
Follow along here for update from Washington’s search, and from other searches around the league. Seven head coaches have already been fired, and a few of them could be candidates for Washington’s coordinator openings.
Washington Commanders Rumors
NFL Coaching Rumors
Kliff Kingsbury HC interviews
Raheem Morris
Commanders links
Articles
A to Z Sports
The Commanders have the second-highest salary cap rollover heading into 2026, and Adam Peters has to spend in free agency
After a very conservative approach and budget spending [in 2025], the Commanders are projected to carry over $23.8 million in salary cap space to the 2026 offseason. This is the second most in the NFL, and they’ll need every dollar.
The Commanders currently have the sixth-most salary cap space in the NFL, at $63.5 million. That number can change…if, [for example] the league’s base salary cap goes up again. The Commanders can also make multiple moves to increase it, such as releasing Marshon Lattimore to save another $18.5 million, and extending Laremy Tunsil to lower his 2026 salary cap hit. [Cap space will also go down with season-end adjustments for things like earned incentives, etc. Also, over $12m in cap space will ’disappear’ in mid-March when Deebo Samuels’ contract voids unless it is extended before that time].
The roster is old, has the most pending free agents in the NFL, and needs an upgrade at many starting spots on both sides of the ball. It looks like a disaster on paper, but it’s very doable to take a major step this offseason in rebuilding the foundation of the roster, while swinging big on two or three free agents like Trey Hendrickson, Breece Hall, and Alec Pierce.
Commanders.com
Commanders 2025 position review | Offensive line
- What’s the situation at left guard? The Commanders originally started the season with Brandon Coleman as the starting left guard but ended up replacing him with Chris Paul in Week 3. Paul, a 2022 seventh-round pick from Tulsa, had a career season as a pass blocker, allowing two sacks and 17 pressures. Paul is set to be a free agent and could feasibly re-sign with the Commanders, but the team also believes that Coleman, who was the starting left tackle in 2024, can make the full transition to guard with a full offseason. Left guard seems to be the only spot for Coleman to be a starter with Tunsil securely placed at left tackle, Biadasz at center, Cosmi at right guard and Conerly at right tackle. The Commanders let Paul and Coleman compete for the spot during training camp, so perhaps they will re-sign Paul and repeat the process in 2026.
- What happens with the depth? Part of the reason why the Commanders had such a solid offensive line in 2025 was because of its depth. Wylie, Fant and Scott all had starting experience and appeared in certain packages as extra linemen on game days. Now, all three of those players are expected to hit the open market in March. Scott and Fant could be easier to re-sign, but it’s possible Wylie could want to go elsewhere to compete to be a starter. The Commanders do have solid backup options at guard in Allegretti and whoever becomes the backup between Paul and Coleman. Still, though, both backup tackle spots will need to be addressed as well as center.
Hogs Haven
Ben Sinnott: Tight Ends & Peak Performance
Sinnott entered the league as a more explosive, more contact-balanced athlete than Ertz ever was (RAS = 9.72), with more versatility across Y, H, and F alignments. If he were to follow an Ertz-style arc—quiet early seasons followed by major technical growth.
At peak, Sinnott will likely not profile merely as a safety blanket, but as a true middle-of-the-field stressor. An Ertz-arc Sinnott projects to something like 60 to 85 catches, 700 to 950 yards, and six to nine touchdowns annually, with more yards after contact and a deeper ADOT than Ertz typically handled. He’ll win with separation versus linebackers, the ability to hold safeties up the seam, and contact balance after the catch. Sinnott’s early wins have been with tempo, head fakes out of breaks, and vertical stem pressure, along with the ability to cross a defender’s face quickly. The critical leap, just as it was for Ertz, would be moving from “open when designed” to “open when needed.” That transition—from play-dependent to solution-provider—is what defines tight end functionality.
Ertz’s own career trajectory shows how nonlinear this path can be. He entered the league in 2013 as a moderate contributor, grew steadily from 2014 through 2017, exploded in 2018 with 116 catches and 1,163 yards, remained highly productive through 2019. He had a slow build, a multi-year prime, and then gradual decline.
Sinnott’s journey from a walk-on fullback at Kansas State, to the NFL ranks has been short and steep. 2022 was his first experience playing TE in a collegiate uniform. He has largely honed his skills in the NFL in a raw, high-effort mold. This abbreviated college reps at the position—coupled with the fullback roots—likely tamps down his early NFL acceleration, extending the runway for technical polish to emerge.
Heavy.com
Commanders interviewing former Dan Quinn assistant Al Harris after Brian Flores renews contract with Vikings
Quinn will no doubt be pleased the Commanders are sitting down with Chicago Bears passing game coordinator Al Harris, an interview reported by Schefter’s colleague Jeremy Fowler.
Coaxing Harris from the NFC North wouldn’t be the headline move the Commanders would’ve made by hiring Flores. Yet, recruiting Harris would still rate as a minor coup for Quinn.
It would be a reunion of sorts for latter, who had Harris on staff when Quinn served as defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys. That connection is why Harris has previously been tipped as an intriguing option to replace another of Quinn’s former assistants with the Cowboys, Joe Whitt Jr.
The risk would be mistaking a more opportunistic defense for an overall better and more stingy unit. Although the Bears led the NFL in picks and forced 12 fumbles, recovering eight, their defense was also guilty of ranking 23rd in points and 29th in yards, per Pro Football Reference.
Riggo’s Rag
Commanders could have serious competition for Raheem Morris if Dan Quinn declares his interest
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN acknowledged that Raheem Morris is still in contention for the Arizona Cardinals’ head-coaching vacancy. If that doesn’t work out, he’s expected to be a hot commodity for defensive coordinator opportunities, and he named three clubs with strong ties that could throw their hat into the ring.
This is a waiting game for everyone. Morris may be holding out for the Arizona job, but he is unlikely to be short of offers if they go with another option.
NFL Draft
Prospects
Commanders.com
Logan Paulsen’s ‘Prove it’, ‘Show me’ Shrine Bowl prospects
The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team.
Over 100 college prospects will meet in Texas to participate in the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl next week, giving the Washington Commanders and the rest of the NFL an up-close look at their skill sets. While each player has potential, Commanders analyst Logan Paulsen said each player has a few “warts” they’ll need to work out during practice and at the game. He and co-host Jason Johnson laid out on the “Drive to the Draft” podcast” which players need to prove or show them something starting this weekend.
Here are some of Paulsen’s candidates for each category. Take a listen to the full podcast [embedded in the article] for the rest of his analysis.
Diego Pounds, T, Ole Miss
Height: 6-6
Weight: 340 pounds
Paulsen’s take: Prove it
Analysis: This guy can move around a little bit … His ability to sit, get power and get depth on the kick slide and the strength that he had in his body, you can feel that 340 (weight) while also having good knee bend. I left watching that Miami tape — which wasn’t a perfect film by any stretch of the imagination — looking at his frame, looking at his length and being like, “This dude might be a top 10 tackle in this draft.” That’s how good I thought he was. I think he’s a good football player … To me, I just want to see him in person. He reminds me a little bit of Jalen Travis from last year. Is he a perfect athlete? No, but the size, the length, I want to see those measurements come to life.
Compensatory picks
Over the Cap
Projecting The 2026 Compensatory Picks
This article refers specifically to OTC’s final projection for the 2025 NFL Draft’s compensatory picks. For details on the basics and methodology of projecting compensatory picks in general, please reference this article. Note that this projection does not include compensatory picks awarded via 2020 Resolution JC-2A.
To understand how this projection is generated for each team, please reference the compensatory pick cancellation charts here.
Washington
- If Deatrich Wise does not qualify, Washington will get a 6th for Dante Fowler.
Philadelphia
- If Azeez Ojulari does not qualify, Philadelphia gets a 6th for Isaiah Rodgers.
Dallas
- If Chuma Edoga qualifies and Solomon Thomas and Cooper Rush do not qualify, or if all three players qualify, Dallas will get a 6th for Rico Dowdle.
Podcasts & videos
Commanders Offensive Recalibration/Riggo Auctions SB17 Jersey
GAMECHANGER: Washington Commanders Could LAND Maxx Crosby in Bold Patrick Graham Trade Move
NFC East links
Blogging the Boys
2026 Cowboys Mock Draft: Mel Kiper has Dallas going with defensive stars
Mel Kiper dropped his first mock of the year on Wednesday and he has the Dallas Cowboys going with some heavy-hitters on defense.
As Kiper notes at the end of his Mesidor write up though, the Cowboys are not addressing the secondary with either of these picks. He mentions that Dallas could look to shore that up on Day 2 or in free agency which presents some interesting problems:
- The Cowboys are not exactly known for dabbling in free agency on a serious level
- At the moment the Cowboys do not have any Day 2 picks as they traded them both (the second-rounder as a part of the Quinnen Williams trade and the third-rounder for George Pickens)
Big Blue View
NY Giants news: John Harbaugh lets most defensive assistant coaches go
Charlie Bullen reportedly only defensive coach with a chance to stay
The New York Post is reporting that with the exception of Charlie Bullen all of the team’s 2025 defensive coaches have been let go.
According to the Post, assistant coaches Andre Patterson (defensive line), John Egorugwu (inside linebackers), Marquand Manuel (secondary coach/pass game coordinator) and Jeff Burris (cornerbacks) will not be retained. Assistant defensive line coach Bryan Cox had previously been fired by interim head coach Mike Kafka.
Bullen, the outside linebackers coach, did an excellent job as interim defensive coordinator after taking over for the fired Shane Bowen. Bullen has a previous relationship with GM Joe Schoen, and has also been getting interviews for vacant defensive coordinator positions. Bullen, per the Post, is not yet guaranteed to remain on Harbaugh’s staff.
Per Jordan Ranaan of ESPN, special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial is also out.
The fate of offensive coaches is not yet known.
In what might be a sign of changes yet to come, though, Harbaugh is the only coach currently listed on the team’s website.
Bleeding Green Nation
Brian Daboll reportedly won’t be the Eagles’ new offensive coordinator
The Philadelphia Eagles reportedly entered their offensive coordinator search with Mike McDaniel and Brian Daboll as their top two candidates.
It’s now looking like the Eagles have struck out on both options.
McDaniel is reportedly going to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Daboll is reportedly between the Buffalo Bills head coach opening and the Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator opening, according to a report from The Athletic
As a reminder, here are the known candidates that realistically remain (it’s possible someone like Joe Brady still gets added to the mix, we’ll see):
- Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard
- Former Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson
- Former New York Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka
- Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter
- Miami Dolphins senior passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik
- LSU offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr.
NFL league links
Selected coaching updates
Articles
ESPN
Bills owner made call to fire coach in locker room after loss
“My decision to bring in a new coach was based on the results of our game in Denver,” Pegula, 74, said during a 54-minute interview session Wednesday that included general manager Brandon Beane, who was also made president of football operations this week.
The owner, however, did not base the decision just off the result of the game, but instead, from the collection of events that had taken place over years in the postseason.
“I did not fire Coach [McDermott] based on a bad officiating decision. If I can take you into that locker room, I felt like we hit the proverbial playoff wall year after year — 13 seconds, missed field goal, the catch. So, I just sensed in that locker room, like, where do we go from here with what we have? And that was the basis for my decision.”
Commanders Wire
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson wants Kliff Kingsbury
In an appearance on “The Herd,” with Colin Cowherd, NFL insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic said that Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson wants Kingsbury in Baltimore, as do his receivers.
Discussion topics
Front Office Sports
NFL Should Make Refs Full-Time Employees
Fox Sports rules analyst Mike Pereira says its time for NFL to hire part-time referees as full-time employees
During an interview with columnist Scott Fowler of The Charlotte Observer, Pereira said the 17 referees who lead NFL officiating crews should be full-time employees. Put them all in the same office year-round, said Pereira. That way they can train together, commiserate and hopefully improve performance and consistency.
“I think it’s time to look at full-time officials. Not everyone. But I do believe that the person that represents the crew in the field, the guy in the white hat, the referee—I think those 17 people should be full-time working together all year,” said Pereira. “Not going home in between games, but going to an officiating institute and breaking down all the games together, so the messages are consistent. … I’m not a fan of making everyone full-time, but make the referees full-time. To me, it’s time for that.”
The 75-year-old served as an NFL ref and the league’s VP of officiating before becoming the first TV rules analyst in 2010. The opportunity is coming to turn Pereira’s suggestion into a reality.
The league’s collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Referees Association expires in May. If the primary reason the league doesn’t want to make refs full-time employees is they don’t want to pay, then that’s penny-wise and pound-foolish.
The NFL is on a heater TV-wise, with regular-season viewership reaching a 37-year high of 18.7 million per game. It’s the most popular sports league, and by far the most popular brand in all of entertainment. About the only thing that could derail the NFL would be a betting scandal. As Sports Illustrated NFL writer Albert Breer told Dan Patrick, the league is playing with fire by ignoring growing fan suspicions over officiating.
“I really think that they need to go in this offseason and tear the thing down to the studs,” Breer told Patrick. “Take all the technology available, take the crews they have available, maybe add sky judges to each crew, and rebuild it all together. I just think what’s happening right now flat out isn’t working in the eyes of the public—and the public trust is such an important thing for a professional sport.”
The NFL is the best at almost everything. So invest in quality and training with the refs. If shelling out a few million in salary to refs to make them better at the jobs is the cost, then I call that a small price to pay.
aBit o’Twitter
"Their owner is just throwing a young player who does have immense talent … under the bus like that. Why are we doing this?"
—@FieldYates on Bills owner Terry Pegula saying it was the coaches decision to draft Keon Colemanpic.twitter.com/WU5FY47GP1
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 21, 2026The most real-life Madden play of all time
pic.twitter.com/ujBirJKPLs
— Footballism (@FootbaIIism) January 22, 2026
Over the years that I have been developing the Reacts surveys and publishing their results, I’ve found a few things to be consistent about the process.
Firstly, in choosing the topic(s) from week to week, I need to pick something topical, but also something that will still be of as much interest on Saturday when the results are published as it was on Tuesday or Wednesday when the questions were first posed. For example, it’s probably not a good idea to give a list of names and ask which guy should be hired to a coordinator position if the decision might be announced on Thursday, and also probably a bad idea to ask if a player should be released if the decision could be made on Tuesday afternoon.
Secondly, choices need to be clear and not over-explained. Binary choices are best; if ratings need to be used, the levels should be clearly differentiated with a few words of explanation. Nothing derails a survey like a set of answers that don’t make sense to the respondents. When I’ve written bad questions in the past, I have sometimes abandoned the results and simply written about something else when it came time to publish the Saturday article.
Thirdly, I’ve learned that the best questions don’t really need any framing when the survey is published. For example, last week I asked for confidence in Dan Quinn and Adam Peters to be rated. I didn’t have to recap their two-year history with the team because those histories have been heavily documented. Respondents know a lot about them and often have deeply held beliefs. But there are times when framing is necessary, or at least helpful. For example, early in the season, I asked which of three running backs should get the most snaps in the coming game, and in the survey article, I provided snaps and stats for the 3 players to allow respondents to make an informed choice. Likewise, if I want to ask whether a player should be signed to an extension, I will almost certainly provide not only the player’s relevant statistics but also some digestible salary cap details so that the cap ramifications can be factored into the answer.
Finally, I have reached a point where I generally know before I ask the question what the results are likely to be. I often comment, when writing and publishing the results article, on whether the results were a bit more positive or negative than I had expected, but I am seldom totally surprised at the results.
In this week’s survey, I stayed away from the search for a new defensive coordinator, which, in any case, I asked about two weeks ago, since we could have gotten an announcement at any time.
I still stayed with the coaching staff, however, asking you to rate two of the decision that have already been announced: the promotions of David Blough an Darnell Stapleton to fill the previously vacant position of offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, respectively.
I opted not to offer a binary choice (e.g., “Do you approve of the decision?”), choosing instead to offer a range of numerical options with a few descriptive words to nail down the scale. I also opted NOT to frame the questions with background information about the two coaches, choosing instead to include a “0” response that allowed respondents to simply say that they don’t know enough about the coach to have an opinion.
When I put the short survey together on Tuesday, I was confident that I knew what the results would look like, and over the next few days, I planned out the article (yes, this article!) that I would write when those results came in. Of course, without knowing the actual results, I can’t fully plan the article, but I can develop concepts of a plan. and in this case my concepts were pretty fully formed.
As things turned out, I had to totally ditch the article that I had mentally prepared because I totally whiffed on my estimation of how Hogs Haven members would respond to these questions.
As with last week’s survey results, I have created a weighted average score to evaluate the overall rating for each coach. Unlike last week’s survey in which DQ and AP were known quantities, I have adjusted this week’s weighted average score to exclude any “0” ratings, meaning that the weighted average is based on only those respondents who expressed an opinion.
The resulting adjusted weighted averages (AWA) surprised me quite a lot by being much more positive than I had expected.
Both AWA scores are between 3 and 4 — between “ambivalence” and “good” — with David Blough, as expected, scoring slightly higher than Darnell Stapleton, who would have been unknown to all but the most passionate fans of the Commanders, Union High School, Hudson Valley Community College or one of the other 10 stops Stapleton has made as a player or coach since 2007.
Darnell Stapleton career summary
Wikipedia excerpt
Notably, Stapleton started for the Steelers at right guard in their Super Bowl win at the end of the 2008 season before his playing career was cut short by injury.
Stapleton was unable to mount a comeback after his injury and started his coaching career in 2011. He has progressed from coaching in the Women’s Football Alliance and high school in ‘11 and ‘12 to eleven years in the college ranks before joining the Commanders staff in 2024.
His ten years of coaching college offensive linemen in 4 colleges started with the Bucknell Bisons and culminated with the Florida Gators. Based on that indirect evidence, it seems likely that the 40-year-old is a good coach and a good teacher who is now getting the chance to run his own position group in the NFL.
That’s the sort of ‘framing’ that I might have chosen to put in the survey article, but I decided not to do so because it would tend to skew the responses more positively. What I was interested in with this survey was not so much an ‘educated opinion’ as a ‘gut reaction’.
And, to be honest, I expected the reaction to be strongly pessimistic and critical of the organization.
Prior to the survey, I had the sense that Hogs Haven members were aggrieved that the team had moved quickly on David Blough and that the news that Mike McDaniel in particular had accepted the role of OC for the LA Chargers seemed to rub salt in the wound. I had the further sense that many saw the promotion of Blough as a kind of capitulation on the part of Dan Quinn akin to punting on 4th & 4 at midfield when trailing by 9 points with 5 minutes left in the game — a sign that DQ was on such shaky ground in Washington that he couldn’t attract a high-quality and experienced OC like McDaniel, Daboll, or others.
In short, I thought the decisions to promote the two in-house coaches would be met with a huge amount of criticism.
That wasn’t really the case.
Instead, there was a lot of positive messaging in the comments of the survey article:
One Hogs Haven member, Atticus took the time to post very detailed thoughts on the promotion of Blough:
This endorsement of the move is not surprising to me in that it came from Atticus, who typically takes a positive view of the organization, but reading through the comments as a whole, I was surprised by the seemingly broad based upbeat view.
Of course, it wasn’t all rainbows and Kumbayah in the comments:
And there were, of course, many people who take the view that very few, if any, of us know enough about either coach to form a meaningful opinion.
It turns out that Commanders fans have gotten what so many of us have constantly asked for in recent years — the team has decided NOT to let one or more bright young coaches leave in search of promotion opportunities, but to reward those bright sparks with promotions that keep them in DC. We won’t have to look at Blough or Stapleton like we do at LeFleur or McDaniel and ponder what could have been; they are staying put in Washington instead of being hired away by other teams.
At this point, I think the exciting (and nerve-wracking) part of the Blough hire will be finding out what he’s going to be about as an offensive coordinator over the coming 9 to 12 months. He could turn out to be a lump of coal in the stocking or the next Sean McVay. It will be fun (or incredibly frustrating) finding out which it is.
For my part, I’m feeling optimistic about what lies ahead with out new offensive coordinator.
And as far as the new OL coach, Darnell Stapleton is concerned, I am encouraged to learn that he is 40-years-old; that he has 11 years of college coaching behind him, including 2 seasons in the SEC; that he was an NFL player who started and won a super bowl after humble beginnings (undrafted in 2007); and that people in the Commanders organization have such confidence in him after working with him for 2 full seasons. Perhaps he’ll be the next Joe Bugel, who spent 11 years coaching in the college ranks before making the leap from Ohio State to the NFL, presumably a largely unknown quantity to fans in the pro league.
As I’ve said already, I was pleasantly surprised how open-minded and optimistic Hogs Haven readers are as a whole, to these promotions. I hope we’ll all be rewarded with a resurgent offense in 2026 and beyond under the guidance of these young coaches, and that we’ll have reason to someday bemoan that we had more young geniuses on the coaching staff (like McVay, LeFleur and McDaniel) who were eventually allowed to ‘get away’ and become successful head coaches for other NFL teams. The spotlight will certainly be shining brightly on the coaching staff over the coming 12 months. Hopefully, based on their great success, other NFL teams in search of head coaches and coordinators will sniffing around and trying to hire them away as ‘young and impressive coordinators and position coaches’ to inject something special into those struggling teams in the next year or two.
Commanders links
Articles
Commanders Roundtable
Washington Commanders offensive lineman named among 25 best players in 2025 season
ESPN ranked [Laremy Tunsil] the 24th best player during the 2025 NFL season, along with the second-best offensive tackle behind Denver’s star and first-team All Pro Garett Bolles.
Tunsil…arrived in Washington [already] viewed as one of the best tackles across the NFL, and [during] his first season protecting what proved to be a rotating starting quarterback room, cemented that [reputation], grading as the third-best pass blocker per PFF. Tunsil allowed just two hits and sacks in nearly 500 snaps during the 2025 season, tied with Texans tackle Tytus Howard as the fourth-highest graded tackle in efficiency across the league.
[O]ne of the several questions this offseason is whether the Commanders work out a contract extension with the veteran tackle entering the final year of his three year, $75 million deal that was agreed to during his time with the Houston Texans.
General manager Adam Peters expressed optimism about an extension after noting the two sides were in “constant communication” with Tunsil self represented.
“He has a team around him that we have constant communication with and have throughout the year. So I think what I can say is we definitely want to get something done with them sooner rather than later,” Peters said in the end of season press conference.
“I want to play for [Dan Quinn] as long as I can. He’s become one of my favorite coaches that I had in the league. It’s fun to follow a guy like that,” Tunsil said in December. “As he leads, it’s not like a hard-ass or like cussing players out or anything, it’s more of just like teaching, you know, talking, letting you be free and giving you the freedom to like to be a professional.”
A to Z Sports
The Commanders are interviewing Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, and it wouldn’t be the right hire to make after recent results
The Commanders should not hire Teryl Austin
Austin does have a lot of experience, which I’m sure Quinn loves, but it’s a move that wouldn’t move the needle, and the Commanders have a drastically worse roster on defense than the Steelers. I reached out to A to Z Sports Pittsburgh’s beat writer, Rob Gregson, to get his thoughts on Austin, and he agrees that it wouldn’t be a good move to make.
The Commanders need to nail this hire, and Austin would be a bad [choice].
Riggo’s Rag
Logan Paulsen touts Penn State edge Dani Dennis-Sutton for the Commanders
Dani Dennis-Sutton is a prototypical modern edge rusher. Or, to put it in Paulson’s words, “He’s a big ole’ hoss.”
At 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, Dennis-Sutton has the size and length to set edges in the NFL. He also has excellent straight-line speed. He has run 4.68 seconds in the 40-yard dash, exceptional for a man of his size. It suggests a player with the ability to chase down ball carriers and quarterbacks from the backside.
Coming from the Nittany Lions, Dennis-Sutton has faced top-level competition over the span of four years and 55 games. Teams don’t have to guess about what they are getting.
The McDonogh High School graduate from nearby Owings Mills has been a model of consistency over his last two seasons. He had 8.5 sacks in both 2024 and 2025, along with getting 25 tackles for loss, split evenly over the two years. Dennis-Sutton was even credited with three pass defenses in both years.
In the 2024 college football playoff matchup with Notre Dame, Dennis-Sutton recorded two sacks and a forced fumble. This suggests that he does not disappear in big moments.
Though he has dropped off in coverage at times, Dennis-Sutton is most likely destined to be on the line in the pros, as an end in either a 4-3 or 3-4 front. Some reports from scouts indicate he would function best as a 3-4 end, which is not Washington’s current defensive alignment.
As Paulsen points out, “He’s got long arms. He’s got everything you want. He’s big; he’s heavy-handed.”
The reason a player like Dennis-Sutton falls a round or two behind players like Bailey and Bain is the way he bends the edge.
He does not have that elite athleticism to maintain maximum speed while veering around a blocker. The more compact Bain and the more agile Bailey have exceptional leans. Dennis-Sutton is a little more upright, a bit less flexible.
But he still has plenty of raw speed and power to contribute immediately in the NFL. As a pro pass rusher, he brings a solid floor, something the Commanders desperately need. With technique refinement, he could have a very high ceiling as well.
A to Z Sports
The Commanders can use one of their later-round picks on one of these Senior Bowl wide receiver prospects to give Jayden Daniels extra help
Third round wide receiver options at the Senior Bowl
Elijah Sarratt, Indiana
Indiana had a loaded offense in their National Championship run, and Elijah Sarratt was a big piece of it. Sarratt is a 6-2, 213-pound outside wide receiver who doesn’t get the best separation in his routes, but he makes 50/50 balls more like 80/20 with 12 contested catches on the season. He’s a reliable short and deepthreat with only three drops on 87 targets. 80% of his catches went for a first down, and he had 15 touchdowns on the season. Sarratt has the size and length to win often, and reminds me of Keenan Allen.
Indiana WR Elijah Sarratt (6-2, 213) will play in the NFL 7-10 years.
Chain mover- 80%+ of catches are 1st down
All business.
pic.twitter.com/jf0HnsFg9R
— Clint Goss (@NFLDraftDome) January 1, 2026Day Three wide receiver options at the Senior Bowl
Kevin Coleman Jr, Missouri
Kevin Coleman Jr. is an underrated prospect and my likeliest candidate to make the most noise at the Senior Bowl to everyone’s surprise. He’s a 5-11, 180-pound slot wide receiver who would fit the Commanders’ new offense perfectly. They desperately need a legit threat in the slot who can carve defenses with his route-running, and also win after the catch. He forced 18 missed tackles after the catch and only two drops on the season. The numbers aren’t glaring because of Missouri’s lack of a true passing game, but Coleman Jr. has the goods and is one of my favorite gems in the draft.
Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State
Brenen Thompson has the best odds of being the fastest player in the 2026 NFL Draft, and he’s a blur on film. He’s only 5-9, 180 pounds, but he’s a natural separator in his routes and plays at a different speed than everyone else. Thompson led the SEC in receiving yards in 2025 with 1,054 and averaged 18.5 yards per catch. He’s an elite deep threat with 11 deep catches and gets behind the defense with ease. Thompson isn’t just a deep threat; he also runs crisp routes, uses leverage, and is very sudden with his movements in the short game. I’m a big fan and can’t wait to see him dominate at the Senior Bowl.
NFC East links
Fox News
Giants’ Cam Skattebo says college earnings from NIL are creating entitled NFL rookies
Skattebo says rookies who made a lot of money in college think they are ‘hot s—‘
Skattebo, who just finished his rookie season, said the players coming out of college think they are “hot s—” because they enter the NFL having already made substantial money through NIL in college.
“The rookies that come in have made $2-$3 million in college, like they think they hot s—,” Skattebo said during a recent appearance on the “Roommates Show.”
“Like, there could be a vet that’s been in the league for three years, four years, and this rookie could have come from college and already made more money than him.”
“You could just tell by the way these college kids act now,” Skattebo said. “There’s some people act right, some people don’t care that there was ever such thing as a rookie situation.”
“I got rookie duties cause I’m a rookie, and I’m not going to sit there and say, ‘No, f— you.’ If my vets tell me to go get some snacks for the running back room for weeks in and weeks out, like I’m going to go get the snacks,” Skattebo said.
Bleeding Green Nation
Mekhi Becton reportedly expected to be released: Should the Eagles have interest in a reunion?
Philadelphia could look to bring their former starting guard back
Becton is expected to be released by the Los Angeles Chargers after a disappointing season. Tony Pauline had the following to say about the matter in a report from the Shrine Bowl:
It’s not hard to believe this report is true since the Bolts can cut Becton to clear $9.7 million in cap space while only taking on $2.5 million in dead money.
There’s a common belief that the 2025 Eagles missed the 2024 version of Becton, especially when it came to Philly’s ability to run the ball.
While there’s no doubt that Becton made some really nice plays as a run blocker during Philly’s Super Bowl LIX-winning season, it’s hardly like his replacement was a total liability. The perception is that Steen was worse as a run blocker but better in pass protection. But here’s what the Pro Football Focus grading (grain of salt) looks like:
- 2025 Tyler Steen: 16th overall out of 85 guards … 15th in run blocking, 9th in pass blocking
- 2024 Mekhi Becton: 20th overall out of 79 guards … 22nd in run blocking, t-51st in pass blocking
I don’t get the sense that the Eagles are itching to replace Steen — who is now eligible for an extension as he enters the final year of his rookie contract — with Becton.
Big Blue View
With Harbaugh as coach, will the Giants look to poach players from the Baltimore Ravens in free agency?
TE Isaiah Likely
Likely would be an excellent addition to the Giants, and would make a nice 1A to Theo Johnson. Likely took a backseat role to Mark Andrews over his rookie contract. He still earned 487 total offensive snaps in 2025, due to Todd Monken’s penchant for 12 personnel — Baltimore ran it more than any other personnel package at a 37% rate.
Likely caught 27 of 34 targets for 307 yards with just one touchdown, but he broke out last year in Monken’s explosive, No. 1-ranked 2024 offense. Likely caught 49 of 65 passes for 603 yards with seven touchdowns. Monken’s 12 personnel was dangerous, and Likely acted as a mismatch weapon for the offense. New York could use another tight end, especially if Daniel Bellinger or Chris Manhertz leaves the team.
The 6-foot-4, 241-pound four-year veteran would give Jaxson Dart a potent 12 personnel passing attack with blocking upside. Spotrac.com lists Likely’s market value at $ 9 million per year. This would put Likely in the Hunter Henry ($9 million) and Dawson Knox ($9.83 million) range.
TE Charlie Kolar
Another tight end option that will be cheaper than Likely, who worked with Harbaugh and Monken. The 26-year-old caught 10 of 13 passes for 142 yards with a pair of touchdowns in 2025. He has secured 31 of 40 passes for 413 yards with four touchdowns in his career. At Iowa State, with Brock Purdy, Kolar was a seam threat who caught 63 of 95 targets for 764 yards with six touchdowns. He finished his four-year college career with 23 total touchdowns.
There is more to Kolar’s receiving profile than we’ve seen in the NFL, due to him sharing a depth chart with Andrews and Likely. Kolar was a solid blocker in 2025, and he offered flexibility to the Ravens’ 13 personnel package. Kolar is a cheaper option, who could prove to be at a discount.
Big Blue View
Giant issues with 2026 free agency & salary cap?
M2-0 Buscemi asks: I know Harbaugh has interest in some of his Raven players that he would bring to the Giants two are center Lindenbaum and safety Gilman.
I don’t think the Giants have this kind of cap money to sign these players. So what magic is he going to use? He might have to go to a plan. B.
Ed says: Let’s not obsess over the salary cap situation right now. It is true that the Giants have only $1.8 million in space on an estimated $295.5 million cap for 2026, per Over the Cap. That, though, is highly misleading.
There are 12 teams — yes, 12 — in worse shape than the Giants. Those 12 teams are all in the red right now and will have to make moves to simply get under the cap.
Between now and the start of free agency in March, John Harbaugh and GM Joe Schoen will be assessing the roster and a number of moves that will free up cap space will be made.
An easy one is cutting placekicker Graham Gano ($4.5 million in savings). James Hudson ($5.38 in savings) is another easy one. Bobby Okereke ($9 million in savings), Jon Runyan ($9.25 million in savings), and Devin Singletary ($5.25 million in savings) are obvious cut candidates. That’s more than $30 million in savings, and there are other moves that could be made.
A big one? What if the Giants decide to trade Kayvon Thibodeaux? That’s $14.75 million in cap savings if they do it before June 1.
Just let the offseason play out. The Giants will make the moves they need to make to chase the players they want to try and bring in.
NFL league links
Articles
ESPN
Steelers to hire coach Mike McCarthy: Answering 6 questions
Why did the Steelers choose Mike McCarthy as their next coach, and how much did his Pittsburgh background play into the decision?
Days after Tomlin walked away on Jan. 13 as the Steelers’ head coach, team president Art Rooney II said he wanted to compete from “day one.” He also said he didn’t like the word “rebuild.” In hiring McCarthy over younger, less proven candidates, Rooney emphasized his desire to win now with the league’s third-oldest active head coach (behind Kansas City’s Andy Reid and New York Giants’ John Harbaugh).
None of the Steelers’ previous three head coaches had any NFL head coaching experience, while McCarthy has 310 games of prior NFL head coaching experience. He also has the sixth-most wins (185) among all NFL coaches of the past 20 seasons. Tomlin finished his Steelers’ career with 201 wins, including playoffs.
Rooney’s urgency comes on the heels of another Steelers season ending with a one-and-done playoff appearance, this time a 30-6 blowout loss to the Houston Texans in the team’s first home playoff game since the 2020 season. The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season.
McCarthy is 11-11 in playoff games, last winning the wild-card game with the Cowboys against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the 2022 season. But he has also had 11 10-win seasons since he first became a head coach in 2006, tied for fourth most by a head coach in that span.
A native of the Greenfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh, McCarthy understands the Steelers’ blue-collar culture better than most. Hiring McCarthy, a veteran coach who has intimate knowledge of the city and of the tradition of the teams, allows the Steelers to remain true to their old-school roots in a way that could’ve been challenged by a young up-and-coming candidate.
Not only does McCarthy have a familiarity with the city, but general manager Omar Khan knows McCarthy from New Orleans. McCarthy served as the New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator from 2000-04, and Khan, who joined the Saints first as an intern in 1997, worked closely with McCarthy when he came on board.
What’s the buzz around the league on the Steelers’ decision?
“I thought the team would chart a new course with an assertive young coach they could build something with,” an industry source said Saturday. “McCarthy’s a good coach, but this isn’t an inspired hire.” — Fowler
How would you grade the hire?
C. It’s hard to get excited about McCarthy’s third stint as an NFL head coach, especially when we consider just where he failed at the previous two stops. McCarthy made three straight playoff appearances in Dallas over five seasons, but he never made it beyond the divisional round — and that was with an excellent quarterback in Dak Prescott. In Green Bay, where McCarthy was the coach for 13 seasons, he won one Super Bowl (2010) and didn’t make it back over the next eight years. He was fired in large part because of the offense growing stale and a lack of postseason success despite elite QB play — the prime of Rodgers.
So why should Pittsburgh fans reasonably expect McCarthy to cure their playoffs one-and-done woes of the Tomlin era, especially when he is facing a quarterback problem he has never before had to endure? — Solak
The Athletic (paywall)
Steelers’ McCarthy hire has everything to do with a QB, but not the one you’re thinking of
Inevitably, many will connect the head coach to his former quarterback and wonder: When will the other shoe drop? League sources emphasized to The Athletic — on two separate occasions over the last week — that the Steelers were not considering McCarthy as a way to entice Rodgers to return for a second season. At the same time, countless players and several others inside the organization would welcome the quarterback’s return. Rodgers, who was non-committal on his future after the playoffs, at least left the door open for 2026 a few weeks earlier.
“Obviously, I’m 42 years old, and I’m on a one-year deal, so you know what the situation is,” Rodgers said ahead of the regular-season finale. “Whenever the season ends, I’ll be a free agent, so that will give me a lot of options, if I still want to play … I mean, not a lot of options, but there’ll be options, I would think maybe one or two if I decide I still want to play.”
If it’s possible, let’s forget about Rodgers for a second. Yes, this is a hire that has everything to do with a quarterback. But, no, it’s not the one everyone is thinking about.
By hiring McCarthy, the Steelers are taking a calculated risk that an experienced offensive mind who has worked closely with some of the game’s great QBs can identify and develop the next franchise quarterback to get them out of their current cycle of veteran Band-Aids. That’s really what this is about; ultimately, McCarthy’s tenure in Pittsburgh will and should be judged based on that one point alone.
It’s a gamble, and the Steelers parted with tradition to make it happen. When you ask, Why do the Steelers do something a certain way? The answer is typically: Because they always have. No place is that more true than at head coach. Traditionally, the Steelers have favored young, defensive-minded head coaches who have provided stability and continuity for decades. Noll was 37 when he was hired. Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin were 34.
You could argue the Steelers could have — or should have — gone down the same path with a young offensive coach. Maybe Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak or his brother, 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, would have been the right mix of youth and offensive acumen. Or maybe you feel they should have taken a bigger chance on youth and upside by bringing in Rams passing game coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase, who is just 35.
But this is the barstool the Steelers chose. It’s up to the NFL’s third-oldest head coach to find and develop the quarterback to stabilize the franchise — and fast; closing time can’t be far off.
The updated NFL head coach landscape:
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 24, 2026
NFL.com
Remaining coaching searches likely to heat up following Championship Sunday’s results
Following Championship Sunday’s games, several teams currently without a head coach will know if they can proceed down the back stretch of their coaching searches and decide who to hire.
The Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers are currently permitted to speak with assistant coaches from the teams playing on Sunday – New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks.
The Buffalo Bills, who fired Sean McDermott on Monday, are only permitted to talk with candidates whose seasons have already ended because of when they began their coaching search. Next week, the Bills will be able to talk with candidates from teams whose seasons end on Sunday, but Buffalo will have to wait until after Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8 to interview a candidate on a team who advances.
NFL Draft
Blogging the Boys
Our scouting report on Ohio State safety, Caleb Downs
THE FIT
Downs pretty much fits anywhere, but he’s best in a defense that lets him move around as a deep safety on one snap, slot or box the next. This way he can use his instincts, range, and tackling to erase mistakes. Put him in a split-safety or quarters-heavy scheme and he becomes the fixer who keeps big plays from happening while also creating turnovers.
SUMMARY
Downs is the kind of safety an NFL team can build around because he does a little bit of everything at a high level. He can play deep in the middle of the field and keep big plays from happening, but he can also move down closer to the line of scrimmage to help stop the run, cover tight ends, or blitz. What makes him special is how quickly he reads plays. He sees what the offense is trying to do, takes good angles to the ball, and usually arrives under control to finish tackles. He also communicates well, which matters because safeties often help line up the defense before the snap.
He’s not perfect. Because he’s aggressive and always around the ball, he can occasionally take a slightly risky angle or try to make the highlight play instead of the simple one. And while he’s physical, he isn’t a massive, old-school strong safety who lives in the box and just hits people all day. His best value is being moved around so he can use his speed and instincts. Overall, he looks like a day-one starter who can play in any system and make the whole defense more organized, faster, and harder to throw on.
COMPARISON
Eric Berry
BTB OVERALL GRADE
1st
CONSENSUS OVERALL RANKING
3rd
(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)
Riggo’s Rag
Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love Scouting Report
Jeremiyah Love NFL Player Comparison: Breece Hall
Love has the top end speed of a guy like Jahmyr Gibbs, but he’s also 20 pounds heavier, which leads us to Breece Hall. Both players can win with burst, vision, and receiving ability, and can then attack downhill in short-yardage spots.
Jeremiyah Love NFL Draft Grade: Top-15 Selection
You have to be a special back to hear your name called in the top 10, and Love fits comfortably in the Bijan Robinson, Saqtop-threeuon Barkley conversation for me. Personally, he’s a top three player in the class on my board.
Teams looking for an offensive multiplier rather than just a volume runner will view Love as a premium asset, and you should expect to hear his name called early on night one in April. He has the size and athletic traits to become one of football’s most explosive playmakers.
aBit o’Twitter
The conference championship round of the playoffs is here and there are two games on today’s schedule. The Broncos hosted the Patriots for the AFC Championship. Now it’s time to watch the Los Angeles Rams visiting the Seattle Seahawks for their third matchup this season. The series is even and the Seahawks are home favorites against their bitter rivals. Matthew Stafford is expected to win MVP this season, and will need and MVP-like performance to overcome the Dark Side in their house. Sam Darnold is looking to start in his first Super Bowl, and lead the Seahawks back to the big game for the first time since 2015.
Who: Los Angeles Rams (14-5) at Seattle Seahawks (15-3)
Where: Lumen Field | Seattle, WA
When: Sunday, January 25th, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
- Fewer ads
- Create community posts
- Comment on articles, community posts
- Rec comments, community posts
- New, improved notifications system!
TV: FOX
Kevin Burkhardt (play-by-play)
Tom Brady (analyst)
Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi (sideline)
Sirius XM NFL
Los Angeles: XM/SXM 226, Internet 818
Seattle: XM/SXM 228, Internet 828
National: 88
Español: 227. Internet 832
Online Stream: Fubo.TV, NFL+, Sling TV
FanDuel Sportsbook odds: Seahawks -2.5, 45.5 O/U
Los Angeles: +118
Seattle: -138
Prediction: Seahawks 28 – Rams 24
SB Nation Blogs: Turf Show Times | Field Gulls
Hogs Haven Media Information
Podcasts: Apple Podcasts | Pandora | Spotify | Podbean | iHeartRadio
Facebook Page: Click here to like our page
Twitter: Follow @HogsHaven
Instagram: Follow @Hogs_Haven
Threads: Follow @hogs_haven
Blue Sky: Follow Hogs Haven
Manager: Scott Jennings: Follow @ScottJenningsHH
Buy Washington gear at the Hogs Haven Fanshop
NFL News twitter feed
Washington Commanders twitter feed
Commanders links
Articles
Bullock’s Film Room
State of the Roster: Commanders Offense
Running back
Analysis: With only one running back currently under contract for 2026, running back can’t be lower than a medium level need and most would probably argue it’s a high priority on the offensive side of the ball. My opinion on the running back spot is probably not going to be overly popular. I would be totally fine re-signing Chris Rodriguez and Jeremy McNichols, maybe adding a late round rookie or undrafted free agent and then rolling it back with the same crew as 2025.
It certainly wasn’t a spectacular group, but it was a very solid one that found a clear set of roles for everyone involved. Chris Rodriguez became the workhorse back, averaging a healthy 4.5 yards per carry. Jacory Croskey-Merritt provided an explosive change of pace option, as seen by his 72-yard touchdown run against the Cowboys late in the season. Jeremy McNichols played a valuable role as the third down back with excellent pass protection skills and the ability to pick up the occasional first down as a checkdown option out of the backfield.
Many fans feel like they need an upgrade and they certainly could look to upgrade from the likes of Rodriguez and McNichols. Adding a more explosive workhorse back could take the running game to the next level, while adding a more dynamic receiving option out of the backfield could really boost the passing game. There’s some intriguing options set to hit free agency too with the likes of Kenneth Walker and Breece Hall scheduled to be free agents. Everyone is linking the Commanders to Buccaneers running back Rachaad White, who played with Jayden Daniels in college at Arizona State.
At production per dollar cost, Croskey-Merritt is massively better value than any of those 2024 free agents and likely will be the same compared to what the 2026 free agents will get. Again, this isn’t to say the Commanders shouldn’t and couldn’t go get one of those free agent backs. Walker would add a strong, well-rounded workhorse back that rarely fumbles. Croskey-Merritt had three fumbles in his rookie year alone, Walker has two in his four-year NFL career to date. Hall would add a dynamic receiving option out of the backfield, while Croskey-Merritt had just nine catches this year. So there’s some merit in looking at those options.
But my feeling on running back is that having a running back room like Croskey-Merritt, Rodriguez and McNichols is totally fine for most teams. I don’t agree with the conventional thinking that running backs don’t matter, they do. But I think they matter more as a final piece of the puzzle.
A to Z Sports
The Commanders lose their director of college scouting, Tim Gribble
The Commanders are hitting an important time of the offseason where they’re building their big board of draft prospects and narrowing down the players that would fit the team the best. Tim Gribble has been the director of college scouting in Washington over the last five years, but with the team’s scouting department for 24 years, and he’s headed to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A team’s director of college scouting is responsible for many roles, such as helping build the big board, overseeing area and national scouts, and directing scouting for the All-Star games and the NFL Combine. This is an important role that needs to be filled by the Commanders very soon, especially with the Senior Bowl starting on Monday.
The Commanders have to nail their 2026 NFL Draft selections
The Commanders only have six picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, and knowing who to pick and which prospects fit the team better is an important part of the process. Having a fresh face in Washington could help bring newer techniques and thoughts from the outside, especially after someone has been in the building for 24 years. General manager Adam Peters works very closely with the scouting team, so he will very likely have a strong say in who he brings in. Peters is a former scout himself, so it could likely be someone he’s worked with in the past, and he knows what to look for in his search.
Scouting is a year-long process, but gathering all of the information over the next few months and finalizing scouting reports will be a crucial time for the staff, which is now missing its director. The staff will work nonstop from now until all of the picks are in during the draft, just to start the process again for 2027. But for 2026, they can’t afford to miss on their picks and waste another season with younger players not making an impact.
Commanders Roundtable
Daronte Jones to DC? A profile of the Commanders defensive coordinator candidate
One thing you can say about Jones is that he is incredibly well-traveled. His experience ranges from high school coordinator to Division II assistant head coach, and from the Canadian Football League to the Big Ten. He has also spent time as a defensive backs coach for three NFL teams, including the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, and two separate stints with the Minnesota Vikings.
The appeal of Jones is that he is the right-hand man to one of the hottest defensive minds in the NFL, Brian Flores. Flores has been a hot name in the head coaching cycle, having been widely connected to the Pittsburgh Steelers job before they officially agreed to terms with Mike McCarthy yesterday.
Washington is hoping to import some of the aggressive magic that defined Minnesota’s defense this year. While the Commanders’ secondary was often a “green light” for opposing quarterbacks—ranking 28th in passing yards allowed and 31st in takeaways—Jones helped build a wall in Minnesota.
Another appealing factor is that Jones is a local product. Born in Capitol Heights, Maryland, he attended Bishop McNamara High School. After a season at Temple, he played cornerback for four seasons at Morgan State University. However, he did not pursue a professional playing career due to multiple injuries and evidence of nerve damage.
Commanders Wire
Anthony Lynn interviews for a second head coaching job
On Saturday, the Bills announced they had interviewed Lynn for their head coach opening. Then late Saturday, we learn[ed] that Lynn was interviewed a second time, and this time by…the Cleveland Browns. It was the first time Lynn had interviewed for the Browns. Incidentally, Lynn has coached previously for both the Bills and the Browns.
Lynn has served as Washington’s running backs coach and offensive running game coordinator for the past two seasons. He does have head coaching experience, having coached the Los Angeles Chargers from the top position for four seasons from 2017 through 2020.
Hogs Haven
Drafting Diamonds: Commanders’ Blueprint for the 2026 NFL Draft
Historically, NFL teams drafted primarily based on team need (1936–mid 1970s). A team lacking a quarterback or a left tackle simply picked the top player at that position, regardless of talent elsewhere. By the 1980s and 1990s, a Best Available Player (BPA) philosophy emerged, as scouting networks matured and teams realized elite athletes could transform franchises—even if they didn’t fill a current positional gap.
Today, the league increasingly favors a Best Fit (BF) strategy. This approach combines:
- Positional Value (PV) – How critical the position is to team success.
- Utilization Rate (UR) – Likely playing time based on scheme.
- Scheme Fit (SF) – Player’s natural style and skills compatibility.
- Advanced Metrics (AM) – College production, efficiency, and measurable projections.
- Age / Future Value (AF) – Longevity and upside.
- Contract & Cap (CC) – Rookie deals, salary cap flexibility.
- Prototype Factor (PF) – Physical traits relative to NFL ideal for the position.
- Eligibility (E) – Whether the team actually needs or can realistically draft the player.
- Medical Risk Factor (MR) – Durability concerns.
Podcasts & videos
IMMINENT: Will the Washington Commanders Secure Raheem Morris or Karl Scott After NFC Fallout?
NFC East links
Big Blue View
NY Giants news: John Harbaugh hires defensive, special teams coordinators
The New York Giants filled two of their three coordinator positions on Sunday. The Giants are hiring Dennard Wilson as defensive coordinator, according to a published report. They are also hiring Chris Horton as their special teams coordinator.
Big Blue View was able to confirm both hirings.
Wilson, 43, worked for head coach John Harbaugh as defensive backs coach with the Baltimore Ravens in 2024. He interviewed for the Giants’ defensive coordinator position in 2023, but chose to take that role with the Tennessee Titans. He was let go when Tennessee hired Robert Saleh as its head coach recently.
Horton, 43, was a defensive back for Washington from 2008-2010. He was with the Giants during the 2012 preseason, but did not make the 53-man roster.
More importantly, Horton has worked for Harbaugh since 2014. He was hired as assistant special teams coordinator and became coordinator in 2019.
According to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, several other assistant coaches will be moving from Baltimore to New York.
Bleeding Green Nation
Eagles reportedly denied permission to interview Cowboys offensive coordinator
The Philadelphia Eagles were denied permission to interview Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams for their OC opening, according to a report from NFL insider Jeremy Fowler.
The Eagles must have thought the Cowboys might allow Adams to interview since he’s not the primary play-caller for Dallas; head coach Brian Schottenheimer holds that role. But Dallas is within their rights to block their division rival from poaching Adams. Of course, Adams is now aware that the Cowboys denied him a path to a promotion.
The Eagles’ interest in Adams should come as no surprise; the Cowboys ranked second in yards and seventh in points in 2025. Their struggles were more related to their abysmal defense, which former Eagles assistant Christian Parker is now tasked with fixing as the new Dallas defensive coordinator.
NFL league links
Articles
ESPN
Broncos’ Sean Payton regrets 4th-down call in loss to Patriots
Payton said he will find several “regrets” when he looks at it all again, most notably when he passed up points in the second quarter, as the Broncos dropped passes and the run game fizzled in a 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game in Empower Field at Mile High.
Payton said he will “always” have second thoughts about a decision to go for a fourth-and-1 conversion with 9 minutes, 28 seconds left in the second quarter, especially after the snow arrived at halftime and only increased in intensity as the game progressed.
The Broncos led 7-0 and the Patriots at that point had not had a drive go longer than 11 yards. Payton elected to go for it from the Patriots’ 14-yard line and said initially he had called for a run play.
But the Broncos took a timeout, and during the pause, Payton said, he changed the call to a pass play that put Stidham in a bootleg.
“I just felt like, man, we had momentum, to get up 14 [points], felt like we had a good call,” Payton said. “I think the feeling was, man, let’s be aggressive. You know, to get up 14, I was just watching the way our defense was playing.”
After the snap, Patriots defensive tackles Cory Durden and Milton Williams were almost immediately in the Broncos’ backfield, and that rushed Stidham’s throw, his pass falling incomplete.
NFL.com
Sean McVay ‘pretty numb’ following Rams’ NFC title game loss to Seahawks: ‘We had our chances’
Two end zone incompletions caused by Seahawks pass breakups ended the Rams’ best remaining chance of taking the lead, rendering a 14-play, 79-yard drive fruitless. Minutes later, with their Super Bowl hopes on the line, former Rams great Cooper Kupp made the most important play of the final quarter, catching a pass and extending the ball just enough to clear the line to gain for a fresh set of downs and allowing the Seahawks to drain precious minutes from the clock.
By the time the Rams regained possession, 25 seconds remained. On the third and final play of that doomed drive, Puka Nacua made an excellent grab. As he fell toward the sideline, his shin touched the turf in bounds, allowing the clock to expire and crown Seattle as NFC champions following a 31-27 victory.
Inches. That was the difference between McVay’s squad seeing their magical journey continue in Santa Clara, California, or concluding Sunday night.
Pro Football Talk
Patriots are first team in NFL history to go 9-0 on the road
The Patriots’ AFC Championship Game victory in Denver was their ninth win in nine road games. That’s unprecedented in NFL history.
Prior to this season’s Patriots, no team in NFL history had ever gone 9-0 on the road. The Patriots went 8-0 on the road in the regular season and then added a win in their only road playoff game on Sunday.
Three other teams have won nine road games: The 2007 Giants actually won 10 road games, and the 2020 Buccaneers and 2005 Steelers each won nine. But those teams all lost games on the road, too. The Patriots are the first team ever to play at least nine games on the road, and win them all.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft gave head coach Mike Vrabel a game ball in the locker room after Sunday’s win over the Broncos and pointed to that achievement as the reason.
Super Bowl
Front Office Sports
The Seahawks and Patriots will meet in Super Bowl LX, with both franchises in rather different situations than when they met 11 years ago
Seattle clinched the NFC championship late Sunday, beating the Rams 31–27 at Lumen Field. The Seahawks will face the Patriots in the Super Bowl on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium, after New England secured the AFC title earlier Sunday, beating the Broncos 10–7 in snowy Denver.
The upcoming Seattle-New England clash will be a revival of Super Bowl XLIX in February 2015, won by the Patriots 28–24. That game, played in the height of the Tom Brady era against Seattle’s famed Legion of Boom defense, is most famously known for then-Seahawks coach Pete Carroll electing to pass in a short-yard situation with a chance to win a second-straight title. Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler, however, intercepted a throw from Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson to seal the victory for New England.
There is plenty of history, meanwhile, involved in the upcoming game as first-year Patriots head coach and former star linebacker Mike Vrabel is attempting to become the person to win a Super Bowl with a single franchise as both a player and a head coach. New England also clinched its 12th Super Bowl appearance, extending its record for the most of any NFL team. A seventh victory for the Patriots would break a tie with the Steelers for the most Super Bowl wins.
The coast-to-coast spread of the two competing teams, meanwhile, gives a further boost to NBC as it looks to challenge, if not surpass, the U.S. television viewership record of an average of 127.7 million viewers set last year for Super Bowl LIX on Fox.
aBit o’Twitter
Seahawks players calling out Tariq Woolen on the sidelines after getting cooked on a TD, and a taunting penalty.
Nick Emmanwori didn’t like it one bitpic.twitter.com/cqOw2SzNzo
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) January 26, 2026#Patriots DT Milton Williams on the message Mike Vrabel gave to the locker room:
“He said no curfew tonight. But the bus leaving at 8 in the morning, so if you ain’t on it, you ain’t playing in the Bowl.”
(@NicoleMenner)
pic.twitter.com/wYWPjnYhnW https://t.co/AiKuWxt5Wa
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 26, 2026
We had two big games for the conference championship games, and we now know who’s going to play in Super Bowl LX. The Seattle Seahawks will be facing the New England Patriots in a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX.
The Patriots punched their ticket to the big game by defeating the Denver Broncos in their house. The Broncos were starting backup QB Jarrett Stidham after Bo Nix’s late game injury the previous week. The game was close and then the weather came in the 3rd quarter and the field turned into a snow globe. Drake Maye was an MVP candidate during the season, and he’ll need to play like that again in two weeks against a top defense.
The Seattle Seahawks took care of their division rivals, the Los Angeles Rams, and got to celebrate the NFC Championship in front of their fans. This was a back and forth game as expected, but the Seahawks came out on top, stopping the Rams short on the final drive of the game. The Seahawks have been the favorites to win the Super Bowl since the start of the playoffs, and that hasn’t changed as the matchup is officially set.
Super Bowl LX: February 8th
Seattle Seahawks (1) vs New England Patriots (2)
Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC, Peacock, Telemundo
FanDuel odds: Seahawks -4.5, 46.5 O/U
Seattle -230
New England +190
Daronte Jones interviewed today
The Washington Commanders haven’t hired a new defensive coordinator, and continue to add new names to their interview list. The latest is Minnesota Vikings passing game coordinator Daronte Jones. He has never been a defensive coordinator in the NFL, but was for LSU for one season in 2021. The Commanders are reportedly looking to hire a coach with play-calling experience, but have added a few coaches who don’t have that experience in the NFL.
Jonathan Gannon takes the Packers DC job
Anthony Lynn gets another head coach interview
Teryl Austin interviewed
The Washington Commanders reportedly prefer to hire a coach with play calling experience as their next defensive coordinator and they’ve added a new name to the list. The Steelers are searching for a new head coach after Mike Tomlin stepped down. His defensive coordinator Teryl Austin has interviewed to be Washington’s next DC.
Al Harris, next man up?
The Washington Commanders are interviewing Bears secondary coach Al Harris, who had the same role under Dan Quinn when they were with the Dallas Cowboys two years ago. Dallas blocked Quinn’s attempt to add Harris to his coaching staff in Washington. If Harris is hired, he would replace Joe Whitt Jr, who he worked with in Dallas.
Brian Flores signs extension to stay with Vikings as DC; only leaving for HC job
The Washington Commanders were the only team that Vikings DC Brian Flores interviewed with for a defensive coordinator position. He has been focused on becoming a head coach again, and he’s only going to leave Minnesota if he gets that opportunity. Flores’s contract was up after this season, but he’s signed an extension, taking him off the DC market.
Anthony Lynn gets a head coaching interview
Anthony Lynn hasn’t been a head coach since 2020 when he was fired by the Los Angeles Chargers after four seasons, but has his first interview opportunity with the Buffalo Bills. He was hired by the Washington Commanders as their run game coordinator. Lynn was part of Dan Quinn’s new coaching staff, and he brought a lot of experience as a former player, running backs coach, offensive coordinator, and his two stints as a head coach.
The Bills gave him his first taste of being a head coach, but it was on an interim basis after Rex Ryan was fired. He was a finalist to keep the job that eventually went to recently-fired Sean McDermott, and now gets another chance to get the gig full-time. Lynn was not interviewed for the Commanders OC job which went to assistant QB coach David Blough.
Darnell Stapleton and Shane Toub promoted
The Commanders fired OL coach Bobby Johnson on the same day they parted ways with former offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and are now promoting Johnson’s assistant OL coach to his old job. Darnell Stapleton is the Commanders new OL coach, and offensive quality control coach Shane Toub will be his new assistant.
Danny Etling hired as assistant QB coach
The Washington Commanders have hired their third new coach on offense, adding former NFL QB Danny Etling as assistant QB coach. He will work under new offensive coordinator David Blough and QB coach D.J. Williams. Blough was given the promotion from assistant QB to OC after Kliff Kingsbury’s departure earlier this month. Etling never played in a regular season NFL game, and spent the last two seasons in the UFL with the Michigan Panthers. This will be his first coaching job after retiring from playing football. Etling and Blough were teammates in college at Purdue.
D.J. Williams hired as QB Coach to replace Tavita Pritchard and to work under David Blough
The Commanders front office has been searching for a QB coach ever since announcing David Blough’s promotion last week. Today Adam Schefter and others reported the hiring of D.J. Williams, son of Washington legend Doug Williams, for the role.
After 2 years of entry level work in with the Saints, Williams joined the NFL coaching ranks as an offensive assistant for New Orleans in 2019. Williams was hired as the assistant quarterbacks coach for the Falcons in 2024, and promoted to quarterbacks coach in 2025. The Atlanta staff is in flux following the firing of head coach Raheem Morris, and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is seen as an attractive candidate for a number of teams trying to replace defensive coordinators, including the Commanders.
D.J. is the first new coach to join David Blough’s staff. The Commanders also interviewed Mike Bercovici, the Panthers assistant quarterback coach, for the position.
Brian Flores interviewing today
The Washington Commanders were hoping to interview Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator, and that is happening today. His contract is expiring, but Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has already said he’d like him back if he doesn’t get an opportunity to be a head coach again during this hiring cycle. The Commanders could use someone of Flores’s coaching pedigree, but he is in high demand, and a lot of people expect him to stay in Minnesota.
Washington interviews Seahawks DB coach/pass game coordinator Karl Scott
The Washington Commanders added another name to their defensive coordinator search list today. ESPN’s John Keim reports they have interviewed Seattle Seahawks DBs coach/pass game coordinator Karl Scott for the position formerly held by Joe Whitt Jr. He has been coaching since 2007, but didn’t get a job in the NFL until 2021 as a DBs coach with the Minnesota Vikings.
Scott has been with the Seahawks since 2022, and is highly-regarded around the league. The Seahawks have one of the top defenses in the league, and have several players Washington could be interested in adding in free agency this year. Scott is also the only known candidate who doesn’t have past experience as a DC.
Former Cardinals HC/Eagles DC Jonathan Gannon scheduled for DC interview
Dennard Wilson interviewed for DC job
Dennard Wilson is a veteran NFL coach who was the defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans the last two seasons. He is the latest name added to the Washington Commanders interview list for their open defensive coordinator position.
Wilson, 43, is a Hyatteville, MD native went to DeMatha High School and played at Maryland. His only season in the NFL was with the Washington Redskins in 2004, playing safety on the practice squad. Wilson entered coaching after an injury ended his first season, going back to DeMatha as their passing game coordinator & DBs coach. He spent two years as a graduate assistant at Maryland before getting his first opportunity to coach in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams as a defensive quality control coach. Wilson spent time with the Jets, Eagles, and Ravens, before getting his first coordinator job with the Titans in 2024.
Joe Cullen interviewed for DC job
Mike Garafolo reports that Chiefs DL coach Joe Cullen has interviewed with Washington as the replacement for fired defensive coordinator Joe Whitt. This is the first time Cullen’s name has been mentioned nationally this cycle. Back in 2024, prior to Super Bowl LVIII, Kansas City quietly inked him to a contract extension.
Cullen, 58, entered the NFL as a defensive assistant in 2006 with the Lions. He returned to the college ranks in 2009 before the Jaguars hired him as their defensive line coach a year later. He also was the defensive line coach for the Browns (2013), Bucs (2014-15), Ravens (2016-20) and joined the Chiefs in that role in 2022. In 2021, Cullen was the defensive coordinator of the Jaguars.
It would seem that his most obvious link to the Commanders decision-makers may have come from his 3-year stint (’06-‘08) as the Lions defensive line coach when Asst GM Lance Newmark was in Detroit, but relationships in the NFL often run deep.
Original story
The Washington Commanders moved on from offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., and offensive line coach Bobby Johnson yesterday. There are more changes expected with two new coordinators set to be hired. Kingsbury was expected to get head coaching consideration, despite the Commanders 5-12 season, but conflicts about offensive scheme reportedly led Washington to let him go shortly after the season ended.
There was more news from Washington yesterday, with Commanders assistant QB coach David Blough reportedly getting an interview with his former team, the Detroit Lions, for their newly-vacated offensive coordinator job. Johnny Morton was fired after one season of not being able to live up to the legend of Ben Johnson.
Blough was seen as a young, upcoming coach who was being groomed to take over OC when Kingsbury left for a bigger opportunity. QB coach Tavita Pritchard left Washington late last year for the head coaching position at his alma mater, Stanford, and Blough took on a lot of his responsibilities, along with Brian Johnson. Blough, along with other coaches that were seen as Kingsbury guys could also exit after yesterday’s news.
Follow along here for update from Washington’s search, and from other searches around the league. Seven head coaches have already been fired, and a few of them could be candidates for Washington’s coordinator openings.
Washington Commanders Rumors
NFL Coaching Rumors
Kliff Kingsbury HC interviews
Raheem Morris
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Washington Commanders fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Today, we have just one in the Reacts survey. It has to do with the recent reported hiring of defensive coordinator Daronte Jones from the Vikings.
The question
In today’s only question, we ask how you feel about the decision to hire new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones.
If you’re anything like me, then before last week, you’d never heard his name, and as recently as Sunday, you knew nothing about him except that he coached for the Vikings.
If you’d like to educate yourself before answering today’s survey question, then of course, Google can be your friend; nearly every sports blog and news outlet that covers the Commanders has rushed to post articles about Jones in the past day. However, if you want an efficient way to learn a lot about coach Jones in a (relatively) short time, then I will recommend two or three sources.
Source 1: the X’s & O’s – Mark Bullock Film Review
On Tuesday, Mark Bullock published a deep dive on the defensive schemes Jones will likely bring to Washington.
CLICK HERE to read Bullock’s article
(If you don’t have a subscription to Bullock’s Film Room — and I suggest that every Commanders fan should have one — you can make use of a 7-day free trial to read this article and full and then access every article ever published on the site…or as much as you can consume in a week, anyway)
Here’s a very brief excerpt from Bullock’s review of Daronte Jones and the Vikings defensive scheme:
Source 2: NFL Spotlight with Ali Meirov – Daronte Jones, the coach and communicator
For less focus on scheme and more about who Daronte Jones is as a man and a coach, I don’t think you can do better than Meirov’s 23-minute NFL Spotlight interview from the Spring of 2024.
Firstly, if you’re not familiar with Ali Meirov’s work, you’re missing out. He manages to give off a “podcasting from my mom’s basement” vibe while delivering fantastic national coverage of the NFL that is superior to what you get from ‘insiders’ and most big networks with massive resources. His NFL Spotlight series is a fantastic example of a guy who has created his own space in NFL reporting by using a microphone, a camera and the ugliest headphones imaginable to generate consistently superior content, delivered for free via youtube.
If you don’t have the 23 minutes needed to watch this enlightening interview at normal speed, then let me highlight three ‘snapshots’ that I mentally came away with from watching it.
#1 – Jones didn’t want or expect to become a coach
In the interview, Jones explains that he suffered nerve damage while playing football in college and was told by doctors that his football-playing days were over. His college coaches invited him to stay involved with the team, and so he helped at practice and sat in the booth with coaches during the game. That’s what set him onto the path of coaching.
#2 – Jones wasn’t really aiming to become an NFL coach
While talking with Meirov, Jones tells the story of being invited by Vance Joseph to join an NFL staff, but rejecting the offer because he (Jones) wanted to be involved in player recruiting and didn’t think he would get the same relationships with players in the NFL as he would in college. After getting a taste of recruiting and finding out that it wasn’t what he expected it to be, he accepted the offer to coach in the NFL and, once he got there, found that the relationships with players are much deeper than he’d ever expected.
#3 – Jones uses movie references to help communicate teaching points
Jones said that he is a movie buff, and that he finds that discussing movies helps him connect with players. He said that he often reinforces a coaching point by connecting it to a character or scene from a movie, which not only helps players better understand the point, but also helps them to more easily recall the teaching point later.
Anyway, today’s question offers a 0-5 scale for rating how you feel about Dan Quinn’s decision to hire Daronte Jones.
I’ll be keen to read the reasons for your answer to the question in the comments.
If you are interested, in a podcast yesterday, John Keim spent some time detailing his thoughts and some insights into how Dan Quinn and the Commanders arrived at the decision to hire Jones. I found some of the comments he garnered from sources on other teams who were contacted for information about Daronte Jones to be particularly enlightening:
Comments & Results
Of course, we invite you to answer the survey question below, but also feel free to expand on your answer and provide nuance in the comments section. While you are certainly free to share which choice you made on the survey question, the most interesting comments will explain why you answered the way you did. I rely on those comments when discussing the results of the survey when they are posted in a separate article the next few days.
POLL QUESTIONS
Commanders links
Articles
Commanders.com
2025 Commanders position review | Wide receiver
Who else can stretch the field? [Terry] McLaurin and [Noah] Brown’s absences left the Commanders without a player who could routinely stretch the field and make explosive plays in the passing game. While McLaurin is here to stay for the foreseeable future, Brown is also set to be a free agent after missing most of the season.
Like finding a No. 2 receiver, the Commanders have multiple options in either free agency or the draft, but they could also look at their current players available on the roster. Burks, who the team signed during the season, showed flashes of the talent that convinced the Tennessee Titans to draft him in the first round back in 2022. Burks would also need to be re-signed, although the coaching staff has routinely praised him for his work ethic and skill set.
Last Man Standig (subscription/paywall)
Washington Post (paywall)
Daronte Jones, a key assistant under coordinator Brian Flores with the Minnesota Vikings, is in line to replace Joe Whitt Jr.
Washington landed on Jones, who interviewed Sunday. He impressed during his meeting with the team, the person familiar with the matter said, and pitched a vision and philosophy — centered on physicality, sound tackling and forcing takeaways — that meshed well with that of Coach Dan Quinn. Given his track record coaching defensive backs, Jones has experience that complements that of Quinn, who as a position coach worked with the defensive line.
The Vikings’ secondary didn’t make many plays on the ball in 2025, but they were sound in coverage. They allowed a completion rate of 62.4 percent (tied for seventh) and limited opponents to 6.8 yards per attempt (tied for 11th), according to TruMedia.
The Athletic (paywall)
Brian Flores assistant takes over as DC in DC
A Maryland native who played at Bishop McNamara High (in the Washington suburbs) and at Morgan State University, Jones will [possibly] be a first-time NFL play caller as he attempts to transform a Washington defense that has been a liability for much of the last two seasons. He takes over for Joe Whitt Jr., who was fired after two seasons of leading the Commanders’ defense, and inherits a group with numerous roster holes. Washington has more than 30 free agents across the roster and many positions that need upgrades in talent.
As Brian Flores’ No. 2 on defense, Jones helped coach a Vikings unit that ranked among the league’s top three in both total yards and passing yards allowed, as well as opponent red-zone efficiency, last season. Minnesota also gave up an average of only 19.6 points per game and allowed the fewest plays of 20 yards or more, at 38.
The Vikings’ secondary also played a significant role in their 14-3 run in 2024, when they led the league with 24 interceptions (at least one in every game) and 95 passes defended, and had the fourth-best total defensive EPA per game (5.76). Minnesota’s defensive backs accounted for 18 interceptions.
BREAKING: Commanders are hiring Daronte Jones as their new Defensive Coordinator.
The focus? Takeaways.
Under Jones (working with Brian Flores), the Vikings were:#1 in INTs (2024)
Dan Quinn wanted aggression and ball production. He got it. pic.twitter.com/r0IwfHUAN6
— David Harrison (@DHarrison82) January 27, 2026
Jones was one of nine candidates to interview for the Commanders’ job, along with Vikings defensive coordinator Flores, Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen, new Packers defensive coordinator and former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Bears defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator Al Harris, Seahawks DBs coach Karl Scott, new Giants defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson and Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.
Commanders Roundtable
Analyzing Daronte Jones as Commanders new defensive coordinator
Viewed as the key assistant under Flores, along with experience coaching coaching under Mike Zimmer, Vance Joseph and Lou Anarumo, Jones’ units have put a premium on takeaways. See ball, get ball as Jones joked with Ari Meirov that defensive backs don’t get paid unless they’re touching the ball either by forced fumble or interception, but that’s also a theme to what his units have produced under his direction. In his four seasons with Minnesota, the Vikings amassed 73 interceptions while notching at least one takeaway in every game in 2025. Jones also had success on the college level after improving Hawaii’s pass defense by nearly 70 yards in 2012 and leading Wisconsin’s defense to a nation’s-best seven passing touchdowns allowed.
[W]hat the [Commanders] defense does to address both the cornerback and safety rooms is a question mark now for Jones to answer. While Ohio State safety Caleb Downs has blossomed into a popular pick in mock drafts for Washington, how Jones gets more out of third-year cornerback Mike Sainristil and second-year Trey Amos might be as intriguing given Jones’ pedigree as a teacher-coach.
While Jones’ lone season at LSU didn’t blossom into appealing defensive stats with the Tigers allowing over 375 yards per game during a lame duck season under Ed Orgeron, his ability to develop was one that resonated quickly.
the bonus is that the hire marks a homecoming for Jones, a Maryland native who graduated from nearby Bishop McNamara before playing cornerback at Morgan State. This will mark his first job in the area since his days with the Bears, but it also will mark Jones first time calling plays in the NFL.
The optimism on defense is that a defensive-minded coach like Quinn will be able to help mold Jones ahead of 2026 while relinquishing play calling duties, but it might be Washington’s biggest question ahead of a make-or-break season in year three of the Dan Quinn era.
Commanders Roundtable
A Profile of the Commanders new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones
The Teacher-Coach
One thing you can say about Jones is that he is incredibly well-traveled. His experience ranges from high school coordinator to Division II assistant head coach, and from the Canadian Football League to the Big Ten. He has also spent time as a defensive backs coach for three NFL teams, including the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, and two separate stints with the Minnesota Vikings.
A Hot Commodity
Since returning to the Vikings in 2022 and moving into his current role in 2023, Jones had become a hot commodity. He interviewed with the New York Jets, New York Giants, and Green Bay Packers this offseason.
Jones’s coaching philosophy centers on being an effective teacher—meeting players where they are in terms of learning styles. This is rooted in the fact that he began his coaching tenure as a physical education teacher in Louisiana, at both Franklin and Jeanerette Senior High Schools.
In a 2021 interview, he shared how that background shapes his leadership:
“Some players learn best watching film, some players learn best in walkthroughs, some players actually have to do it several times to get it. So when you are installing a defense, you want to incorporate every type of learning style.”
Commanders Wire
7 things to know about new Commanders DC Daronte Jones
Jones slept in his car early in his coaching career
Every coach has their own journey. Some are fortunate enough to be born into it. Others are not. Jones didn’t play in the NFL. He didn’t have a famous father or uncle to help him land a top job in his early 30s. He scratched and clawed for every opportunity. He worked at small colleges and high schools before moving his way up and eventually landing in the NFL.
Jones told a story last year about sleeping in his car at one point during his coaching career. It was at this time that he asked himself if he really wanted this coaching life. He battled through it and continued to climb the ranks.
A to Z Sports
The Commanders’ chances of losing a top assistant coach, but earning two compensatory picks just went up
Running game coordinator Anthony Lynn has been a hot name this offseason, and he landed another head coaching interview in the AFC, which could be a big loss for the Commanders, but brings a reward as well.
Anthony Lynn interviews for the Cleveland Browns head coaching position
Lynn has already landed on the Buffalo Bills’ radar as a potential head coaching candidate, and now the Cleveland Browns also interviewed him for their own opening. The Browns do have a close connection to Lynn, with former Los Angeles Chargers general manager Tom Telesco working as a consultant for their search. Telesco was the general manager for the Chargers when Lynn worked as the head coach from 2017 to 2020.
The Browns have struck out on multiple head coaching candidates, and may elect to go the CEO head coach route with Lynn, and keep Jim Schwartz around as the defensive coordinator. It would be a big loss for the Commanders’ coaching staff, but it would also come with an instant reward that may be worth it.
The Commanders would be awarded two compensatory picks if Anthony Lynn is hired as a head coach
The Commanders’ coaching staff would be getting much younger on offense, but they would also be rewarded with two third-round picks — [one each in] the 2026 NFL Draft and the 2027 NFL Draft. The NFL’s Rooney Rule rewards two third-round picks to a team that loses a minority assistant coach to another team as a head coach hire.
This is obviously very notable considering the Commanders only have six picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, and only two in the top-75 of the draft without a second and fourth rounder. There are now two possible landing destinations for Lynn to leave as a head coach, so the chances are higher than ever, and it would be a blessing in disguise to be rewarded with those two picks.
NFL.com
Unsung heroes of 2025 NFL season: One overlooked/surprise contributor from each NFC team
Washington Commanders – Chris Rodriguez Jr. – RB · Year 3
The Commanders’ offense wasn’t pretty, and the ground game struggled for spells. But while rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt generated plenty of buzz, Rodriguez proved a stabilizing force when Washington turned to him down the stretch. Of his 500 yards and six TDs on 112 carries, 381 yards and five scores came on 85 attempts in the final seven games. The third-year back’s .03 rush EPA per carry ranked tied for fifth-best among all RBs with at least 100 totes (compared to Croskey-Merritt’s mark of -0.06). Rodrguez earned a 45.5% success rate on carries, with 29 missed tackles forced; he also averaged 3.46 yards after contact forced per carry. He might not profile as an every-down back, but Rodriguez proved valuable in 2025.
andscape.com
Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jalyn Holmes is stepping into Hollywood production
Holmes is a producer of Freelance, a new comedy screening at Sundance this week
While playing at Ohio State from 2014-17, he owned a camera from Canon’s Rebel series. He eventually upgraded to a Sony Alpha 7C after he was drafted in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings.
Five years later, while playing for the New York Jets, Holmes became aware of the NFL Career Tours, which offers professional development experience for NFL players in the entertainment industry. Through that program, Holmes teamed up with Hidden Empire Film Group, a Black-owned production company that produced the “Meet the Blacks”films starring comedian Mike Epps.
“I was able to really see the business side of everything, and also the creation process, and the different lanes that came with making the film — from the writing, from acting, directing, and producing and … the cinematographer or the director of photography,” Holmes said. “That’s when I learned all these different avenues.”
While playing for the Jets in 2023, he met the directing duo of Julien and Justen Turner.
The Turner brothers were working on what would become “Freelance,” a comedy about a young Black filmmaker who moves into a content creation house with a group of friends hoping to break into the entertainment industry. Holmes signed on as an associate producer, and the film will be screened at the Sundance Film Festival this week in Utah.
What are your responsibilities as an associate producer?
So what do you see as next for you after this film? What are your ultimate goals in this filmmaking entertainment space?
Podcasts & videos
Spotlight Guest: Vikings DB Coach Daronte Jones
HIRED: Washington Commanders Secure Daronte Jones And Why He BEAT OUT High Profile Candidates
Reaction to the expected hiring of new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones, details on my reporting about Daron Payne's 2026 status and @RealBramW joins.https://t.co/pVD5CY44Kw
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 27, 2026
NFC East links
Bleeding Green Nation
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Another Eagles offensive coordinator candidate is unavailable
I typed the following sentence in an article published about an hour ago from me writing this post you’re reading now:
Sure enough, yet another candidate has been eliminated from the running.
The Eagles will NOT be hiring Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle as their new play-caller. He has withdrawn his name from Philly’s search, according to a report from NFL insider Dianna Russini.
Charlie Weis Jr. will not be the Eagles’ new offensive coordinator
LSU offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. is the latest candidate to be out of the running. He told the Birds he’s going to remain on Lane Kiffin’s staff, according to a report from NFL insider Dianna Russini.
Another Eagles offensive coordinator candidate is off the board
The Philadelphia Eagles will not be hiring Miami Dolphins senior passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik as their new offensive coordinator.
Slowik is keeping his talents in South Beach to be the Dolphins’ play-calling offensive coordinator under new head coach Jeff Hafley, according to multiple reports. The two coaches previously overlapped on Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers coaching staff from 2017-2018.
Report: Eagles had interest in Arthur Smith before he took Ohio State offensive coordinator job
The Philadelphia Eagles had interest in former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith before he decided to accept the Ohio State offensive coordinator position, according to a report from NFL insider Dianna Russini.
Smith “had been having conversations” with the Eagles and the Tennessee Titans (two teams with OC openings this offseason), according to her reporting.
Zac Robinson won’t be the Eagles’ new offensive coordinator
Time to cross off another name on the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive coordinator candidate list.
Former Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is staying in the NFC South to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to a report from NFL insider Adam Schefter.
Robinson is replacing former Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, who is also an Eagles offensive coordinator candidate.
The Eagles reportedly interviewed Robinson last week.
Eagles reportedly miss out on their top offensive coordinator target
The Philadelphia Eagles won’t be hiring Mike McDaniel to replace Kevin Patullo.
The former Miami Dolphins head coach is expected to become the new Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator, according to a report from ESPN.
Eagles reportedly denied permission to interview Cowboys offensive coordinator
The Philadelphia Eagles were denied permission to interview Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams for their OC opening, according to a report from NFL insider Jeremy Fowler.
The Eagles must have thought the Cowboys might allow Adams to interview since he’s not the primary play-caller for Dallas; head coach Brian Schottenheimer holds that role. But Dallas is within their rights to block their division rival from poaching Adams.
The Athletic (paywall)
Where does the Philadelphia Eagles’ OC search stand after two weeks?
McDaniel and Brian Daboll were targets early in the search, representing former head coaches and established play callers. McDaniel already signed on with the Chargers. Daboll, who is still a candidate for the top job in Buffalo and Las Vegas, is expected to land in Tennessee if he doesn’t land either of those. Doyle and Weis preferred their current set-ups — Doyle working closely with Ben Johnson and on a head-coaching track in Chicago, and Weis following Lane Kiffin to LSU to run the offense at a major college program.
The Eagles do not publicly reveal their interviews, preferring a taciturn operation. When they promoted Kevin Patullo last winter, they were required to interview at least one external minority or female candidate, per league rules, but they never revealed the identity of the candidate. They vowed to cast a wide net this year, but the breadth of the search is only revealed via media reports. At this point, there have been 13 candidates publicly linked to the job: McDaniel, Daboll, Zac Robinson, Jim Bob Cooter, Bobby Slowik, Josh Grizzard, Doyle, Mike Kafka, Matt Nagy, Arthur Smith, Weis, Frank Smith and Jerrod Johnson. Not all were formally interviewed.
What could seem like panic trying to find a coordinator could also be categorized as a process. Whether that’s a reality or a rationalization will only be known once the hire materializes. In 2010, the Eagles named offensive line coach Juan Castillo as defensive coordinator after an extended search. That did not work out. In 2021, they hired Sirianni after it seemed they might have missed on other candidates. Sirianni now has the highest winning percentage of any active coach.
But they’re still sitting here after championship weekend without an offensive coordinator. Among teams with a returning head coach, they’re the last team remaining with that job open. That’s led to the question of the desirability of the job.
Cowboys Wire
Should Cowboys lean on draft or free agency to fix CB, DE issues?
2026 free agent class at CB
Free agents Tariq Woolen (26), Jamel Dean (29), Eric Stokes (26), Greg Newsome (25), Roger McCreary (25), Alontae Taylor (27) and Cam Taylor-Britt (26) all look to cash in on major contracts this spring. Oddly enough, the CB who’s projected to command the most per Spotrac estimates is former Cowboys CB Nahshon Wright.
2026 free agent class at DE
With…both Dante Fowler and Jadeveon Clowney free agents, the Cowboys have major needs at DE.
Step 1 is trying to re-sign Clowney to a larger deal. Step 2 is finding at least a couple rotational players to fill snaps right away in 2026.
Trey Hendrickson (31), Odafe Oweh (27), Kwity Paye (27) Joseph Ossai (25) and Khalil Mack (34) headline the free agent class, but a second tier of Joey Bosa (30), Haason Reddick (31), Arnold Ebiketie (26) and Al-Quadin Muhammad (30) might be more the reclamation projects Dallas looks for.
Big Blue View
Ex-NY Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka hired by Detroit Lions
Former New York Giants offensive coordinator and interim head coach Mike Kafka is joining the Detroit Lions in an undefined “high-ranking offensive role,” per NFL insider Tom Pelissero.
Kafka was hired away from the Kansas City Chiefs to be the Giants’ offensive coordinator in 2022. He filled that role until the middle of the 2025 season, when Brian Daboll was fired and Kafka took over as interim head coach. He went 2-5.
Kafka, who has interviewed for head-coaching vacancies each offseason since joining the Giants, interviewed for the Giants’ job before the organization hired John Harbaugh.
Now, Kafka, 38, will join head coach Dan Campbell in Detroit.
What Kafka’s role will be seems uncertain.
NY Giants news: OC candidate Todd Monken ‘in the mix’ to join Browns as head coach
[W]hile the [Giants] filled their defensive and special teams coordinator positions, their offensive coordinator position remains open.
Former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken is widely considered to be the favorite to land the job. However, he is also a candidate for the Cleveland Browns head coaching job.
Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot reports Monday morning that Monken is still “in the mix” for the Browns job. That, obviously puts the Giants on hold until there’s a resolution.
NFL league links
Articles
Pro Football Talk
Report: Jim Schwartz is “gaining momentum” to be next Browns coach
Now, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that Schwartz “seems to be gaining momentum” in the Browns’ ongoing search for a head coach.
The 59-year-old Schwartz coached the Lions from 2009 through 2013, with one playoff appearance and a record of 29-51. He arrived in Cleveland in 2023; in his first year, the Browns had the top defense in the league (based on yards per game) but he got no head-coaching interviews.
In the current cycle, only the Browns and Ravens interviewed Schwartz, who coordinated the Eagles defense that won Super Bowl LII.
As one source put it last week to PFT, the Browns have to weigh promoting Schwartz against potentially losing him.
Others in the mix include former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken and Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase. Those who have withdrawn from consideration include Mike McDaniel, Jesse Minter, and Grant Udinski.
If Schwartz gets the job, his most important hire will be offensive coordinator. Because the offense has been the problem for the Browns in recent years. Thanks to Schwartz, the defense has been better than fine.
Front Office Sports
Several teams around the NFL are in the process of planning new stadiums
The Chiefs, looking to rebound from an ugly 6–11 season that included a season-ending injury to star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, have plenty of company in their plan to build a new stadium.
The Bills will open the new Highmark Stadium in time for the 2026 NFL season, while the new Titans facility will follow next year. The Commanders recently released a well-received set of renderings for their forthcoming domed stadium, recalling their former home, RFK Stadium, in many ways. The Browns are pushing to break ground early this year on a $2.4 billion stadium and mixed-use development in suburban Brook Park, Ohio. The Bears have created a bidding war between Illinois and Indiana over their future home. The Broncos intend to open a retractable-roof facility in 2031.
Several other NFL teams, notably the Eagles, are actively assessing what to do with their facilities.
NFL.com
Rams WR Davante Adams: ‘It’s tough to talk’ after losing fifth career NFC Championship Game
Five times he’s been on the losing end (four with the Green Bay Packers).
“It’s tough. It’s tough to talk,” Adams said, via Rams Wire.
In a 12-year career, Adams has built a Hall of Fame résumé, earning six Pro Bowl nods, three first-team All-Pro selections, and generating 12,633 yards and 117 touchdowns. Three times he’s led the NFL in receiving TDs, including 2025 with 14, despite missing three games.
Yet, the 33-year-old still hasn’t been to a Super Bowl.
NFL Draft
Big Blue View
2026 NFL Draft scouting report: Adam Randall, RB, Clemson
Measurables
Height: 6-foot-2 (unofficial)
Weight: 235 pounds (unofficial)
Projection
Adam Randall is raw as a running back, and only has limited tape at the position. That may depress his draft stock, but it could also serve to make him a hidden gem and a steal for the team that eventually takes him.
Randall has great size, very good vision, and the athleticism to make full use of that vision. Likewise, he has enough speed to break long runs once he’s able to find the open field. Additionally, his background as a wide receiver makes him a very dangerous weapon out of the backfield. Randall is simply too big – and his contact balance is too good – for off-ball linebackers and defensive backs to bring him down easily.
He obviously still needs development, but Randall has real upside for the team that invests in him.
Final Word: A good value early on Day 3
aBit o’Twitter
The Commanders’ decision to hire Daronte Jones as their next defensive coordinator is not merely a staffing change — it’s a declaration of intent.
After a jarring collapse from an NFC Championship appearance to a 5–12 finish this fall, Washington’s front office and coaching staff have made it clear that continuity for continuity’s sake is no longer acceptable. The defense, which ranked 27th in scoring and dead last in total yards, demanded a philosophical overhaul. And Jones represents that pivot.
A native of Capitol Heights, Maryland, Jones arrives in Washington following a multi-year run with the Vikings, where he worked under one of the league’s most aggressive defensive minds in Brian Flores. His résumé also includes deep exposure to the Vance Joseph coaching tree, along with prior experience under Mike Zimmer and Marvin Lewis. The throughline across those stops is unmistakable: pressure as a feature, not a wrinkle; physicality at the second level; and defensive backs who are asked to do far more than sit in static alignments.
For a Commanders organization searching for an identity on defense, Jones offers something both modern and adaptable — an approach rooted in aggression, but flexible enough to evolve with personnel.
A Hire That Defies the “Safe” Label
Dan Quinn entered this hiring cycle openly searching for experience. Washington interviewed several established defensive coordinators, including Jonathan Gannon, Teryl Austin, Brian Flores, Joe Cullen, Dennard Wilson, and Patrick Graham. On paper, Jones didn’t fit the conventional mold of a “safe” hire. Yet sources around the league consistently described his interviews as highly impressive and of a man that would earn a promotion “sooner rather than later.”
That matters in a cycle where Washington could have leaned toward familiarity or reputation, instead, they chose conviction.
Jones’ background explains why.
He’s been in the NFL since 2016, with the lone exception being his 2021 season as LSU’s defensive coordinator—a year in which he handled play-calling duties and dealt with the complexities of blending talent, expectation, and schematic clarity in the SEC. In Minnesota, he coached the DBs before being elevated to pass game coordinator, a role that required marrying coverage structures with pressure concepts. That blend — coverage integrity paired with calculated chaos — is central to what Washington is now chasing.
The Brian Flores Influence: Controlled Aggression
Any discussion of Jones’ defensive vision begins with Flores. Flores’ defenses are among the most aggressive in the league, defined by simulated pressures, post-snap movement, and relentless stress on the man in the pocket. The scheme demands intelligence and versatility as much as physical talent, as players are asked to disguise intentions, rotate late, blitz from unconventional angles, and cover ground in space.
Jones lived inside that ecosystem.
In Minnesota, the defensive backfield wasn’t treated as a static unit. Corners and safeties were interchangeable, often aligning in nontraditional spots pre-snap before rotating into their actual responsibilities. The goal was simple: force quarterbacks to hesitate. That hesitation, even for a fraction of a second, allows pressure to land.
For Washington, this is a meaningful shift to try and achieve, and an even more meaningful hire. Recent Commanders defenses have often felt reactive, defined by alignment clarity that made life easier for opposing quarterbacks. Yet Jones’ background suggests a defense designed to dictate terms instead of responding to them.
The Vance Joseph Tree: Length, Speed, and Violence
While Flores provides the schematic backbone, Jones’ experience in the Vance Joseph coaching tree adds another layer. Joseph’s defenses have long emphasized length and twitch along the edges, second-level defenders who can both thump and run, and defensive backs with the physical profile to survive on islands.
Linebackers in Joseph-influenced systems are not just run stoppers; they are pressure players, coverage defenders, and spies rolled into one. They close space quickly, strike with authority, and still carry tight ends or backs down the seam. That archetype aligns cleanly with Jones’ reputation as a coach who values movement skills and football intelligence over rigid positional definitions.
Edges, meanwhile, are expected to win with more than just speed. Length, bend, and the ability to reduce inside are prioritized. The edge defender is not just a pass rusher; he is a movable chess piece who can stress protections from multiple alignments.
Versatility Over Labels
Perhaps the most important philosophical shift Jones brings is an emphasis on alignment versatility. Traditional positional labels — MIKE, WILL, SAM; strong safety versus free safety; hand-in-the-dirt defensive end versus stand-up outside linebacker — carry less weight in this framework.
What matters is function.
Can you run? Can you hit? Can you cover?
Those questions will guide Washington’s personnel decisions moving forward.
Free agency and the draft are expected to focus on defenders who blur lines, not reinforce them. A safety who can play in the box, rotate deep, and carry slot receivers has more value than one locked into a single role. Think Ohio State’s Caleb Downs. A linebacker with coverage instincts and pass-rush juice becomes a force multiplier in pressure packages. Think Ohio State’s Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles. And corners with length who can press, bail, and tackle in space allow the scheme to expand. Think LSU’s Mansoor Delane and Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy.
The philosophy mirrors broader league trends, but Jones’ background suggests Washington will lean into it aggressively rather than cautiously.
The Draft and Free Agency Implications
With the seventh overall pick in the upcoming draft, Washington is positioned to add a foundational defensive piece. Under Jones, that selection is less likely to be about filling a traditional hole and more about acquiring a trait-based difference-maker.
Edges with twitch and length. Linebackers who can erase space. Defensive backs with positional elasticity.
In free agency, similar priorities apply. Veterans who can execute multiple roles, communicate effectively, and embrace schematic complexity will be favored. It’s not a defense designed for specialists, it’s designed for read-and-react athletes. For ballplayers.
That approach also aligns with the realities of modern roster construction. Versatile defenders allow coordinators to adjust weekly without wholesale personnel changes. Against spread-heavy offenses, Jones can lean into coverage-heavy packages without sacrificing pressure. Against run-centric teams, he can condense the front and bring violence downhill.
A Necessary Overhaul
Washington’s defensive collapse in 2025 was not subtle. The Commanders surrendered 34 or more points in four of seven games before Dan Quinn took over play-calling duties in Week 11. Even after that change, the structural issues remained. The defense lacked speed, struggled in space, and failed to consistently affect the quarterback.
For Jones, he wasn’t hired to patch those issues. He was hired to rewire them.
His roots in the DMV add a personal layer to the hire, but the professional rationale stands on its own — Jones understands what modern NFL defenses must be to survive. He’s coached in systems that punish predictability and reward adaptability. He has worked with defensive backs, coordinated pass games, and called plays at the highest levels of college football.
Risk and Reward
There is risk here, absolutely, as there is on the other side of the ball. Jones will join an offensive coordinator in David Blough who is also inexperienced in the role, making 2026 a season defined by growth and experimentation on both sides of the ball. But Washington’s alternative — doubling down on conservative solutions — offered limited upside.
The hire signals belief in process over pedigree.
Jones may not arrive with the name recognition of some candidates Washington interviewed, but his coaching DNA aligns with where the league is headed. Speed, versatility, aggression, and ambiguity are no longer luxuries on defense; they are prerequisites.
Ultimately, Daronte Jones’ arrival is about more than scheme. It’s about identity. Washington is betting that a defense built on movement, physicality, and intellectual stress can close the gap between talent and performance. They are betting that defenders who can run, hit, and cover — without being boxed into outdated labels — will form the backbone of a sustainable unit.
For a franchise searching for clarity after a season of regression, that bet makes sense.
Commanders links
Articles
Bullock’s Film Room (subscription)
Current Commanders fits with Daronte Jones’ new system
Breaking down how the current Commanders roster could fit with Jones and where there could be issues
Fits with shift to 3-4 front
One of the first changes we could see from Jones is a shift from a base 4-3 defense to a base 3-4. Typically, this isn’t as big a deal as it once was, because most defenses play live in nickel packages now anyway. Even when they aren’t in nickel, most defenses in the NFL are hybrids that use both 4-3 and 3-4 looks. But the Vikings under Flores and Jones stuck to their 3-4 principles, so I think we can expect to see that shift.
The Commanders used plenty of 3-4 looks last season, so there’s some natural fits in the current personnel for that front already, especially on the interior defensive line.
The Commanders generally had more success defending the run in a 3-4 front throughout this past season. Players like Kinlaw and Payne are big but versatile defensive lineman that can line up across the front and be effective. What we saw from the Vikings defense led by Flores and Jones was that they preferred to keep their three defensive tackles on the field as often as possible in order to remain stout against the run.
They weren’t looking for a great deal of pass rush from those big bodies, because the pass rush would come from the blitz packages. But what they needed was stout run defenders from those three defensive lineman to provide the flexibility from a coverage perspective to keep two safeties back deep and use two-deep safety coverage schemes like quarters. If you’re going to be effective defending the run from a two-deep safety structure, then you need a few stout bodies up front, which is what makes that 3-4 look so appealing to this defensive scheme.
So the profile of defensive lineman needed for this scheme is typically bigger guys like Payne, Kinlaw and Goldman. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t any room for a slightly undersized defensive tackle like Johnny Newton. There’s potential for this new scheme to be very beneficial for Newton. With two other defensive tackles on the field, Newton can be placed in slightly wider alignments than he saw for large parts of last season. As we saw against the Cowboys at the end of the season, he’s much more effective in those positions.
Commanders Roundtable
Defensive focus is becoming clear for Commanders in 2026
Jones brings a history disruption to the Commanders’ secondary where the Vikings recorded 73 interceptions during his four seasons with the organization, including an interception in every game during 2024. But the next question is how the Commanders address the front seven, though Nick Jhabvala of The Athletic was the first to report that the team’s defensive staff remains fluid with a “focus to bring on someone to oversee the front seven, with a focus on improving the pass rush.”
It’s the latest bit of evidence that general manager Adam Peters is focused on rebuilding the Commanders’ pass rush after noting the team needs to address “a lot of spots.” But after also being spotted scouting the edge prospects ahead of Tuesday’s Shrine Bowl, Peters also noted in his end of season press conference that addressing the pass rush in any capacity is an offseason focus.
“I think where we can look at, I think, certainly another pass rusher would be something we’d definitely be looking for. Whether that’s the draft or free agency, I think we have a lot of good options in both of those areas,” he said earlier this month.
[O]ne thing is clear – Washington will look to upgrade the defense after posting the league’s worst turnover margin and ranked middle of the league with 42 sacks.
Commanders Wire
Could recently departed Jets OC be an option for Commanders’ staff?
In his two weeks in charge of Washington’s offense, Blough has already made multiple hires. First, he hired D.J. Williams as quarterbacks coach and Danny Etling, his former Purdue teammate, as assistant quarterbacks coach. Washington also promoted assistant offensive line coach Darnell Stapleton to offensive line coach and Shane Toub to assistant offensive line coach. All of these hires were either recommended by Blough, or had his blessing.
As of now, Washington’s offensive staff appears full. That could still change. Running backs coach/run game coordinator Anthony Lynn has interviewed for two head coaching jobs. While it doesn’t look like he’ll land one, could he want to leave? After all, the Commanders didn’t even interview him for offensive coordinator before promoting Blough.
Blough may not have a lot of coaching connections yet, but [Tanner] Engstrand is an intriguing name. A former college quarterback at San Diego State. Engstrand began his NFL coaching career in 2020 with the Detroit Lions. He quickly rose up on Ben Johnson’s offensive staff and was with Detroit for much of Blough’s time there.
In 2024, Engstrand landed his first offensive coordinator job with the New York Jets. On Tuesday, he departed after only one season. No one will hold that against Engstrand since it’s the Jets. While Engstrand could find a spot on Johnson’s staff in Chicago, what if Blough wanted to bring him to Washington? If [passing game coordinator Brian] Johnson departs, Engstrand could handle pass game coordinator duties. Or, if [David] Raih leaves, he could be tight ends coach. He handled both responsibilities with the Lions.
Commanders.com
4 players to watch during the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl
The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team.
More than 150 athletes are set to participate in the 2026 East-Shrine Bowl today — all eager to show off their skill sets to NFL scouts. Here are five players to watch when the game kicks off at the Dallas Cowboys’ practice facility.
S Jalen Huskey
Teams will have to look more at potential over experience when it comes to Huskey. He’s only played safety for two seasons after spending the first half of his career playing cornerback at Liberty, so he’s still learning how to play the position. Still, what he’s put on film has been impressive; he had seven interceptions in two seasons at Maryland to go with 117 tackles.
Huskey is a physical safety who isn’t afraid of contact and will play close to the line of scrimmage. He also handled himself well in coverage in both team drills and one-on-ones, deflecting two passes and holding his own against prospects like Kalen Wetjen.
It might take time for Huskey to be a consistent contributor at the professional level based on how much he still needs to learn about the position. In the meantime, most of his snaps will come on special teams. But Kiper lists him as his seventh best safety, and if he can continue the progress he’s made in the last two seasons, it won’t take long for him to get in a starting lineup.
A to Z Sports
2026 Senior Bowl Day One Winners: Commanders key positions of need in NFL Draft have impressive first practice
The biggest winners on day one of the Senior Bowl were led by Kevin Coleman Jr, Colton Hood, Scooby Williams, and Nadame Tucker
Nadame Tucker, EDGE, Western Michigan
Nadame Tucker was a prospect I had nowhere on my radar heading into the Senior Bowl, but now I’m finding myself doing more research on him after a stellar first day of practice. Tucker had a very productive season in 2025 with 14.5 sacks and 6 pressures, and he showed why at practice. He’s 6-3, 250 pounds, and showed a quick burst off the line that blockers struggled with all day. It’s a loaded EDGE group at the Senior Bowl, so standing out as he did really showed how impressive he was on day one. Adam Peters kept a close eye on Tucker and likely loved what he saw.
Nice rep from @WMU_Football’s Nadame Tucker (#11). Works between two blockers and jumps right into the backfield on the rush. pic.twitter.com/KolGjZn8s0
— PewterReport(@PewterReport) January 27, 2026
Heavy.com
Commanders paying “heavy attention” to an “explosive” potential mid-round RB in the 2026 NFL draft
Demond Claiborne has qualities Commanders need
Keeping close track of Claiborne’s health at this stage of the pre-draft process will be worth the effort for the Commanders. If only because the 22-year-old possesses true breakaway speed, something Washington’s rushing attack has been missing.
That speed was observed by Steelers Depot writer Josh Carney during the first day of practice at the Shrine Bowl. Carney described how “Claiborne immediately stood out among the running backs with his speed and burst. He later left practice due to minor back tightness, but it isn’t expected to sideline him for the rest of the week.”
Unfortunately, more injury misery befell Claiborne on the third day. He “only had a half practice before an injury on a diving catch took him out of practice. He told us in an interview (find it on the Giants official podcast network feed) that it’s not serious,” according to John Schmeelk of Giants.com.
Schmeelk did note Claiborne’s “going to be one of the fastest players at running back at 5’9 and a quarter inches and 187 pounds.”
A similar sentiment is shared by Buccaneers.com contributor Gabrial Kahaian. He believes “Claiborne’s electricity separates him from other prospects. He utilizes his lateral agility to change direction on a whim and keep his balance while navigating through traffic. Claiborne is also a dependable pass catcher, averaging 7.7 yards per reception.”
Kahaian also pointed out “Claiborne is currently projected to go in the third or fourth round and whoever drafts him is certain to reap the rewards.”
If the Commanders are the beneficiaries, they will continue a strong recent run of finding capable runners in the mid to late rounds.
Podcasts & videos
Season Review: OFFENSE Jayden Daniels + Draft Guru on TEs | Podcast | Washington Commanders | NFL
NFC East links
Big Blue View
NY Giants news: Eli Manning again denied entry into Pro Football Hall of Fame
Manning falls short of needed support for second straight year
Manning was one of 15 modern-era finalists for the second consecutive year, but once again did not make the cut.
According to the Hall of Fame selection process, a maximum of five and a minimum of three modern-era players like Manning can be voted in each year. Enshrinees must received 80% of the vote to be part of that year’s Hall of Fame class.
Bleeding Green Nation
Howie Roseman’s unprompted support of Nick Sirianni feels notable
The Eagles are assuredly doing their due diligence and considering all potential candidates as they look to fill their offensive coordinator position, but as most of the people they’ve brought in for interviews have already taken other opportunities, speculation as to the quality of the role has emerged. From blaming Eagles fans to blaming Super Bowl MVP quarterback Jalen Hurts, there’s no shortage of guesses as to why the position hasn’t been filled yet.
While the logical answer is that the team is taking their time to make the right decision, some are also speculating about how much head coach Nick Sirianni is hindering interest.
Discussion topics
Bleeding Green Nation
Adam Schefter hints at some big non-offensive coordinator Eagles news by next week
Interesting moment from the latest edition of Adam Schefter’s weekly radio hit on 97.5 The Fanatic’s morning show with Andrew Salciunas and John Kincade.
As Schefter was signing off, the following exchange happened.
Here are some thoughts on what Schefter could be hinting at:
- The biggest tinfoil hat conspiracy angle I can come up with is the Eagles are interested in trading Nick Sirianni. Remember how Howie Roseman made an effort to praise the head coach unprompted shortly after the season ended? The Las Vegas Raiders still need a coach and they have plenty of former members of the Eagles in their front office.
- A retirement could be possible. Lane Johnson? That’d be a big deal.
- A trade can’t become official until March but there have been deals reported ahead of time. Maybe A.J. Brown is on the move? Maybe he makes it known he wants out?
aBit o’Twitter
The Washington Commanders fired defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr and replaced him with Minnesota Vikings DBs coach/passing game coordinator Daronte Jones. Whitt had his playcalling duties stripped, and head coach Dan Quinn took over for the remainder of the season. There are a lot of questions about Jones, who hasn’t called plays in the NFL, and what his new coaching staff will look like.
Jason Simmons joined the Commanders after Quinn and Whitt were hired in 2024 as the defensive pass game coordinator. He interviewed with the Pittsburgh Steelers for their open defensive coordinator job under new head coach Mike McCarthy. That job went to former Las Vegas Raiders DC Patrick Graham, but Simmons will be joining his new coaching staff in Pittsburgh where he played safety for four seasons(1998-2001 Simmons is the first assistant coach to exit, but there will likely be a lot more changes on both sides of the ball with two new coordinators.
Commanders current defensive coaches
Defensive Coordinator – Daronte Jones
Senior defensive assistant – John Pagano
Defensive backs – Tommy Donatell
Assistant DBs – William Gay
Linebackers – Ken Norton Jr
Assistant LBs/Pass rush specialist
Defensive line – Darryl Tapp
Assistant defensive line – Sharrif Floyd
Defensive quality control – George Banko
