It's safe to say that Dallas Cowboys fans have thoroughly enjoyed this offseason. And although they've made tons of their own moves to celebrate, supporters of America's Team have laughed at the Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants' decisions in equal measure.
But perhaps a bit of this is premature? Nobody in this fanbase is crowning the Cowboys as the NFC's next perennial power, but it seems like Dallas has mentally graduated from competing with the Giants and Commanders for second place and has fixated its eyes on finally surpassing the Eagles.
Maybe the Cowboys have more than just the Eagles to worry about, though.
To continue our offseason scouting series in which we gain intel on each of Dallas' 2026 opponents, we spoke to guru Dean Jones of Riggo's Rag, FanSided's source for all things Commanders. He painted his team in a light that may challenge Cowboys fans to change their view of Washington.
Washington Commanders expert paints picture Dallas Cowboys fans need to see
Q: What is the latest on Jayden Daniels and his health? Is there any concern about him heading into the 2026 season?
A: There will always be concerns after last season, but the signs are positive. Jayden Daniels is healthy, has picked up the new offensive scheme quickly, and approached this offseason with a different intent. He's leading from the front, and everyone is following. David Blough's system should minimize injury risk, so hopes are high that last year was nothing more than a blip.
Q: How much of last year's struggles do you attribute to injury vs mere regression? Do you think Washington can rekindle the flame of 2024 this fall?
A: A little bit of both. So many injuries are going to have an impact, right? At the same time, the vibes were off in the summer. Everyone got complacent and a little bit ahead of themselves after reaching the NFC Championship game. Dan Quinn made sure the same mistakes won't happen again, raising urgency and increasing the practice tempo over OTAs and minicamp. It received a positive response, so they should be much more competitive.
Q: Would the Commanders actually consider signing or trading for Brandon Aiyuk? Why or why not?
A: Urgh, do I have to answer this? The whole thing has become tedious. If the Commanders were getting the 2023 second-team All-Pro Brandon Aiyuk, it's a no-brainer. That is nowhere near the case, and there is just no telling what Adam Peters is thinking after his recent social media outbursts. Washington will probably consider it, but his connection to Jayden Daniels cannot be enough.
Q: Sonny Styles headlined the 2026 draft class for Washington. How has he performed thus far, and are any other rookies standing out in a positive or negative way?
A: As advertised. You know when someone just looks the part? That's Sonny Styles. He's got the size, athleticism, and football IQ to be a franchise cornerstone. He's picking up the defense well enough to get the green dot on defense immediately. He's got it all.
As for the others? Wide receiver Antonio Williams is drawing rave reviews, as is sixth-round running back Kaytron Allen, who could be another Day 3 steal for the backfield if he takes it into the regular season.
Q: What was the biggest or most impactful offseason move that the Commanders made?Â
A: Hard to say, as they've made so many. If I had to pick one, it would probably be edge rusher Odafe Oweh. Washington's pass-rush was beyond anemic last season. They paid a lot of money to bring Oweh into the organization, but the rewards could be substantial if he delivers a significant return on their investment.
Q: Does Washington have an obvious weakness that the Cowboys should be able to exploit in the two matchups this year?
A: The wide receivers behind Terry McLaurin are causing concern, which is why there's constant speculation linking the Commanders to Brandon Aiyuk and Stefon Diggs. The cornerback unit is another area that could use more, though Washington believes a stronger front seven can make things much easier for the secondary.
Q: Is there a strength of the Commanders' that Dallas and the national media may be ignoring or overlooking?
A: The offensive tackles. That's an easy one.
Laremy Tunsil played at an All-Pro level last year, and nobody noticed. Josh Conerly Jr. was hugely impressive over the second half of 2025, and he's got his body right this offseason. The pair has developed a strong mentor-student relationship that continues to blossom. This has the makings of a bookend tandem capable of taking the league by storm.
The Dallas Cowboys will host the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium in Week 2 for a 3:25 p.m. CT kickoff. Dallas will then travel up to Washington D.C. for the season finale in Week 18, the date and time of which have yet to be announced.
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