What is Commanders' biggest strength heading into 2026?
· Yahoo Sports
The Washington Commanders' projected starting lineup was recently ranked 21st overall by ESPN. Within that article, the analysts chosen to participate in the rankings broke down a few key elements for each team. Previously, we discussed how Dyami Brown is the one nonstarter everyone needs to know and pay attention to. In this one, we'll discuss their biggest strength.
With all the changes the Commanders made this offseason, it probably wasn't hard for Mike Clay to name the team's biggest strength. And his choice shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. The Commanders' biggest strength heading into the 2026 season is at quarterback.
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Biggest strength: Quarterback. This one might be a slight surprise, but we shouldn't let an injury-plagued 2025 season distract us from Jayden Daniels' elite rookie season in 2024. Daniels ranked fourth in QBR, tossed 25 touchdowns and posted a 148-891-6 rushing line in what was arguably the best rookie quarterback season ever. The dual-threat, 25-year-old is primed for a rebound season and has a good backup in Marcus Mariota.
Jayden Daniels' 2025 season was marred by injuries, and he wasn't the only one. The Commanders' defense took a beating, Austin Ekeler was lost for the season, Terry McLaurin missed seven games and Washington could never recover. We can't hold that against a player who was held out at the end of the season for his own protection.
When he was on the field in 2025, he may not have looked quite the same as he did in 2024, but some of that is, again, due to his injuries. He was likely (subconsciously) protecting his body as much as he could while trying to perform at an elite level. Those things do not always go well together, and because of the variety of injuries he suffered, Daniels simply didn't play as expected.
Now, though, we're entering the 2026 season. Daniels has had seven or eight months to rest, rehab, and recover. He will enter training camp fully healthy and ready to perform at his best this season. And, as Clay indicated above, Marcus Mariota is a very capable backup. And while his own injuries impacted the 2025 season, he proved in 2024 that he can step in when needed.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: What is Commanders' biggest strength heading into 2026?