The Washington Commanders are entering a pivotal offseason. The team is looking to move on from their injury-riddled, disappointing 2025 campaign and towards a fresh start in 2026. Now that the team has addressed their coordinator vacancies, their focus should be on addressing the roster. While the Commanders might not be as coveted a landing spot as they were coming off an NFC Championship run, they are still an up-and-coming team that could be just a few pieces away from a Super Bowl contender.
While the team doesn’t have many glaring issues, the front office may target the defense more than the offense. Pro Football Focus had the Commanders’ defense graded as the 27th-worst in 2025. This was reflected in the team’s decision to move on from former defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. at the end of the season. Now that the team has hired former Minnesota Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones to replace Whitt Jr., they can begin to focus on finding players who fit his system.
Daronte Jones Expected to Bring a ‘Brian Flores Style Defense’ to Commanders
GettyLinebacker Bobby Wagner led the Washington Commanders in tackles in 2025 with 162 total.
Jones has been with the Vikings since 2022 and worked under defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Flores is known for implementing a defense that relies heavily on blitzing and utilizing “two-deep” and “four-deep” fire zone looks. Acclaimed NFL YouTuber Brett Kollmann broke down how Brian Flores runs his defense in a recent video detailing the defensive coordinator’s scheme. The Vikings blitzed at 48% in 2025, the highest amount in the league by over 14%. This puts a lot of emphasis on the linebacker position, as that style of defense relies on their ability to get home quickly or cover underneath consistently.
The Commanders’ highest-graded linebacker in 2025 was Bobby Wagner, according to PFF. However, Wagner is 35 years old and a free agent in 2026 who is expected to move on from the team.
There are several options they could choose to help fill their hole at linebacker, and Bleacher Report calls them a “potential suitor” for Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd, one of the outlet’s top 10 players available.
LB Devin Lloyd Would Bring Commanders Stability as a High-Floor Player, says Bleacher Report
GettyLinebacker Devin Lloyd has recorded 3.5 sacks, 436 tackles, and 9 interceptions across his 4-year career.
B/R’s Kristopher Knox listed Devin Lloyd at number seven on Bleacher Report’s 2026 NFL Free Agency Big Board, ranking projected free agents.
“Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd never quite played up to his draft status before the 2025 season. However, the 2022 first-round pick certainly made the most of his contract year,” Knox wrote.
“Despite missing time with a calf injury, Lloyd racked up 81 tackles, 1.5 sacks, seven passes defended, 14 quarterback pressures, and five interceptions, while allowing an opposing passer rating of only 56.4 in coverage.”
“While the Utah product will turn 28 next September, he should have several good years in front of him.”
Devin Lloyd’s coverage upside and nose for the football would make him a perfect fit for Jones’ defensive scheme, which is expected to live off of athletic linebacker play and turnovers. Lloyd would also offer Washington a stable centerpiece to build around as they look to tighten the backend and boost the defensive front.
Knox had Lloyd projected around $51 Million on a three-year deal. However, Spotrac has Lloyd’s value higher at around $20.1 Million per year, and him garnering a three-year deal closer to $60 Million. A range in between those is reasonable and works well within the Commander’s budget, as they have $63.4 Million in Cap Space for 2026.
Washington Commanders Named ‘Potential Suitor’ for $60M Free Agent