Commanders one of five teams that could 'shake up' Super Bowl race

Could the Washington Commanders go from 5-12 to Super Bowl contenders in one year? Before you say no, remember, the Commanders were 4-13 in 2023, improved to 12-5 in 2024 and reached the NFC Championship Game.

General manager Adam Peters had a mission this offseason. He stated this mission right after the 2025 season ended, declaring his intent to make the Commanders "younger and faster" in 2026. Four months later, Peters accomplished that mission. Will that lead to an improved record in 2026? Well, that's a question that can't be answered until September, but, no question, Washington's roster is better.

Peters specifically focused on defense. Considering how bad that unit was last year, it was the correct decision. Washington completed its offseason defensive overhaul by selecting ridiculously athletic Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Adding Styles and Leo Chenal to Washington's linebacker group could make them the fastest unit in the league.

The true key to improvement in 2026 is the health of franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels . One year after carrying Washington on his back at times as a rookie, Daniels missed 10 games last season with three separate injuries. The offense suffered. He's healthy now. The Commanders also made some additions on offense, and they may not be done.

So, back to our original question: Could the Commanders be a Super Bowl contender? CBS Sports recently looked at five Super Bowl long shots who could suddenly thrust themselves into contendership in 2026. Washington was one of those five teams. Here's part of Tyler Sullivan said about the Commanders.

While Oweh and Chaisson should stabilize the edge positions, the true game-changer for this defense may be Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, whom Washington selected No. 7 overall. Styles has the talent to emerge as one of the best defensive players in this class and should make an immediate impact.

Meanwhile, Washington also prioritized giving Daniels more help offensively. Third-round Clemson receiver Antonio Williams is an intriguing addition, but former Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo may be one of the more underrated acquisitions of the offseason. There's also still a possibility Washington adds disgruntled 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk .

With Daniels healthy and the roster significantly improved, Washington appears primed for a bounce-back season that could once again land it in the NFC title picture.

In case you were wondering, two of Washington's NFC East rivals, the Cowboys and Giants, were among the five teams mentioned, along with the Bengals and the Vikings.

Injuries were a significant problem last season. If the Commanders can avoid the injury bug in 2026, they'll be significantly better. Is that enough for a 2024 repeat? We shall see.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: 1 of 5 teams that could impact Super Bowl race