Daily Slop: 24 Jan 26 – Who will backup Jayden Daniels in 2026?

Commanders links

Articles

Commanders.com

2025 Commanders position review | Safety

• Is more help coming? The safety position is one of the few on Washington’s roster that doesn’t have a pending free agent in its midst, so the team could just roll with the same group in 2026. However, there are possibilities for changes this offseason, as several veterans like Jaquon Brisker, Reed Blankenship and Bryan Cook are all scheduled to be free agents. There’s also the possibility that the Commanders could take a safety in the draft. Several analysts have connected them with Ohio State’s Caleb Downs, and some believe that he is the best overall player in the 2026 class.
• Who will be the starters? There might not be a clear answer on this until the Commanders make any possible tweaks to the position, but it’s a legitimate concern for a defense that is in need of retooling. Harris seems to be a lock; he gives the Commanders more flexibility in coverage while also being able to play closer to the line of scrimmage. The other safety spot remains in question. Although the coaching staff still believes in Martin’s development, his snap count dramatically decreased near the end of the season. Owens, Butler and Reaves became key contributors but are mostly used on special teams. Considering how much the Commanders struggled to defend the passing game, there’s clear room for improvement.

Riggo’s Rag

Commanders lineman Sam Cosmi is gaining some long overdue national plaudits

The former Texas star’s 76.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus ranked 10th league-wide among all qualifying guards. Zach Tantillo from PFF added more praise to Cosmi, proclaiming him as Washington’s secret superstar from an otherwise underwhelming campaign.

“Coming off a torn ACL late last season, [Sam] Cosmi returned to form as one of Washington’s most consistent players in 2025. He finished as the team’s third-highest-graded offensive player (76.4), posting 72.0-plus grades in both pass blocking and run blocking. Cosmi allowed just 11 pressures and two sacks on the season and closed the year with six consecutive games without allowing a pressure.”Zach Tantillo, PFF

Ron Rivera didn’t get much right during his four-year stint at the helm. However, his decision to draft Cosmi and switch him onto the interior when his time at tackle wasn’t productive enough is benefiting the Commanders long after his departure.

Commanders Roundtable

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin reportedly interviewed for Washington’s DC job

Austin, 60, actually began his NFL career with Washington back in 1988, marking his lone season in the league after spending time on the practice squad before playing two seasons in the CFL. But he shifted quickly from playing to coaching, first in the college ranks in the early 1990s as a grad assistant at Penn State. After stints at Wake Forest, Syracuse then Michigan, Austin made the jump to the NFL where he first served as a defensive backs coach for the Seattle Seahawks from...