The Washington Commanders had one of the best turnarounds in league history last year. Jayden Daniels had a standout rookie season, aided by a defense that head coach Dan Quinn helped improve to one of the most successful groups.
As good as Quinn's group was last season, though, there are reasons for concern in 2025.
Washington lost several starters from last year's unit, including Jonathan Allen and safety Jeremy Chinn. Replacing those stars would not be easy for any coaching staff, even for one as strong as Quinn's.
ESPN insider John Keim only increased the fanbase's concerns about the team's defense for the upcoming season this week.
"The defense -- and this assumes that receiver Terry McLaurin does not have a prolonged holdout in training camp while seeking an extension," Keim wrote of the team’s worry areas. "The Commanders' defense was middle of the pack for the most part: 13th in yards per game but 18th in scoring; third in passing yards per game but 30th in rushing."
Washington's defensive struggles in the running game may cause the most concern. Dexter Fowler Jr. and Allen were key parts of the team's defense last year, but both are now gone.
Washington's poor run defense needs to be fixed - and fast - especially in a conference with some of the best rushing teams in the league, including the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions.
But without any major roster improvements along the group, it's hard to see the Commanders fixinf those issues in 2025. … meaning that along with a tougher schedule on the docket, this one area of concern might not easily be made to go away.