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2025 Commanders position review | Wide receiver
Who else can stretch the field? [Terry] McLaurin and [Noah] Brown’s absences left the Commanders without a player who could routinely stretch the field and make explosive plays in the passing game. While McLaurin is here to stay for the foreseeable future, Brown is also set to be a free agent after missing most of the season.
Like finding a No. 2 receiver, the Commanders have multiple options in either free agency or the draft, but they could also look at their current players available on the roster. Burks, who the team signed during the season, showed flashes of the talent that convinced the Tennessee Titans to draft him in the first round back in 2022. Burks would also need to be re-signed, although the coaching staff has routinely praised him for his work ethic and skill set.
Last Man Standig (subscription/paywall)
Washington Post (paywall)
Daronte Jones, a key assistant under coordinator Brian Flores with the Minnesota Vikings, is in line to replace Joe Whitt Jr.
Washington landed on Jones, who interviewed Sunday. He impressed during his meeting with the team, the person familiar with the matter said, and pitched a vision and philosophy — centered on physicality, sound tackling and forcing takeaways — that meshed well with that of Coach Dan Quinn. Given his track record coaching defensive backs, Jones has experience that complements that of Quinn, who as a position coach worked with the defensive line.
The Vikings’ secondary didn’t make many plays on the ball in 2025, but they were sound in coverage. They allowed a completion rate of 62.4 percent (tied for seventh) and limited opponents to 6.8 yards per attempt (tied for 11th), according to TruMedia.
The Athletic (paywall)
Brian Flores assistant takes over as DC in DC
A Maryland native who played at Bishop McNamara High (in the Washington suburbs) and at Morgan State University, Jones will [possibly] be a first-time NFL play caller as he attempts to transform a Washington defense that has been a liability for much of the last two seasons. He takes over for Joe Whitt Jr., who was fired after two seasons of leading the Commanders’ defense, and inherits a group with numerous roster holes. Washington has more than 30 free agents across the roster and many positions that need upgrades in talent.
As Brian Flores’ No. 2 on defense, Jones helped coach a Vikings unit that ranked among the league’s top three in both total yards and passing yards allowed, as well as opponent red-zone efficiency, last season. Minnesota also gave up an average of only 19.6 points per game and allowed the fewest plays of 20 yards or more, at 38.
The Vikings’ secondary also played a significant role in their 14-3 run in 2024, when they led the league with 24 interceptions (at least one in every game) and 95 passes defended, and had the fourth-best total defensive EPA per game (5.76). Minnesota’s defensive backs accounted for 18 interceptions.
Jones was one of nine candidates to interview for the Commanders’ job, along with Vikings defensive coordinator Flores, Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen, new Packers defensive coordinator and former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Bears defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator Al Harris, Seahawks DBs coach Karl Scott, new Giants defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson and Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.
Commanders Roundtable
Analyzing Daronte Jones as Commanders new defensive coordinator
Viewed as the key assistant under Flores, along with experience coaching coaching under Mike Zimmer, Vance Joseph and Lou Anarumo, Jones’ units have put a premium on takeaways. See ball, get ball as Jones joked with Ari Meirov that defensive backs don’t get paid unless they’re touching the ball either by forced fumble or interception, but that’s also a theme to what his units have produced under his direction. In his four seasons with Minnesota, the Vikings amassed 73 interceptions while notching at least one takeaway in every game in 2025. Jones also had success on the college level after improving Hawaii’s pass defense by nearly 70 yards in 2012 and leading Wisconsin’s defense to a nation’s-best seven passing touchdowns allowed.
[W]hat the [Commanders] defense does to address both the cornerback and safety rooms is a question mark now for Jones to answer. While Ohio State safety Caleb Downs has blossomed into a popular pick in mock drafts for Washington, how Jones gets more out of third-year cornerback Mike Sainristil and second-year Trey Amos might be as intriguing given Jones’ pedigree as a teacher-coach.
While Jones’ lone season at LSU didn’t blossom into appealing defensive stats with the Tigers allowing over 375 yards per game during a lame duck season under Ed Orgeron, his ability to develop was one that resonated quickly.
the bonus is that the hire marks a homecoming for Jones, a Maryland native who graduated from nearby Bishop McNamara before playing cornerback at Morgan State. This will mark his first job in the area since his days with the Bears, but it also will mark Jones first time calling plays in the NFL.
The optimism on defense is that a defensive-minded coach like Quinn will be able to help mold Jones ahead of 2026 while relinquishing play calling duties, but it might be Washington’s biggest question ahead of a make-or-break season in year three of the Dan Quinn era.
Commanders Roundtable
A Profile of the Commanders new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones
The Teacher-Coach
One thing you can say about Jones is that he is incredibly well-traveled. His experience ranges from high school coordinator to Division II assistant head coach, and from the Canadian Football League to the Big Ten. He has also spent time as a defensive backs coach for three NFL teams, including the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, and two separate stints with the Minnesota Vikings.
A Hot Commodity
Since returning to the Vikings in 2022 and moving into his current role in 2023, Jones had become a hot commodity. He interviewed with the New York Jets, New York Giants, and Green Bay Packers this offseason.
Jones’s coaching philosophy centers on being an effective teacher—meeting players where they are in terms of learning styles. This is rooted in the fact that he began his coaching tenure as a physical education teacher in Louisiana, at both Franklin and Jeanerette Senior High Schools.
In a 2021 interview, he shared how that background shapes his leadership:
“Some players learn best watching film, some players learn best in walkthroughs, some players actually have to do it several times to get it. So when you are installing a defense, you want to incorporate every type of learning style.”
Commanders Wire
7 things to know about new Commanders DC Daronte Jones
Jones slept in his car early in his coaching career
Every coach has their own journey. Some are fortunate enough to be born into it. Others are not. Jones didn’t play in the NFL. He didn’t have a famous father or uncle to help him land a top job in his early 30s. He scratched and clawed for every opportunity. He worked at small colleges and high schools before moving his way up and eventually landing in the NFL.
Jones told a story last year about sleeping in his car at one point during his coaching career. It was at this time that he asked himself if he really wanted this coaching life. He battled through it and continued to climb the ranks.
A to Z Sports
The Commanders’ chances of losing a top assistant coach, but earning two compensatory picks just went up
Running game coordinator Anthony Lynn has been a hot name this offseason, and he landed another head coaching interview in the AFC, which could be a big loss for the Commanders, but brings a reward as well.
Anthony Lynn interviews for the Cleveland Browns head coaching position
Lynn has already landed on the Buffalo Bills’ radar as a potential head coaching candidate, and now the Cleveland Browns also interviewed him for their own opening. The Browns do have a close connection to Lynn, with former Los Angeles Chargers general manager Tom Telesco working as a consultant for their search. Telesco was the general manager for the Chargers when Lynn worked as the head coach from 2017 to 2020.
The Browns have struck out on multiple head coaching candidates, and may elect to go the CEO head coach route with Lynn, and keep Jim Schwartz around as the defensive coordinator. It would be a big loss for the Commanders’ coaching staff, but it would also come with an instant reward that may be worth it.
The Commanders would be awarded two compensatory picks if Anthony Lynn is hired as a head coach
The Commanders’ coaching staff would be getting much younger on offense, but they would also be rewarded with two third-round picks — [one each in] the 2026 NFL Draft and the 2027 NFL Draft. The NFL’s Rooney Rule rewards two third-round picks to a team that loses a minority assistant coach to another team as a head coach hire.
This is obviously very notable considering the Commanders only have six picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, and only two in the top-75 of the draft without a second and fourth rounder. There are now two possible landing destinations for Lynn to leave as a head coach, so the chances are higher than ever, and it would be a blessing in disguise to be rewarded with those two picks.
NFL.com
Unsung heroes of 2025 NFL season: One overlooked/surprise contributor from each NFC team
Washington Commanders – Chris Rodriguez Jr. – RB · Year 3
The Commanders’ offense wasn’t pretty, and the ground game struggled for spells. But while rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt generated plenty of buzz, Rodriguez proved a stabilizing force when Washington turned to him down the stretch. Of his 500 yards and six TDs on 112 carries, 381 yards and five scores came on 85 attempts in the final seven games. The third-year back’s .03 rush EPA per carry ranked tied for fifth-best among all RBs with at least 100 totes (compared to Croskey-Merritt’s mark of -0.06). Rodrguez earned a 45.5% success rate on carries, with 29 missed tackles forced; he also averaged 3.46 yards after contact forced per carry. He might not profile as an every-down back, but Rodriguez proved valuable in 2025.
andscape.com
Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jalyn Holmes is stepping into Hollywood production
Holmes is a producer of Freelance, a new comedy screening at Sundance this week
While playing at Ohio State from 2014-17, he owned a camera from Canon’s Rebel series. He eventually upgraded to a Sony Alpha 7C after he was drafted in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings.
Five years later, while playing for the New York Jets, Holmes became aware of the NFL Career Tours, which offers professional development experience for NFL players in the entertainment industry. Through that program, Holmes teamed up with Hidden Empire Film Group, a Black-owned production company that produced the “Meet the Blacks”films starring comedian Mike Epps.
“I was able to really see the business side of everything, and also the creation process, and the different lanes that came with making the film — from the writing, from acting, directing, and producing and … the cinematographer or the director of photography,” Holmes said. “That’s when I learned all these different avenues.”
While playing for the Jets in 2023, he met the directing duo of Julien and Justen Turner.
The Turner brothers were working on what would become “Freelance,” a comedy about a young Black filmmaker who moves into a content creation house with a group of friends hoping to break into the entertainment industry. Holmes signed on as an associate producer, and the film will be screened at the Sundance Film Festival this week in Utah.
What are your responsibilities as an associate producer?
I feel like every project varies, especially on the level of the film. So when I hopped in on it, it was already written, and most of the stuff was planned, and it’s ready to go. But just being on set, making sure everybody has what they need. I got to help hold something during the scene or do something to make everything look good on camera. I was doing that. I financially invested in the film, so paying for materials and locations, permits, or wherever the directors and other producers needed the money to go, that’s where it went. And then, right now, helping produce, promote, and get the word out so we can sell it.
So what do you see as next for you after this film? What are your ultimate goals in this filmmaking entertainment space?
What’s next for me is to write and direct my own film. That’s the goal. That’s why I got into “Freelance,” so I could have the opportunity to see what it takes and what goes into it. I want to take what I saw and learned from “Freelance” and produce my own film.
Podcasts & videos
Spotlight Guest: Vikings DB Coach Daronte Jones
HIRED: Washington Commanders Secure Daronte Jones And Why He BEAT OUT High Profile Candidates
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Bleeding Green Nation
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Another Eagles offensive coordinator candidate is unavailable
I typed the following sentence in an article published about an hour ago from me writing this post you’re reading now:
With so much news about who the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive coordinator WON’T be, you’d think we’re going to figure it out by process of elimination at some point.
Sure enough, yet another candidate has been eliminated from the running.
The Eagles will NOT be hiring Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle as their new play-caller. He has withdrawn his name from Philly’s search, according to a report from NFL insider Dianna Russini.
Charlie Weis Jr. will not be the Eagles’ new offensive coordinator
LSU offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. is the latest candidate to be out of the running. He told the Birds he’s going to remain on Lane Kiffin’s staff, according to a report from NFL insider Dianna Russini.
Another Eagles offensive coordinator candidate is off the board
The Philadelphia Eagles will not be hiring Miami Dolphins senior passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik as their new offensive coordinator.
Slowik is keeping his talents in South Beach to be the Dolphins’ play-calling offensive coordinator under new head coach Jeff Hafley, according to multiple reports. The two coaches previously overlapped on Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers coaching staff from 2017-2018.
Report: Eagles had interest in Arthur Smith before he took Ohio State offensive coordinator job
The Philadelphia Eagles had interest in former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith before he decided to accept the Ohio State offensive coordinator position, according to a report from NFL insider Dianna Russini.
Smith “had been having conversations” with the Eagles and the Tennessee Titans (two teams with OC openings this offseason), according to her reporting.
Zac Robinson won’t be the Eagles’ new offensive coordinator
Time to cross off another name on the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive coordinator candidate list.
Former Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is staying in the NFC South to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to a report from NFL insider Adam Schefter.
Robinson is replacing former Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, who is also an Eagles offensive coordinator candidate.
The Eagles reportedly interviewed Robinson last week.
Eagles reportedly miss out on their top offensive coordinator target
The Philadelphia Eagles won’t be hiring Mike McDaniel to replace Kevin Patullo.
The former Miami Dolphins head coach is expected to become the new Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator, according to a report from ESPN.
Eagles reportedly denied permission to interview Cowboys offensive coordinator
The Philadelphia Eagles were denied permission to interview Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams for their OC opening, according to a report from NFL insider Jeremy Fowler.
The Eagles must have thought the Cowboys might allow Adams to interview since he’s not the primary play-caller for Dallas; head coach Brian Schottenheimer holds that role. But Dallas is within their rights to block their division rival from poaching Adams.
The Athletic (paywall)
Where does the Philadelphia Eagles’ OC search stand after two weeks?
McDaniel and Brian Daboll were targets early in the search, representing former head coaches and established play callers. McDaniel already signed on with the Chargers. Daboll, who is still a candidate for the top job in Buffalo and Las Vegas, is expected to land in Tennessee if he doesn’t land either of those. Doyle and Weis preferred their current set-ups — Doyle working closely with Ben Johnson and on a head-coaching track in Chicago, and Weis following Lane Kiffin to LSU to run the offense at a major college program.
The Eagles do not publicly reveal their interviews, preferring a taciturn operation. When they promoted Kevin Patullo last winter, they were required to interview at least one external minority or female candidate, per league rules, but they never revealed the identity of the candidate. They vowed to cast a wide net this year, but the breadth of the search is only revealed via media reports. At this point, there have been 13 candidates publicly linked to the job: McDaniel, Daboll, Zac Robinson, Jim Bob Cooter, Bobby Slowik, Josh Grizzard, Doyle, Mike Kafka, Matt Nagy, Arthur Smith, Weis, Frank Smith and Jerrod Johnson. Not all were formally interviewed.
What could seem like panic trying to find a coordinator could also be categorized as a process. Whether that’s a reality or a rationalization will only be known once the hire materializes. In 2010, the Eagles named offensive line coach Juan Castillo as defensive coordinator after an extended search. That did not work out. In 2021, they hired Sirianni after it seemed they might have missed on other candidates. Sirianni now has the highest winning percentage of any active coach.
But they’re still sitting here after championship weekend without an offensive coordinator. Among teams with a returning head coach, they’re the last team remaining with that job open. That’s led to the question of the desirability of the job.
Cowboys Wire
Should Cowboys lean on draft or free agency to fix CB, DE issues?
2026 free agent class at CB
Free agents Tariq Woolen (26), Jamel Dean (29), Eric Stokes (26), Greg Newsome (25), Roger McCreary (25), Alontae Taylor (27) and Cam Taylor-Britt (26) all look to cash in on major contracts this spring. Oddly enough, the CB who’s projected to command the most per Spotrac estimates is former Cowboys CB Nahshon Wright.
2026 free agent class at DE
With…both Dante Fowler and Jadeveon Clowney free agents, the Cowboys have major needs at DE.
Step 1 is trying to re-sign Clowney to a larger deal. Step 2 is finding at least a couple rotational players to fill snaps right away in 2026.
Trey Hendrickson (31), Odafe Oweh (27), Kwity Paye (27) Joseph Ossai (25) and Khalil Mack (34) headline the free agent class, but a second tier of Joey Bosa (30), Haason Reddick (31), Arnold Ebiketie (26) and Al-Quadin Muhammad (30) might be more the reclamation projects Dallas looks for.
Big Blue View
Ex-NY Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka hired by Detroit Lions
Former New York Giants offensive coordinator and interim head coach Mike Kafka is joining the Detroit Lions in an undefined “high-ranking offensive role,” per NFL insider Tom Pelissero.
Kafka was hired away from the Kansas City Chiefs to be the Giants’ offensive coordinator in 2022. He filled that role until the middle of the 2025 season, when Brian Daboll was fired and Kafka took over as interim head coach. He went 2-5.
Kafka, who has interviewed for head-coaching vacancies each offseason since joining the Giants, interviewed for the Giants’ job before the organization hired John Harbaugh.
Now, Kafka, 38, will join head coach Dan Campbell in Detroit.
What Kafka’s role will be seems uncertain.
NY Giants news: OC candidate Todd Monken ‘in the mix’ to join Browns as head coach
[W]hile the [Giants] filled their defensive and special teams coordinator positions, their offensive coordinator position remains open.
Former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken is widely considered to be the favorite to land the job. However, he is also a candidate for the Cleveland Browns head coaching job.
Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot reports Monday morning that Monken is still “in the mix” for the Browns job. That, obviously puts the Giants on hold until there’s a resolution.
NFL league links
Articles
Pro Football Talk
Report: Jim Schwartz is “gaining momentum” to be next Browns coach
Now, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that Schwartz “seems to be gaining momentum” in the Browns’ ongoing search for a head coach.
The 59-year-old Schwartz coached the Lions from 2009 through 2013, with one playoff appearance and a record of 29-51. He arrived in Cleveland in 2023; in his first year, the Browns had the top defense in the league (based on yards per game) but he got no head-coaching interviews.
In the current cycle, only the Browns and Ravens interviewed Schwartz, who coordinated the Eagles defense that won Super Bowl LII.
As one source put it last week to PFT, the Browns have to weigh promoting Schwartz against potentially losing him.
Others in the mix include former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken and Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase. Those who have withdrawn from consideration include Mike McDaniel, Jesse Minter, and Grant Udinski.
If Schwartz gets the job, his most important hire will be offensive coordinator. Because the offense has been the problem for the Browns in recent years. Thanks to Schwartz, the defense has been better than fine.
Front Office Sports
Several teams around the NFL are in the process of planning new stadiums
The Chiefs, looking to rebound from an ugly 6–11 season that included a season-ending injury to star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, have plenty of company in their plan to build a new stadium.
The Bills will open the new Highmark Stadium in time for the 2026 NFL season, while the new Titans facility will follow next year. The Commanders recently released a well-received set of renderings for their forthcoming domed stadium, recalling their former home, RFK Stadium, in many ways. The Browns are pushing to break ground early this year on a $2.4 billion stadium and mixed-use development in suburban Brook Park, Ohio. The Bears have created a bidding war between Illinois and Indiana over their future home. The Broncos intend to open a retractable-roof facility in 2031.
Several other NFL teams, notably the Eagles, are actively assessing what to do with their facilities.
NFL.com
Rams WR Davante Adams: ‘It’s tough to talk’ after losing fifth career NFC Championship Game
Five times he’s been on the losing end (four with the Green Bay Packers).
“It’s tough. It’s tough to talk,” Adams said, via Rams Wire.
In a 12-year career, Adams has built a Hall of Fame résumé, earning six Pro Bowl nods, three first-team All-Pro selections, and generating 12,633 yards and 117 touchdowns. Three times he’s led the NFL in receiving TDs, including 2025 with 14, despite missing three games.
Yet, the 33-year-old still hasn’t been to a Super Bowl.
NFL Draft
Big Blue View
2026 NFL Draft scouting report: Adam Randall, RB, Clemson
Measurables
Height: 6-foot-2 (unofficial)
Weight: 235 pounds (unofficial)
Projection
Adam Randall is raw as a running back, and only has limited tape at the position. That may depress his draft stock, but it could also serve to make him a hidden gem and a steal for the team that eventually takes him.
Randall has great size, very good vision, and the athleticism to make full use of that vision. Likewise, he has enough speed to break long runs once he’s able to find the open field. Additionally, his background as a wide receiver makes him a very dangerous weapon out of the backfield. Randall is simply too big – and his contact balance is too good – for off-ball linebackers and defensive backs to bring him down easily.
He obviously still needs development, but Randall has real upside for the team that invests in him.
Final Word: A good value early on Day 3
