After a breakout 2024 season that saw rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels lead the Washington Commanders to the NFC Championship Game, expectations in the nation’s capital are shifting from hopeful to Lombardi.
According to NFL insider Peter Schrager, the team’s bold offseason moves may have positioned them to overtake the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
“I really think they helped their roster and saw a window saying we’re still in year two with Jayden Daniels, lets go get some veterans that can really help,” Schrager said on ESPN.
“I think Laremy Tunsil is still one of the best tackles in all of football, and I think Deebo Samuel on a contract year with the motivation that the Niners said we’re better off without you, is going to come in motivated and ready to play.”
Daniels took the league by storm in his rookie season, showcasing command, confidence, and big-play ability well beyond his years.
In just his first season, he orchestrated a playoff run that included a stunning road victory over the 15-2 Detroit Lions and a deep postseason charge to the NFC title game.
Recognizing the potential, general manager Adam Peters moved aggressively to shore up the team’s most glaring weakness – the secondary – by trading midseason for Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore from the New Orleans Saints.
But the front office didn’t stop there.
Earlier this offseason, Washington pulled off two more blockbuster trades, acquiring wide receiver Deebo Samuel from San Francisco and left tackle Laremy Tunsil from the Houston Texans.
Tunsil, a three-time consecutive Pro Bowler, brings elite protection on Daniels’ blindside and a veteran presence to an offensive line now brimming with talent.
Despite turning 31 in August, Tunsil remains one of the most technically sound tackles in the game. His departure from Houston surprised many, especially given his success protecting another young QB in C.J. Stroud.
Samuel, meanwhile, enters a contract year with something to prove. Injuries have slowed him at times, but when healthy, the former 49ers weapon remains one of the league’s most dynamic receivers.
“If you bring back everybody and you still have the same coaching staff, and you add Deebo and Tunsil. Then YES they got better and they closed the gap,” Schrager added.
Head coach Dan Quinn now presides over a roster loaded with depth and potential.
The team added even more firepower this spring, signing veteran receiver Michael Gallup and selecting Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
They also picked up speedy receiver Jaylin Lane in the fourth round, further bolstering a wide receiver group built to stretch the field.
With upgrades across the board and a young star under center, the Commanders have moved beyond the rebuilding phase – and squarely into the Super Bowl conversation.
What are your thoughts on Washington’s standing in the NFL’s big picture? … Despite the Eagles being the defending champs, is it the Commanders who are the true “team to beat” in the NFC East???
