2026 NFL Draft, Free Agency

[Moe]

ESP first mock- 7. Washington Commanders (5-12)
David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

Washington has only two edge players (Dorance Armstrong and Javontae Jean-Baptiste) signed through next season, and both are coming off season-ending injuries. The Commanders need youthful pass rushers, and Bailey was the most productive in the country, leading the FBS with 14.5 sacks this season. He also had 23 tackles for loss, and his 20.1% pressure rate was the highest of all FBS defenders. Bailey's excellent first-step quickness helps him race past blockers with ease, and he is a rugged defender with a diverse set of pass-rush moves and powerful hands. Bailey's performance against Oregon in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals was one of the best I saw from any defender this season.

[Fiji Skins Fan]

This is Adam Peters team. He made the decision to bring in Dan Quinn and he and Quinn went to work to try and rebuild/fix the mess created by Dan Snyder. The 12-5 record in 2024 was more the result of some incredibly good fortune. The roster was too old with little chance to bring in any young talented players. Adam Peters did the best he could without hurting his ability to make things better over time. We are now looking at an off season where we have a bunch of cap space but a limited number of draft picks. Dan Quinn & Adam Peters will now have to find a new OC and a new DC.
Adam Peters has made it clear that he supports Dan Quinn BUT the product on the field had better be improved because the onus is now really on Dan Quinn to show that he's learned from the mistakes he's made since losing that Super Bowl when he had a 28-3 lead in the 4th qtr.

FWIW - We are hearing that DQ wanted KK to change the way that he used JD from a college style system to a more pro style offense. The new OC choice is VERY important

[VegasSkinsFan]

OL Coach Bobby Johnson is gone as well. I'm fine with it

[Farmer Ted]

They are saying Kingsbury is up for HC jobs. I wonder if any coordinators have ever landed a HC job right after being fired.

[Fiji Skins Fan]

They are saying Kingsbury is up for HC jobs. I wonder if any coordinators have ever landed a HC job right after being fired.

LOL - there are a number of franchises that have little to no clue about who they are hiring

Kingsbury is a good OC I'm not sure he's a good HC

[skins7ny]

LOL - there are a number of franchises that have little to no clue about who they are hiring

Kingsbury is a good OC I'm not sure he's a good HC

We just fired the Offensive Coordinator, Defensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coaches that we hired to start our regime two years ago. We are not in a position to be insulting any other franchise's hiring decisions!!

[Moe]

We just fired the Offensive Coordinator, Defensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coaches that we hired to start our regime two years ago. We are not in a position to be insulting any other franchise's hiring decisions!!

They were fired for not getting the desired results. Peters/Quinn hired them with expectations that weren't met, so they move on, like any other industry. When the team gets results, coaches only leave of their own accord, but when they don't it makes sense to look elsewhere. The bad move is to keep them around and cross your fingers hoping that lightning strikes. There is a pretty large ecosystem of coaches from which to find some good ones, so here's hoping they find some improvements.

[SkinsGuru]

While i am a bit surprised, i am ecstatic we are moving away from Kingsbury!!! I just think we need someone to protect JD5 a bit more and to run (with RB's, not QB's) a bit more! Some play action would be nice and JD5 will benefit greatly from it! Get someone from the Shanahan tree! There was not much surprise from KK's offense. The quick tempo, no huddle was nice, when things were clicking. Not so much when things were going poorly.

Whitt too, obviously!!! But that was a no brainer and already written down!

[SkinsGuru]

They were fired for not getting the desired results. Peters/Quinn hired them with expectations that weren't met, so they move on, like any other industry. When the team gets results, coaches only leave of their own accord, but when they don't it makes sense to look elsewhere. The bad move is to keep them around and cross your fingers hoping that lightning strikes. There is a pretty large ecosystem of coaches from which to find some good ones, so here's hoping they find some improvements.

I only somewhat agree . . . both of them got reasonable results last year, not so much this year. I think in Whitts case that was true as even though they were not as bad last year, they were not good . . . and were one of the worse defenses i have ever seen this year. But in KK's place . . . i think the health of JD5 and KK's use of him are the biggest reason he is gone!!

[Farmer Ted]

I only somewhat agree . . . both of them got reasonable results last year, not so much this year. I think in Whitts case that was true as even though they were not as bad last year, they were not good . . . and were one of the worse defenses i have ever seen this year. But in KK's place . . . i think the health of JD5 and KK's use of him are the biggest reason he is gone!!

Calling an option play in the fourth quarter of a game down 31 points and getting your QB hurt is as fire-able offense as there is. (Just ignore the HC's decision to leave the starting QB in.)

[Fiji Skins Fan]

We just fired the Offensive Coordinator, Defensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coaches that we hired to start our regime two years ago. We are not in a position to be insulting any other franchise's hiring decisions!!

LOL - this is a Redskins fan site - we can criticize all we want

We are only 2 years removed from being one of the worst (if not the worst) NFL teams - it was always going to take years to fix

Adam Peters is making whatever moves he feels are needed to make this franchise better - not every move is going to work - it would be a lot worse to keep people around that aren't doing their jobs well

we're lucky that we have someone in charge that most NFL people think is one of the best

[Fiji Skins Fan]

last year's results were not the result of good coaching as much as we got very lucky in a lot of those games

this is a business - you don't keep people if you don't think they can get the job done

IF Adam Peters doesn't get this thing turned around he will not have a job & he knows that as well

[Moe]

I only somewhat agree . . . both of them got reasonable results last year, not so much this year. I think in Whitts case that was true as even though they were not as bad last year, they were not good . . . and were one of the worse defenses i have ever seen this year. But in KK's place . . . i think the health of JD5 and KK's use of him are the biggest reason he is gone!!

Agree. I'm also reading that Quinn and KK disagreed on some basic philosophical principles of what they wanted to do and that lead to the divorce. This will obviously be a critical year for Quinn, but also for Daniels. If they can match him up with a proper OC then we could enjoy several years of fun offense.

[Fiji Skins Fan]

Adam Peters had to do something - we saw VERY little improvement from the defense in 2024 & while there was some improvement offensively, he & Dan Quinn had to be concerned about the offensive scheme. It seems apparent that DQ wanted KK to change the way the QB was used & they decided to go in a different direction.

Dan Quinn is in charge of the product on the field & losing both your OC & DC after 2 years is not a good thing. Going to be very interesting to see who these guys bring in

Dan Quinn is now on notice that the product on the field needs to be better or he will be gone as well

[SkinsGuru]

Adam Peters had to do something - we saw VERY little improvement from the defense in 2024 & while there was some improvement offensively, he & Dan Quinn had to be concerned about the offensive scheme. It seems apparent that DQ wanted KK to change the way the QB was used & they decided to go in a different direction.

Dan Quinn is in charge of the product on the field & losing both your OC & DC after 2 years is not a good thing. Going to be very interesting to see who these guys bring in

Dan Quinn is now on notice that the product on the field needs to be better or he will be gone as well

I think there will be plenty of people that want to be JD5's OC, especially with the o-line looking to be pretty good . . . and enough $$ to improve the WR and TE room. I expect someone from the Shanahan tree (maybe just hopeful, but the running games are usually good and the system is QB friendly) with a good pedigree!!

[SkinsGuru]

OL Coach Bobby Johnson is gone as well. I'm fine with it

I'm good with this in any sense . . . but i think they are looking for a different blocking scheme too, especially if looking for a Shanahan disciple to be OC. That is what Dan Quinn had when Shanny was his OC in Atlanta when things were really good!

[VegasSkinsFan]

I'm good with this in any sense . . . but i think they are looking for a different blocking scheme too, especially if looking for a Shanahan disciple to be OC. That is what Dan Quinn had when Shanny was his OC in Atlanta when things were really good!

I like the Detroit run game, big strong OL with 2 types of backs. Would love to find our version of Jamyr Gibbs honestly. I would be happy with another 1 or 2 "take it to the house on any play" guy. One can be a WR since that's a major need as well. But most of the work this offseason needs to be on the D. If we find 1 solid defense FA at all 3 levels, Love or the top Wr would be in play. If not, one of those D spots would and should be targeted with out first pick. The last question would come down to "do we, don't we" try to trade down a few spots and add a day 2 pick or two.

[Farmer Ted]

I'm good with this in any sense . . . but i think they are looking for a different blocking scheme too, especially if looking for a Shanahan disciple to be OC. That is what Dan Quinn had when Shanny was his OC in Atlanta when things were really good!

Anthony Lynn is on the staff. I wonder if they are considering him or if they are looking for a bigger splash. He must have some Shanahan influence after spending time in SF. The other guy on the staff people rave about is David Blau. He sounds like he could be the next McVay that gets a HC job elsewhere and makes Farmer Ted cry in his beer.

I just hope like hell they don't hire Daboll.

[Moe]

guys they signed to futures contracts:
G Sala Aumavae-Laulu

DT Ricky Barber

WR Ja'Corey Brooks

CB Tre Hawkins

DE D.J. Johnson

WR Jacoby Jones

DE TJ Maguranyanga

S Rob McDaniel

T Tim McKay

CB Darius Rush

CB Car'lin Vigers

[Fiji Skins Fan]

Anthony Lynn is on the staff. I wonder if they are considering him or if they are looking for a bigger splash. He must have some Shanahan influence after spending time in SF. The other guy on the staff people rave about is David Blau. He sounds like he could be the next McVay that gets a HC job elsewhere and makes Farmer Ted cry in his beer.
I just hope like hell they don't hire Daboll.

Detroit Lions have indicated an interest in David Blough for OC

Blough stepped up into the interim quarterbacks coach position once Pritchard departed. He's highly thought of in the building and seems to be on a fast track up the coaching ladder. Unfortunately for Washington, this isn't going unnoticed, and the Lions want to know whether he is ready for the step up to play-calling responsibilities.

[Fiji Skins Fan]

Michael Pittman Jr.'s murky future with Colts puts WR squarely on Commanders' radar

Pittman has a $29 million cap hit in 2026, the final season of the three-year, $70 million contract extension he signed in March 2024. The Colts can save $24 million while only leaving behind $5 million in dead money by cutting him.
It's hard to envision Washington giving up assets to acquire Pittman, considering trading for high-priced veterans has burned Peters in the past. Nevertheless, the Commanders could make a play for the veteran wideout if he becomes a cap casualty in Indianapolis.

[Fiji Skins Fan]

This from Hogs Haven

Inside the Offensive Coordinator Search That Could Also Shape Dan Quinn’s Future
Make or break decision for Dan Quinn?
by Ryan Fowler
Jan 7, 2026 at 2:00 PM EST
There is a narrow margin for error when a head coach enters year three coming off a 5–12 season. While there are many underlying factors as to how they got here, the fact simply can’t be ignored. For Dan Quinn, the search for Washington’s next offensive coordinator is not simply about improving the unit or maximizing the skill set of a young quarterback. It is about professional survival.
And now, it’s a paradox Quinn now faces. If he gets the hire wrong, Washington risks another stagnant offensive season in 2026, and Quinn could be on the outside looking in by the time 2027 arrives. But if he gets it right—really right—and lands a coordinator with head-coaching cachet or upward momentum, success may create its own complications.
A playoff return and a revitalized offense would instantly make that coordinator a priority retention piece for general manager Adam Peters and owner Josh Harris. In that scenario, Quinn’s authority and longevity could quietly come under scrutiny, especially if the offense continues to serve as the defining identity of the roster.
With Kliff Kingsbury now gone, Washington is again searching for offensive direction. What makes this cycle different is that the roster is no longer theoretical. Jayden Daniels is entrenched under center. Terry McLaurin remains the offensive centerpiece. And Laremy Tunsil remains the anchor at left tackle. There are also young pieces developing at the skill spots, so the next coordinator will not be inheriting a blank slate. He will be stepping into a pressure cooker.
Here are four names to know as Washington begins their evaluation process.

Nate Scheelhaase, Pass Game Specialist, Los Angeles Rams
If Washington prioritizes innovation, adaptability, and a coach who understands how modern offenses evolve without abandoning structure, Scheelhaase deserves consideration. For the 35-year old Scheelhaase, his path has never been linear, and that may be his greatest asset. His coaching career began at Illinois in 2015, when the university hired him as Assistant Director of Football Operations after he declined the same role the year prior due to a commitment to youth ministry in Louisville, Kentucky. When Illinois head coach Tim Beckman was fired later that summer and Bill Cubit was promoted to interim head coach, Scheelhaase transitioned onto the field as the running backs coach, a steady climb that would define the next decade of his career.
His time at Iowa State under Matt Campbell, now the head coach at Penn State, solidified his reputation. Hired as running backs coach in 2018, Scheelhaase moved to wide receivers in 2019, then added running game coordinator duties in 2021. By 2023, he was promoted to offensive coordinator, replacing Tom Manning and overseeing a unit that balanced physicality with spacing and multiplicity.
That trajectory caught the attention of Sean McVay, and in February of 2024, Scheelhaase joined the Rams as pass game specialist, a role that places him directly inside one of the league’s most demanding and detail-oriented offensive ecosystems.
For Washington, Scheelhaase represents a coordinator who understands how to build an offense around quarterback strengths rather than forcing a rigid system. His background coaching both running backs and receivers matters for a team still shaping its offensive identity, and with Jayden Daniels, that versatility and willingness to blend concepts could be invaluable.

Spencer Whipple, QB Coach, Jacksonville Jaguars
Washington’s offensive growth in 2026 will be tethered to Daniels’ health, surely, but also continued development as a complete quarterback, not just a dynamic athlete. That reality places quarterback-centric coaches at the forefront of the conversation, and Whipple fits that profile cleanly.
Whipple has spent recent seasons in Jacksonville working closely with Trevor Lawrence, helping expand the Jaguars’ offensive menu and layering in more intermediate and downfield concepts. While Lawrence and Daniels are different stylistically, both benefit from structured freedom, defined reads paired with the ability to attack defenses both vertically and horizontally.
For Washington, what makes Whipple intriguing is his exposure to an offense that demands timing, spacing, and discipline across all three levels of the field. Jacksonville’s skill-position usage has evolved, leaning into matchup creation and route combinations that stress coverage rules rather than simply winning with isolation talent.
For Daniels, whose game thrives on decisiveness and controlled aggression, a coordinator with Whipple’s background could accelerate growth as a processor and passer. The hire would be less about reinvention, and more about refinement, building layers onto what already works.

Davis Webb, Pass Game Coordinator, Denver Broncos
At just 30 years old, Webb represents the younger edge of the coordinator spectrum, but his résumé already carries weight well beyond his age. Webb has been instrumental in Denver’s work with Bo Nix, helping guide a young quarterback through the transition to an NFL offense while emphasizing footwork, timing, and situational awareness. His presence in the interview cycle — including an upcoming head coaching interview with the Raiders — signals how quickly his reputation is rising within league circles.
For Washington, Webb would be a bet on developmental upside and long-term vision. Moving from the AFC to the NFC, from Nix to Daniels, the appeal lies in Webb’s quarterback-specific focus. Daniels does not need to be protected schematically; he needs to be expanded as a passer. Challenged, if you will, and Webb’s background suggests he understands how to do that without sacrificing efficiency.
This would be a forward-looking hire, one that aligns with Daniels’ timeline and positions Washington as a team investing in continuity rather than short-term fixes.

Dave Ragone, QB Coach, Los Angeles Rams
If Washington wants immediate credibility tied to a proven offensive infrastructure, Ragone is a name that naturally rises to the top.
Another member of the McVay coaching tree, Ragone currently serves as the Rams’ quarterbacks coach and has been deeply involved in game planning and offensive sequencing.
The appeal here is simplicity married to sophistication. Ragone understands how to structure an offense around its best players, and Washington has pieces worth building around. Daniels’ athleticism and arm talent. McLaurin’s dominance on the perimeter. Additionally, a backfield tandem that saw young depth emerge in 2025 with Chris Rodriguez and Bill Croskey-Merritt, similar to the youth-infused presence of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum in Los Angeles.
This would not be a rebuild hire, it would be an optimization hire, aimed at maximizing what already exists while tightening execution.

Brian Daboll, Former Giants HC and Bills OC
Then there is the name that changes the temperature of the room. Brian Daboll is not simply a coordinator candidate, he is a potential statement hire. He’s a former head coach with playoff experience, a former offensive coordinator who helped mold Josh Allen into one of the games elite, and a coach who interviewed Daniels during the pre-draft process before New York ultimately passed on selecting a quarterback that spring.
If Daboll joins Washington, he does so as a figure with gravitational pull. His presence alongside Dan Quinn would instantly reshape the power dynamic, potentially positioning Daboll as a head-coach-in-waiting whether anyone says it aloud or not.
For Washington, the upside is obvious despite the roller coaster that was his time in New York. Daboll’s track record with quarterbacks, his ability to adapt systems to talent, and his comfort commanding an offense could unlock another level for Daniels and re-align the team’s competitive window.
But this is also where Quinn’s dilemma sharpens. If Daboll gets it right and Washington’s offense reaches levels similar to 2024, the long-term question becomes unavoidable in that who is the individual to steer the future of the franchise?

For Peters and Quinn, the offensive coordinator search is not just about play design or weekly game plans. It is about alignment, authority, and trajectory. It’s a calculated search for the right fit, absolutely, but the reality remains in that Quinn could be hiring someone who could either stabilize his tenure, or quietly shorten it. That’s the nature of the beast in the NFL. What is certain is that Washington can’t afford another miss. Not with Jayden Daniels in place. Not after 5–12. And not with the clock already ticking.

For Washington, the priority is clear: find the coaches who best position Washington to win.
Whether that path leads to continuity or eventual change may be secondary.

[Winnipeg_Skins_Fan]

Phins just fired McDaniel. I’d take him as OC if he doesn’t get any other opportunities.

[skins7ny]

I am giessing that mcdaniel will be our oc next year. Some candidates for both coordinator positions may be scared off by perception of Quinn possibly being a lame-duck if he doed not win next year, but McDaniel personal loyalty to Quinn and working with Daniels makes him excellent fit.

[Moe]

Yeah I'd be good with him as OC. He might lean in on them getting more speed into this offense.

[Fiji Skins Fan]

All coaches in the NFL understand how insecure the job is - John Harbaugh is a VERY good NFL HC & he just got let go

Adam Peters is going to be "loyal" & supportive of the people that work for him but he understands that his job is to have a consistently competitive product on the field. Dan Quinn just let go his OC & DC - this is not a good thing - we are entering year 3 and Peters & the owners will want to see a lot better product on the field this year. AP will give Dan Quinn what he needs to succeed but there is no doubt that he & the owners will be looking for a new HC if things don't get turned around here soon

Exciting times ahead

[Fiji Skins Fan]

There's no doubt that we're going to be younger DUH AND have a defense that is better than what we had (also a no brainer!)

hopefully we will be able run the ball when we want to & be a lot better defensively in both tackles & putting pressure on the QB

[Winnipeg_Skins_Fan]

Lattimore arrested on weapons charges. Pretty much seals his fate now. Goodbye Marshawn, hello $18M in cap space.

[Farmer Ted]

Lattimore arrested on weapons charges. Pretty much seals his fate now. Goodbye Marshawn, hello $18M in cap space.

Too bad he wasn't carrying when he was on the field. He may not have been targeted so much.

[lorimike]

Lattimore arrested on weapons charges. Pretty much seals his fate now. Goodbye Marshawn, hello $18M in cap space.

<<<

shocking! not