Context:

The Washington Commanders are aggressively enhancing their roster to make a run for the Super Bowl in 2025, following their impressive 2024 season led by standout rookie QB Jayden Daniels. Daniels' performance, which garnered him the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, was complemented by strategic acquisitions like WR Deebo Samuel and LT Laremy Tunsil to bolster the offense. In the draft, the Commanders focused on protecting Daniels by selecting Oregon tackle Josh Connerly Jr. to strengthen their offensive line. On defense, the team, under Dan Quinn's leadership, added veteran players familiar with his system, such as Bobby Wagner and Dorrance Armstrong, although they lost Dante Fowler Jr. to free agency. Rumors suggest a potential comeback for former Cowboys Pro Bowl LB Jaylon Smith, who might join the Commanders, continuing Quinn's trend of signing former Cowboys players.

Dive Deeper:

• Jayden Daniels, the Commanders' rookie QB, had a historic 2024 season, leading to a dramatic team turnaround and earning the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, which was pivotal in Washington's success.

• The Commanders acquired key offensive talents in the offseason, including trading for WR Deebo Samuel from the 49ers and six-time Pro Bowl LT Laremy Tunsil from the Texans, aiming to enhance their offensive capabilities.

• In the 2025 NFL Draft, the Commanders focused on their offensive line by selecting Josh Connerly Jr. from Oregon, ensuring that Daniels has robust protection against formidable divisional pass rushers.

• Dan Quinn, leveraging his coaching history, assembled a defense with familiar veterans like Bobby Wagner and Dorrance Armstrong, although they lost pass rusher Dante Fowler Jr. for the upcoming season.

• The Commanders' defense, ranked 13th in 2024, aims to break into the top 10 to bolster their championship aspirations, with significant contributions expected from new draftee CB Trey Amos.

• Reports indicate that former Cowboys Pro Bowl LB Jaylon Smith is eyeing an NFL return, with speculation that he might reunite with Quinn in Washington, following several other former Cowboys.

• Dan Quinn's strategy of signing former Cowboys players is evident, having already brought back Michael Gallup and potentially considering Jaylon Smith, reinforcing team chemistry with familiar faces.

• The Washington Commanders have proven all offseason they will add any player they feel can help them make a run at a Super Bowl in 2025, after reaching the NFC Championship game in Dan Quinn’s first season as the team’s head coach last season. 

• It’s easy to point to Jayden Daniels as the reason for Washington’s sudden turnaround in 2024 after winning just four games in 2023. The Commanders rookie QB put up historic numbers, breaking records along the way, capping off the magical season with NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. 

• Any smart football mind can turn on the tape from 2024 and instantly realize Daniels is the rare type of QB who makes everyone around him better. Still, GM Adam Peters has made it a focal point this offseason to add talent around him by trading for 49ers star WR Deebo Samuel and Texans 6-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil. And then when the NFL Draft came around, the Commanders continued to ensure their star QB will be well-protected. Washington opted to stay in the first round despite offers to trade back and selected Oregon tackle Josh Connerly Jr. who will almost certainly take over the right tackle position opposite of Tunsil. 

• In a division loaded with ferocious pass rushers from the Eagles, Giants and Cowboys it’s clear the Commanders are putting a major emphasis on protecting their franchise passer. 

• While Daniels and OC Kliff Kingsbury’s innovative offense were the story of the 2024 season, Peters and Quinn pieced together a defense full of veterans they had familiarity with that brought a high upside to the filed and high character to the locker room. 

• Many of last year’s defensive additions had played under Quinn during his time with the Seahawks and Cowboys. Bobby Wagner anchored the defense — and is back again n 2025 — while pass rushers Dante Fowler Jr. and Dorrance Armstrong followed Quinn from Dallas. The Commanders weren’t able to reach a deal to keep Fowler for 2025, but Armstrong will be back for another year. 

• The Commanders also drafted Ole Miss CB Trey Amos in the second round, a player many talent evaluators had given a first round grade. 

• While the Washington Commanders finished with the No. 13 defense in the NFL in 2024, they are going to need to crack into the top 10 at minimum if they are going to win a Lombardi trophy. 

• In a wild series of events, reports have emerged that former Cowboys Pro Bowl LB Jaylon Smith is attempting a NFL comeback after sitting out the entire 2024 campaign. He is currently hoping to make the most out of his invite to Raiders mini-camp, but Anthony Palacios of Last Word on Sports thinks Quinn might target another one of his former players and bring Smith to D.C.

• Here’s what he said: 

• The Commanders could intervene with the Cowboys since head coach Dan Quinn has been signing several former Cowboys stars. After bringing back Michael Gallup, it shouldn’t be surprising if Quinn brings back Smith out of temporary retirement to run it back with Dorance Armstrong, Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner