2026 Washington Commanders in Three Players
The offseason is upon us. Let's take a look at all 32 teams.
The 32nd edition of our offseason series is here!
We made it, and it is no longer the offseason.
Instead of reviewing all 32 drafts and adding casual commentary, I will be doing this instead.
We will go through every single team, in alphabetical order, and quickly discuss three players:
a favorite free agent signing
a favorite draft pick
and a player already entrenched on the roster
Not necessarily the best, or the top, or the one's who will play the biggest role, just one of choice.
Last, but not least, onto the Washington Commanders
Free Agent Signing
DT Tim Settle
Settle returns to where he was originally drafted back in 2018, as he enters Year 9 of his NFL career. Settle is a part of a defensive overhaul in Washington, despite a down year statistically in 2025.
The Commanders signed Settle to a 3 year, $24m contract this offseason.
Here is a cut-up of the good from Settle's 2025 season.
In an effort to fix what was a bottom three defense in the NFL in 2025, the Commanders brought in a lot of talent:
DE Odafe Oweh - 4 years, $100m
DE Charles Omenihu - 1 year, $4m
EDGE K'Lavon Chaisson - 1 year, $12m
EDGE Joshua Josephs - 3rd round pick
LB Leo Chenal - 3 years, $24.75m
LB Sonny Styles - 7th overall pick
And of course Tim Settle. And that's just the front seven.
Additionally, defensive ends Dorance Armstrong and Deatrich Wise are returning from season-ending injuries.
While Settle did not have a great year statistically compared to his past, I don't think that is much of a worry. Especially considering he likely won't have great stats in 2026, with a bit of a role change.
In Houston, they ran more of an attacking front, with their defensive tackles as 3-techs. Washington, meanwhile, ran fronts with a nose tackle over 25% of the time, as opposed to 4% in Houston. Tim Settle is the projected nose tackle for the Commanders.
When it comes to being a nose tackle, Settle has some skills, and experience.
He holds his gap responsibility well and has the lateral movement skills to get away from one blocker. Settle has the movement ability to get himself into running lanes, causing chaos in the gaps. He can even find himself in the backfield, with 13 TFLs over the last two seasons. A good shedder of blockers on the interior.
However, Settle was not great at holding double teams. He could anchor well, but the double teamer was always allowed to climb to the backer, allowing the ballcarrier to get further up field. Now, maintaining a double team as a nose can be different, since you already are on top of the center.
And in the pass rush, Settle won't be spectacularly productive, although he did has had 5.0 sack, 10% pressure rate seasons in his past.
He can take advantage of some one on one pass blockers, with a nice swim or swipe move that works well with his feet. He's able to slip by and pressure the QB from up the middle. Nose tackles typically don't see pass rusher production, or opportunities, but Settle could win some of those one on ones with the center.
Tim Settle should provide more stability to what was a messy front for Washington in 2025. The biggest problem for him is not with his play, but rather the fact that he is coming off lisfranc surgery. Foot problems for a 29 year old man who is well over 300lbs is not ideal.
But, he is reportedly healthy in training camp, and will play an important rotational role for the Commanders. They do have depth on the interior, with Daron Payne, Jer'Zhan Newton, and Javon Kinlaw.
Draftee
WR Antonio Williams
The 71st pick of this years' draft, Williams spent all four years of his college career at Clemson University. He was productive in all of his years at Clemson, outside of a sophomore redshirt due to injury.
Williams posted over 1500 yards and 15 TDs on 130 reception in his final two years, and is projected to be Washington's slot option as a rookie.
Here is a cut-up of Williams against Duke in 2025, via @BengalsBrews on Twitter/X.
As training camp began, the Commanders signed veteran Pro Bowl WR Stefon Diggs to a 1 year contract. This pushed Williams, and others, down the depth chart, but takes the Washington receiver room from dangerously weak to fairly deep.
Third year pro Luke McCaffrey showed signs of good play before breaking his collarbone to end his season. Former 1st round pick Treylon Burks showed up out of necessity in 2025, but posted a few good games, earning the right to return this season. 2025 4th round pick Jaylin Lane also had a few good games as a rookie last season, and old friend Dyami Brown returned to the Commanders.
That's a lot of names who could be very solid NFL players in 2026. But we also know their limits, to an extent.
Antonio Williams, meanwhile, is their highest investment at WR in a long-time, outside of paying Terry McLaurin. You would assume they want him to be the WR2 in the future.
I mentioned Williams playing in the slot. But because of Diggs' age, a lot of his damage will come from the slot these days. And you need a guy to operate on the perimeter once he's gone.
At his size of 5'11, 187lbs, Williams is smaller and yet not particularly fast. He doesn't stretch the field from the slot. We do not know how well Williams handles press coverage, which, combined with a lack of speed, could make it difficult for him to live on the perimeter.
And while I like how Williams runs routes, he doesn't always explode out on time, again, not a good attribute for a perimeter receiver.
But, the way Williams plays football might just make him a viable option all over the field.
His ability to catch the football is incredible at his size. He can adjust to any ball, in any way. Has strong hands to compete wherever the ball or defenders are.
Williams is also able to find way to get open. Whether with his route artistry, or finding space in zone, he should be a QB friendly receiver in the NFL.
The most fun part of Williams' game is his vision after the catch. He has excellent vision and quickness to get more yards. It all adds up to being a good slot receiver.
Antonio Williams' knack for finding space for the QB to throw, with strong hands, and great toughness over the middle, makes for a nice modern slot receiver.
Williams should see snaps as a rookie. He can be a reliable weapon for Jayden Daniels, and has an impactful skillset that demands to see the field. It's just a question of where he finds his role, and how quickly he can claim it.
In-House Player
CB Trey Amos
Amos was the Commanders' 2nd round pick in 2025, and started 8 games as a rookie on the outside. Unfortunately, Amos suffered a fractured fibula in Week 10, cutting his inspiring rookie season short in a disastrous year for Washington.
Here is a cut-up of the good from Amos' rookie season.
Amos projects to be Washington's top outside starter, with veteran Marshon Lattimore leaving the building.
Washington signed two veteran CBs with good seasons in their past, in Amik Robertson and Rasul Douglas. Robertson has inside flexibility as well, but Mikey Sainristil is the projected slot starter.
The Commanders added lots of pieces to this defense, but Amos may be the gem of the secondary. I loved the signing of safety Nick Cross, but that was just a two year deal. Amos can, and needs to, be the key piece on the backend of a Washington defense that has created what appears to be a rock solid front seven.
Amos had really good film for a rookie who did not even get to finish his rookie season.
His speed isn't the best, but it's not an issue. Amos can recover, but the make up and long speed is less than ideal. It doesn't stop him from being good in man coverage, though.
Tackling is another "weakness", that really is not that weak for Amos. He can definitely tackle, and doesn't look scared when helping against the run. But sometimes he tackles too high, or takes a bad angle in the open field. Amos definitely is not a liability, but you'd like it to be a bit better.
But, like I said, Amos showed a lot of good stuff. He is really clean in coverage. Only recording one penalty as a rookie who took over 500 snaps is quite impressive.
Amos has fairly clean technique. Yes, like all corners, he is susceptible to getting beat towards the sidelines on out breaking routes, but that's the only place he really get beat. He plays press and off coverage well.
The majority of Amos' coverage reps come on the perimeter, where he is good at pinning receivers to the sideline. On top of this, he plays the ball very well.
Personally, I prefer Amos in a zone role. In his limited Cover Two reps, he was effective in the underneath zone. And he's fluid when navigating the sidelines.
Trey Amos truly has the potential to be a guy who can shutdown a portion of the field and effect an offenses gameplan. And there is a good chance of him developing into that this season with the upgraded Washington defensive front.
If Amos can't take a step forward, even if he does not reach what I believe is his full potential, the Commanders could be incredible vulnerable on the perimeter. Opponents could pick them apart to the point where the defensive upgrades are moot.
Thanks for reading through our 32nd and final edition of previewing all 32 teams in 3 players!
The preseason is officially here with lots of more articles to come!
Let me know who else on the Commanders is worth monitoring this season, good or bad!
Stay tuned for more NFL and 49ers articles, news, and opinions!
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