Around this time last season, vibes were high in D.C. The Commanders were coming off an impromptu trip to the NFC championship game, and it seemed like the stench of the previous 25 years had finally been fumigated.
But things fell apart quickly. The team won seven less games than it did in 2024, Jayden Daniels spent more time on the bench than he did under center and several players who were supposed to be difference-makers turned out to be nonfactors.
With a new NFL season kicking off today, let’s look at the players who will shape this year in Washington. If everything goes right with this group of 10, there’s a chance the Commanders can make it one game further than they did in 2024. If not, this fall could be a sequel to 2025.