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Washington Commanders 2025 NFL Season Preview originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
[Editor's note: This article is from Athlon Sports' 2025 NFL Preview Magazine. Order your copy today online or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.]
For the first time in recent memory, the Commanders enjoyed a calm, normal, tumult-free offseason — no seismic changes at owner, head coach, general manager, quarterback or even nickname. Last year’s 12-5 juggernaut and run to the NFC Championship Game in Jayden Daniels’ rookie season gave the franchise a renewed sense of direction and purpose: to build a sustainable championship contender around its young, dynamic quarterback. To that end, the Commanders signed almost two dozen free agents, beefed up along both lines, drafted smartly and purposefully and imported offensive skill players to give Daniels more weapons. He now has a new left tackle (five-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil, via trade) and a new playmaking wideout (Deebo Samuel, also via trade). There are still some concerns (most notably a dearth of proven edge rushers), but this is a roster that should contend with Philadelphia for the NFC East crown.
More NFL team previews
AFC East:Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots
AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers
AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans
AFC West:Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders
NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants
NFC North:Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings
NFC South:Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints
NFC West:49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks
If Year 1 of the Daniels era was about acclimating Washington’s franchise quarterback to the NFL — a successful mission by any measure, culminating in his winning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors — Year 2 is about building a championship-level infrastructure around him. That process began with an overhaul of the offensive line. By adding Tunsil via free agency and Oregon standout Josh Conerly Jr. via the first round of the draft, the Commanders landed not one, but two talented left tackles. Obviously, one will need to play elsewhere, and logic dictated it would be the veteran Tunsil at left tackle and Conerly at right, though another option would be to shift Conerly to one of the guard spots and keep Brandon Coleman at right tackle. In any case, these are good problems to have.
The trade with San Francisco for Samuel (which cost the Commanders a 2025 fifth-round pick) gives Daniels another savvy, prolific playmaker at receiver to pair with favorite target Terry McLaurin. Samuel should make the offense more explosive, with his elite yards-after-catch ability, and he should mainly line up in the slot, where he can be a threat on jet sweeps and screens. Veteran Noah Brown — best known in D.C. for catching Daniels’ Hail Mary to beat Chicago in Week 8 last season — is opposite McLaurin, with solid depth from Michael Gallup, Luke McCaffrey, K.J. Osborn and 2025 fourth-rounder Jaylin Lane.
Terry McLaurinGeoff Burke-Imagn Images
The Commanders brought back both of their primary tight ends from 2024 in Zach Ertz and John Bates — the former a veteran who revived his career with 66 catches (including seven touchdowns) last season, the latter an elite blocking specialist whose value goes beyond the stat sheet. They also have an intriguing third-stringer in 2024 second-rounder Ben Stinnott, who frequently lined up as a fullback and is expected to take a step forward in 2025.
Likewise, Washington is bringing back its running back duo of Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler. At 30, however, Ekeler, a third-down specialist whose 2024 numbers (77 carries, 35 receptions) were below his career norms, is old for an NFL running back. With that in mind, the Commanders have built some depth behind him, with Jeremy McNichols coming off a productive 2024 and seventh-rounder Jacory Croskey-Merritt now in the mix.
The Commanders’ offense was already elite in 2024 — ranking fifth in scoring, seventh in yards, third in rushing yards, sixth in third-down conversion rate and first in fourth-down conversion rate — and appears to have gotten considerably better heading into this season.
Cutting two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jonathan Allen felt like a drastic move at the time, but perhaps drastic action was necessary to bolster a run defense that ranked 30th in the NFL last season. The Commanders added seven defensive linemen in free agency — ends Deatrich Wise Jr., Clelin Ferrell, Jacob Martin and Jalyn Holms and tackles Javon Kinlaw, Eddie Goldman and Sheldon Day. Kinlaw, who played all 34 regular season games the past two years with the 49ers and Jets and is just entering his prime at 27, joins a tackle rotation that already includes Pro Bowler Daron Payne and 2024 second-rounder Jer’Zhan Newton, the latter of whom showed vast improvement as last season wore on. Holdover Dorance Armstrong is likely to hold down one of the starting end slots. Instead of elite talent, the Commanders are banking on the depth, versatility and dependability of this unit.
With the signings of cornerback Jonathan Jones and safety/corner Will Harris, a trade for four-time Pro Bowl corner Marshon Lattimore and the selection of Ole Miss corner Trey Amos in the second round of the draft, the secondary boasts admirable depth and versatility. Corner Mike Sainristil, a 2024 second-rounder, was a revelation last season, starting 19 games (including playoffs) and establishing himself as a standout slot corner, until injuries elsewhere forced the team to move him to the outside. The coaching staff has hinted that they prefer Jones in the slot, which would put Sainristil at an outside post opposite Lattimore. But Harris, too, is comfortable moving between safety and corner, and Amos, at 6-foot-1, has a size advantage over Jones and Sainristil (both 5-10), which makes him an intriguing option on the outside. This could be a unit where titles and roles barely matter.
Bobby WagnerUSA TODAY Sports
Ten-time Pro Bowl linebacker Bobby Wagner may not be what he once was, but his leadership, durability (he played 99% of the team’s defensive snaps in 2024) and run-stopping were the primary reasons the Commanders brought him back at 35. Last season was his 13th consecutive campaign with at least 100 tackles. Wagner will once again pair with veteran Frankie Luvu to anchor the linebacker unit. Jordan Magee, a 2024 fifth-rounder, is a candidate for a leap forward following an injury-plagued rookie season. The Commanders were also excited about 2025 sixth-rounder Kain Madrano out of UCLA, who posted the fastest 40-yard dash time of any linebacker at the NFL Scouting Combine (4.46). A converted wide receiver, he will play mostly on special teams, but his speed and athleticism could allow him to become an option in dime packages.
Punter Tress Way is the ultimate security blanket, a two-time Pro Bowler who has averaged 46.9 yards per punt in his 11 seasons in Washington. After cycling through no fewer than four kickers in 2024, the team tried to buy some stability there with a $4.35 million gamble — the most guaranteed money ever for a kicker on a one-year deal — on Matt Gay, who carries a career field-goal percentage of 85.5%. Special teams standouts Nick Bellore and Jeremy Reaves, both former Pro Bowlers, return to anchor this unit in 2025. Fourth-round pick Jaylin Lane, a receiver by trade, may make his biggest immediate impact in 2025 as the kickoff and punt returner.
The Commanders did almost all of what they set out to do over the offseason — giving their franchise quarterback additional weapons and additional protection while shoring up the defense. They moved swiftly and decisively to address their needs while building depth and maintaining financial flexibility. The lack of a game-changing edge rusher is the only thing keeping this from being an overwhelmingly successful offseason, but everything is in place for the Commanders to challenge the Eagles for the NFC East crown and build on last year’s success.
More NFL team previews
AFC East:Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots
AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers
AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans
AFC West:Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders
NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants
NFC North:Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings
NFC South:Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints
NFC West:49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Continue reading...
[Editor's note: This article is from Athlon Sports' 2025 NFL Preview Magazine. Order your copy today online or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.]
For the first time in recent memory, the Commanders enjoyed a calm, normal, tumult-free offseason — no seismic changes at owner, head coach, general manager, quarterback or even nickname. Last year’s 12-5 juggernaut and run to the NFC Championship Game in Jayden Daniels’ rookie season gave the franchise a renewed sense of direction and purpose: to build a sustainable championship contender around its young, dynamic quarterback. To that end, the Commanders signed almost two dozen free agents, beefed up along both lines, drafted smartly and purposefully and imported offensive skill players to give Daniels more weapons. He now has a new left tackle (five-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil, via trade) and a new playmaking wideout (Deebo Samuel, also via trade). There are still some concerns (most notably a dearth of proven edge rushers), but this is a roster that should contend with Philadelphia for the NFC East crown.
More NFL team previews
AFC East:Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots
AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers
AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans
AFC West:Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders
NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants
NFC North:Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings
NFC South:Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints
NFC West:49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks
Offense
If Year 1 of the Daniels era was about acclimating Washington’s franchise quarterback to the NFL — a successful mission by any measure, culminating in his winning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors — Year 2 is about building a championship-level infrastructure around him. That process began with an overhaul of the offensive line. By adding Tunsil via free agency and Oregon standout Josh Conerly Jr. via the first round of the draft, the Commanders landed not one, but two talented left tackles. Obviously, one will need to play elsewhere, and logic dictated it would be the veteran Tunsil at left tackle and Conerly at right, though another option would be to shift Conerly to one of the guard spots and keep Brandon Coleman at right tackle. In any case, these are good problems to have.
The trade with San Francisco for Samuel (which cost the Commanders a 2025 fifth-round pick) gives Daniels another savvy, prolific playmaker at receiver to pair with favorite target Terry McLaurin. Samuel should make the offense more explosive, with his elite yards-after-catch ability, and he should mainly line up in the slot, where he can be a threat on jet sweeps and screens. Veteran Noah Brown — best known in D.C. for catching Daniels’ Hail Mary to beat Chicago in Week 8 last season — is opposite McLaurin, with solid depth from Michael Gallup, Luke McCaffrey, K.J. Osborn and 2025 fourth-rounder Jaylin Lane.
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Terry McLaurinGeoff Burke-Imagn Images
The Commanders brought back both of their primary tight ends from 2024 in Zach Ertz and John Bates — the former a veteran who revived his career with 66 catches (including seven touchdowns) last season, the latter an elite blocking specialist whose value goes beyond the stat sheet. They also have an intriguing third-stringer in 2024 second-rounder Ben Stinnott, who frequently lined up as a fullback and is expected to take a step forward in 2025.
Likewise, Washington is bringing back its running back duo of Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler. At 30, however, Ekeler, a third-down specialist whose 2024 numbers (77 carries, 35 receptions) were below his career norms, is old for an NFL running back. With that in mind, the Commanders have built some depth behind him, with Jeremy McNichols coming off a productive 2024 and seventh-rounder Jacory Croskey-Merritt now in the mix.
The Commanders’ offense was already elite in 2024 — ranking fifth in scoring, seventh in yards, third in rushing yards, sixth in third-down conversion rate and first in fourth-down conversion rate — and appears to have gotten considerably better heading into this season.
Defense
Cutting two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jonathan Allen felt like a drastic move at the time, but perhaps drastic action was necessary to bolster a run defense that ranked 30th in the NFL last season. The Commanders added seven defensive linemen in free agency — ends Deatrich Wise Jr., Clelin Ferrell, Jacob Martin and Jalyn Holms and tackles Javon Kinlaw, Eddie Goldman and Sheldon Day. Kinlaw, who played all 34 regular season games the past two years with the 49ers and Jets and is just entering his prime at 27, joins a tackle rotation that already includes Pro Bowler Daron Payne and 2024 second-rounder Jer’Zhan Newton, the latter of whom showed vast improvement as last season wore on. Holdover Dorance Armstrong is likely to hold down one of the starting end slots. Instead of elite talent, the Commanders are banking on the depth, versatility and dependability of this unit.
With the signings of cornerback Jonathan Jones and safety/corner Will Harris, a trade for four-time Pro Bowl corner Marshon Lattimore and the selection of Ole Miss corner Trey Amos in the second round of the draft, the secondary boasts admirable depth and versatility. Corner Mike Sainristil, a 2024 second-rounder, was a revelation last season, starting 19 games (including playoffs) and establishing himself as a standout slot corner, until injuries elsewhere forced the team to move him to the outside. The coaching staff has hinted that they prefer Jones in the slot, which would put Sainristil at an outside post opposite Lattimore. But Harris, too, is comfortable moving between safety and corner, and Amos, at 6-foot-1, has a size advantage over Jones and Sainristil (both 5-10), which makes him an intriguing option on the outside. This could be a unit where titles and roles barely matter.
You must be registered for see images attach
Bobby WagnerUSA TODAY Sports
Ten-time Pro Bowl linebacker Bobby Wagner may not be what he once was, but his leadership, durability (he played 99% of the team’s defensive snaps in 2024) and run-stopping were the primary reasons the Commanders brought him back at 35. Last season was his 13th consecutive campaign with at least 100 tackles. Wagner will once again pair with veteran Frankie Luvu to anchor the linebacker unit. Jordan Magee, a 2024 fifth-rounder, is a candidate for a leap forward following an injury-plagued rookie season. The Commanders were also excited about 2025 sixth-rounder Kain Madrano out of UCLA, who posted the fastest 40-yard dash time of any linebacker at the NFL Scouting Combine (4.46). A converted wide receiver, he will play mostly on special teams, but his speed and athleticism could allow him to become an option in dime packages.
Specialists
Punter Tress Way is the ultimate security blanket, a two-time Pro Bowler who has averaged 46.9 yards per punt in his 11 seasons in Washington. After cycling through no fewer than four kickers in 2024, the team tried to buy some stability there with a $4.35 million gamble — the most guaranteed money ever for a kicker on a one-year deal — on Matt Gay, who carries a career field-goal percentage of 85.5%. Special teams standouts Nick Bellore and Jeremy Reaves, both former Pro Bowlers, return to anchor this unit in 2025. Fourth-round pick Jaylin Lane, a receiver by trade, may make his biggest immediate impact in 2025 as the kickoff and punt returner.
Final Analysis
The Commanders did almost all of what they set out to do over the offseason — giving their franchise quarterback additional weapons and additional protection while shoring up the defense. They moved swiftly and decisively to address their needs while building depth and maintaining financial flexibility. The lack of a game-changing edge rusher is the only thing keeping this from being an overwhelmingly successful offseason, but everything is in place for the Commanders to challenge the Eagles for the NFC East crown and build on last year’s success.
More NFL team previews
AFC East:Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots
AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers
AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans
AFC West:Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders
NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants
NFC North:Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings
NFC South:Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints
NFC West:49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks
Related: Athlon Sports 2025 NFL Preview Magazine Now Available
Related: Saquon Barkley Leads the NFL’s Running Back Renaissance
Related: Saquon Barkley Leads the NFL’s Running Back Renaissance
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Continue reading...
