The Washington Commanders didn’t have the 2025 campaign they expected. After running it all the way to the NFC Championship in the 2024 season and retaining Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator, they collapsed this past season. Quarterback Jayden Daniels’s injuries, combined with an offense and a defense that frequently misfired, resulted in a 5-12 campaign that left them with plenty of questions to answer.
How should they start to rebuild for 2026?
Mike Evans Touted As Major Addition Next to Terry McLaurin at Commanders
With the defense having been left exposed by the offense this past season, Washington’s front office should zero in on the attack in free agency. The unit ranked 22nd in scoring in 2025, leaving much to be desired, and reinforcing the receiving corps should go a long way in stabilizing the offense, no matter who’s under center.
Daniels’s injury concerns will hopefully be behind him by the time the 2026 season rolls around. However, head coach Dan Quinn has to build the offense to handle the young quarterback’s absence.
Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr backs Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout Mike Evans to the Commanders, largely due to salary cap considerations.
“The Commanders will sign Mike Evans in free agency,” Orr wrote in his bold predictions piece. “Despite interest from the Bills, Washington can commit more with breathing room under the salary cap. The push to get Jayden Daniels to a Super Bowl before his rookie contract tolls is real, and Evans is one of the most quarterback-friendly receivers in the NFL.”
Evans played out his latest contract in 2025, leaving him on the open market for the highest bidder. How much he’ll get at his age remains to be seen. The veteran will be 33 when the next season kicks off, and his age has started to show, as he missed most of last season due to injuries. It marked a turning point in his career, as it resulted in the end of an 11-year streak of 1,000-yard campaigns.
The wideout, with 108 career touchdowns, has more years behind him than in front, which should see him take on a supporting role if he were to land in Washington. Not only do the Commanders have star receiver Terry McLaurin, but they also have the versatile Deebo Samuel and tight end Zach Ertz in the passing game.
It should be noted, though, that Samuel and Ertz played out their latest contracts, making Evans (81.8 PFSN’s NFL WR Impact in 2024)Â an even bigger free agent target if the front office doesn’t extend one or both of the players.
It also remains to be seen whether Tampa’s front office lets Evans go, given his chemistry with quarterback Baker Mayfield.
