What do Commanders' offseason moves mean for Jayden Daniels?
· Yahoo Sports
The Washington Commanders didn't make a ton of changes to the offense during the offseason. They brought in a pair of free-agent running backs, brought back Dyami Brown, signed Van Jefferson, and ensured the offensive line remained stable by extending Laremy Tunsil. Washington did use a third-round pick on wide receiver Antonio Williams, who some believe could make a significant impact as a rookie.
Perhaps the biggest thing the Commanders did, aside from Tunsil's extension, was sign tight end Chig Okonkwo. He's not a blocker; that's where John Bates excels. But Okonkwo could be one of the best receiving tight ends in the league. He had a lackluster start to his career, but that's mostly because the Tennessee Titans didn't know how to use him, and their coaching turnover didn't help.
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Still, there are questions about whether they did enough. What do the moves they made really mean for Jayden Daniels? ESPN's John Keim provides insight.
With David Blough replacing Kliff Kingsbury as coordinator, the change in offensive systems could help Jayden Daniels and the offense evolve. He'll be more under center, but he'll also be in a system that helps scheme players open more than the past two seasons. The Commanders added a tight end in Chig Okonkwo, whose playmaking makes him a big help. They drafted receiver Antonio Williams in the third round -- and could still add another wideout before or during training camp. Perhaps the biggest help, though, was bolstering the defense. The Commanders were 2-14 when allowing 27 or more points the past two seasons. They were 6-13 when scoring 24 or fewer points. They've added speed and youth and changed coordinators. If it works, it will reduce the pressure on Daniels and the offense to score a lot every game.
David Blough taking over probably has the biggest impact on how all of the offseason moves affect Jayden Daniels. His approach differs from Kliff Kingsbury's, and it should lead to Daniels remaining in the pocket and under center more often. And yes, they still can add a wide receiver before the season starts; they have the cap space. And there are several wide receivers who could fit with this offense, but so far, Adam Peters has been mum on what his plans are.
The improvements to the defense will absolutely take the pressure off of Daniels; the fewer points they allow, the fewer points Daniels has to put on the board to win a game. But, again, this defense is untested as a unit. What we're hearing from the players after OTAs and minicamps indicates that they expect to be a top defense in 2026. But we won't know how accurate that is until we see them in action.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: What do Commanders' offseason moves mean for Jayden Daniels?