Young defender is Commanders' most promising building block in 2026

[ASFN Admin]

Fans are excited about the Washington Commanders in 2026. After an offseason spending spree, the addition of two new coordinators, and the arrival of first-round pick Sonny Styles, fans believe the Commanders will get back on track and return to the playoffs following a disappointing 5-12 campaign last season.

The health of quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receiver Terry McLaurin has fans believing the team can return to its 2024 success.

Washington spent over $250 million on free-agent signings, adding multiple new starters. But the Commanders also have some promising young players who can help them return to the playoffs in 2026. Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report recently named one promising building block on all 32 NFL teams. To make this list, the player must still be on a rookie contract and have not yet made a Pro Bowl. That disqualifies Daniels.

Knox's pick for Washington was second-year cornerback Trey Amos.

The second-round pick out of Mississippi had an up-and-down rookie campaign (104.6 opposing passer rating) before suffering a fractured fibula. However, Washington's defense was bad overall, and, as Pro Football Focus' Bradley Locker noted, Amos showcased a ton of upside.

"He reflected his talent by earning at least a 68.5 coverage grade in five of his 10 contests, and his 51.43% lockdown rate was 26th among all cornerbacks. Further, Amos broke up an eye-catching 17.6% of his targets."

This offseason, Washington made a sew of new additions to a defense that ranked 32nd overall last season. It will feature several new starters, but Amos should soon entrench himself as a star in the secondary.

Amos is an excellent choice. Many considered the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Amos a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Washington even considered him with its first-round pick before selecting offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. The Commanders were shocked to see him on the board near the end of the second round.

Amos immediately moved into the starting lineup as a rookie. The defense was horrible, but Amos flashed. Unfortunately, a fractured fibula ended his season in Week 10. While the rest of Washington's secondary struggled in 2025, Amos improved each week.

In 2026, Amos returns alongside Mike Sainristil. Marshon Lattimore is gone, but the Commanders did sign veteran Amik Robertson. Some fans and analysts do not believe GM Adam Peters did enough to address the cornerback position this offseason. Washington is confident for multiple reasons. It believes new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones will help the position with his scheme. An improved pass rush is also a cornerback's best friend.

But most importantly, Amos has the talent to be a No. 1 cornerback for years to come.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Young defender is Commanders' most promising building block in 2026

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