The Daily Slop
Editor’s note: Each day, Hogs Haven compiles a collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, with a sprinkling of other stuff. Enjoy!
Advertisement
Commanders links
Articles
CBS Sports
Ranking the top 10 NFL offseasons
8. Washington Commanders
General manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn microwaved their initial roster with veterans such as Bobby Wagner, Dorance Armstrong, Austin Ekeler and others, but the team is transitioning.
The defensive front was a point of emphasis as the team brought in Odafe Oweh, K’Lavon Chaisson, Leo Chenal, first-round pick Sonny Styles, fifth-round pick Joshua Josephs and others.
Cornerback Amik Robertson and safety Nick Cross were good additions to the secondary. Third-round wide receiver Antonio Williams and tight end Chig Okonkwo should be immediate impact performers in the pass game.
Sports Illustrated
These NFL Rookies Hit the Jackpot by Landing in Perfect Situations
Sonny Styles, LB, Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders haven’t re-signed future Hall of Fame linebacker Bobby Wagner this offseason. They essentially replaced him by drafting Sonny Styles at No. 7 overall. If Styles is about to play the Wagner role in a Dan Quinn-coached defense, then he should be the overwhelming favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Commanders.com
Commanders 2026 opponent breakdown | Seattle Seahawks
Key questions
-
What does the run game look like without Kenneth Walker? The Seahawks’ run game wasn’t a top 10 group in 2025, but it did help keep the offense moving, particularly in the second half of the season and the playoffs. They rushed for at least 100 yards in eight of their last nine regular season games and 391 total yards in the postseason. Most of their playoff success came from Walker, who rushed for 313 yards in three games, including 135 in the Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots. The performance earned him a Super Bowl MVP, and it quickly became clear that Walker was moving on in the offseason. The Seahawks appear poised to give more responsibility to Charbonnet, who led the team in rushing touchdowns, but they also want to keep a committee approach with the additions of Pierce and Wilson. Defensive teams tend to run the ball more, and that was the case with the Seahawks, who ranked fourth in total rushing attempts. However, they clearly want to get more explosive on the ground and believe the trio of Charbonnet, Pierce and Wilson can achieve that.
-
Can the defense remain elite? The Seahawks had one of the most suffocating defenses in the league last year under head coach Mike Macdonald. Though some areas were better than others, they were solid at every level and allowed the fewest points per game in the NFL. Nick Emmanwori was a game-changer at safety, and veterans like Demarcus Lawrence and Williams helped invigorate the team’s pass-rush. There are several foundational pieces still on the roster, but like every Super Bowl team, their overall personnel will look drastically different in the upcoming season. Boye Mafe is gone, as is cornerback Riq Woolen and safety Coby Bryant. The Seahawks are banking on newcomers like Igbinoghene, Jobe and Bell to help maintain the high standards the unit set in 2025. Defensive performances don’t always carry over year to year, but the Seahawks have done enough to earn the benefit of the doubt.
Bleacher Report
Buying or Selling Fantasy Football’s Riskiest Picks in 2026
Jayden Daniels – ADP: QB4, 66th Overall
Advertisement
Jayden Daniels’ first two seasons have been polar opposites. The first was outstanding—over 3,500 passing yards, 25 passing scores, the second-most rushing yards among quarterbacks in the league (891) and top-five fantasy numbers.
Last year, however, was far different. Daniels’ per-game passing numbers fell precipitously just about across the board and Daniels played in just seven games due to knee and elbow injuries.
As SI’s Jeff Salcedo wrote, injuries aren’t the only concern with Daniels in 2026.
“Injuries don’t tell the whole story for Daniels as a sophomore slump and a new offensive coordinator may put Daniels in another potential bust season heading into the 2026 season,” he said. “Compared to other fantasy quarterbacks who played a minimum of seven games, Daniels ranked 17th with 16.8 FPPG, a far cry from his 21.5 FPPG performance in his rookie campaign. Daniels will also be with a new playcaller for the first time in his professional career as his former offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury moved west to join the Los Angeles Rams. A first-time offensive coordinator may bring along more Fantasy hiccups for Daniels coming off an injury-riddled sophomore slump.”
Frankly, Daniels’ downturn in passing efficiency and the lack of a big-time additions to the Washington passing game may be the biggest concerns of all with the youngster this year. Daniels averaged almost 30 fewer passing yards per game last year compared to 2024. If that’s the case, there will be that much more pressure on Daniels to do damage with his legs.
Advertisement
And it could be just a matter of time before he lands on the shelf again.
Verdict: Sell
Riggo’s Rag
Commanders need to hope for the best with their maligned defensive line
Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw both return from a season ago, which saw wildly inconsistent production from the two of them. Washington was expected to explore trading the former, but it never came to fruition. With the latter, the Commanders didn’t have much of a choice to run him back after throwing him a massive paycheck last summer.
Last season, Payne and Kinlaw combined for three sacks (all courtesy of the 2022 Pro Bowler) and were mediocre against the run. Better help on the outside might make their life easier this fall, but they are going to need to step it up in a major way.
Advertisement
The two of them will be joined by Settle, who returns to the organization that drafted him in 2018 and where he spent his first four NFL seasons. But he doesn’t do much to move the needle either. He has been a rotational piece throughout his career and brings very little upside as he enters his ninth season.
The Commanders are also hoping for growth from Johnny Newton in Year 3 for the 2024 second-round pick, but his limitations against the run are too severe to trust him as a three-down player. If he can’t emerge into at least a valuable supporting role this season, it’s a problem.
Beyond them, depth is nonexistent.
Photos
Commanders.com
PHOTOS | Minicamp 2
Advertisement
Podcasts & videos
How Good is Jayden Daniels REALLY? Commanders QB DARK HORSE MVP + Brandon Aiyuk Update
NFC East links
Philly Voice
10 reasons the Eagles will be a dumpster fire this season
It’s time to contemplate just how it might all go south for the Eagles next season
8) What’s up with Jalen Carter?
The 2025 season didn’t go quite as well. He missed most of training camp with a shoulder injury, but was ready to play Week 1. Except, well, he spit on Dak Prescott before he even played a single defensive snap.
You’re not allowed to do that, and Carter was kindly asked to leave the game.
Advertisement
He then proceeded to have a disappointing season, collecting 33 tackles, three sacks, and seven batted passes in 11 games.
This offseason was the first that Carter was eligible for a contract extension, and nothing has gotten done yet. It’s at least noteworthy that Carter skipped voluntary OTAs, and was present at a mandatory minicamp but did not participate in team drills.
Nick Sirianni was asked if that was injury and/or contract related, and he declined to answer.
Lurie is typically effusive in praise for Hurts at every opportunity, and for him to just give an unenthusiastic one-word answer was kind of shocking. He was then asked another “Jalen” follow-up question that was more clearly about Hurts, when he realized the previous two questions were about Jalen Hurts, when he thought they were about Jalen Carter, lol. OOPS! He then requested to rewind the press conference and re-answer the question about Hurts’ 2025 performance. And sure enough, he gave his usual effusive praise for Hurts.
Advertisement
That misunderstanding was perhaps revealing. Lurie knew full well that he gave an unenthusiastic “Good” when he thought he was being asked how Carter played last season. He asked for a re-do on the question with Hurts but not for Carter lol. Interesting moment!
The need him to be a star player. They can be elite if he’s playing at a high level. If not, who knows? So, you know, this is a situation that the Eagles cannot mess up, however it plays out.
Blogging the Boys
Commanders fans really like Brandon Aubrey
Recently the folks at Hogs Haven were discussing the Dallas Cowboys and in doing so posed a question to their audience: Which player would you steal from the Cowboys?
Advertisement
If you browse through the comments you will find that the majority of Commanders fans who participated in the poll landed on one of two answers: CeeDee Lamb and/or Brandon Aubrey.
There was some mention for Caleb Downs, George Pickens, and even Cooper Beebe had a vote thrown his way. But the mass majority feel like Lamb and/or Aubrey are the best selection for their team.
With all due respect to Brandon Aubrey, is that not sort of wild? That a Commanders fan could have their pick of the Cowboys litter and would start with him?
Lamb clearly makes a ton of sense, and Pickens does to the same degree. Interestingly nobody said Quinnen Williams, he really has been the forgotten man in a lot of ways for this team.
Big Blue View
NFC East Grades: Where do the Giants stack up at EDGE?
Washington Commanders
Odafe Oweh, K’Lavon Chaisson, Dorance Armstrong, Joshua Josephs, Drake Jackson, DJ Johnson, Javontae Jean-Baptiste, T.J. Maguranyanga, Andre Carter II
Advertisement
The Commanders added Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson to their edge room, and that was much needed. Yes, Washington uses Frankie Luvu, and they will – presumably – use Leo Chenal in an EDGE role; but, for this discussion, both players were included as linebackers. Oweh and Chaisson, along with Dan Quinn’s favorite Dorance Armstrong, are a solid trio of EDGE rushers, but Washington still earns one point.
Points: 1
Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Chancey Golston, Trace Frod, Khalid Kareem, Caleb Murphy
The Eagles pushed the Giants for this spot, but I’m going with New York and the combination of Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and the likely second-year jump from Abdul Carter, who recorded 66 pressures in his rookie season. Carter has the highest potential of the three, and Burns is coming off a career year where he recorded 53 pressures and 16.5 sacks, which was second in the NFL last season.
Advertisement
Both Golston and Thiboeaux dealt with injuries throughout the 2025 season, and the latter has dealt with them over the last two years. Despite the nagging issues, Kayvon Thibdoeaux has 70 pressures over the last two years. He is playing on his fifth-year option and is catching the eye of new head coach John Harbaugh in a contract year. The trio is exceptional, and Golston is a solid rotational piece who can be effectively kicked inside.
NFL league links
Articles
NFL.com
Top 100 Players of 2026, Nos. 100-91
91 – Montez Sweat – Chicago Bears · DE
2025 stats: 17 games | 53 tackles | 13 tfl | 10 sacks | 18 QB hits | 3 FF
Advertisement
Chicago’s sack leader for the third time in as many years that he’s been with the Bears, Sweat, 29, returned to the double-digit sack department for the second time in his career. Ranked 82nd in his NFL Top 100 debut in 2024, Sweat’s return coincided with a smashing season for the Bears, who won the NFC North title and earned a Wild Card Round win over the rival Packers. Sweat was a force in that game, posting three tackles and three QB hits before adding a sack in the team’s heartbreaking Divisional Round overtime loss.
NFL Pro Insight for Sweat: Sweat recorded four turnovers caused by pressures in the regular season, tied for the third among all NFL defensive players.
The Daily Aiyuk
ESPN
Brandon Aiyuk blames ex-agent as push to leaves 49ers continues
In the 3½-minute video, Aiyuk insisted that his relationship with the 49ers will never be repaired and that he has no plans to return to the team facilities — barring one exception.
Advertisement
“We is not cool,” Aiyuk said. “We won’t be cool, and I will never be stepping in that building” outside of Oct. 19, a reference to when the 49ers host the Washington Commanders on “Monday Night Football.”
It’s unclear whether the Commanders would have interest in signing Aiyuk. Because he is still under contract with the 49ers, the Commanders can’t publicly express interest in the wide receiver without violating the NFL’s tampering rules.
Aiyuk pointed to Ryan Williams, his former agent who is friends with and has a business relationship with Lynch, as a source of the problems between himself and the 49ers. Aiyuk said in an Instagram story Friday that he had fired Williams in November, adding that “there’s nobody that will be speaking for me.” Williams is still listed as Aiyuk’s agent on the NFLPA agent directory.
Advertisement
In the YouTube video, Aiyuk also claimed that Lynch recently came to his house, in part to allegedly apologize for the actions of 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan. Aiyuk, who offered no evidence that Lynch was at his home, said the situation wasn’t safe for him or his wife.
The situation escalated last July when the 49ers voided the remaining guaranteed money in his contract because he did not participate in rehab sessions for the torn ACL, MCL and meniscus in his right knee that he suffered during the 2024 season. The Niners put Aiyuk on the reserve/left team list in December after he stopped showing up at the team facility.
Veterans on the 49ers are scheduled to report to training camp July 25. It’s possible the 49ers are waiting until then to decide on Aiyuk’s status with the team.
From Last Man Standig:
Ryan Williams of Athletes First remains Aiyuk’s agent of record, according to the NFLPA’s website. The site is accurate, according to an NFLPA source because paperwork required to terminate the Standard Representative Agreement, or SRA, has not been submitted.
Advertisement
Last Man Standig reported in April that Aiyuk and Williams had not spoken for an undisclosed amount of time. Based on subsequent conversations with other sources, that period exceeded six months.
The typical termination process begins with the player reaching out to the NFLPA. Paperwork and emails are then exchanged between the NFLPA, the player and agent to finalize the termination.
Whether Washington actually intends to sign the receiver, who has not played since 2024, is unclear. A healthy and focused Aiyuk would upgrade the team’s receiver depth. For now, though, like the termination paperwork, that possibility remains far more hypothetical than reality.
For more from Ben Standig, click here
Pro Football Talk
Before Brandon Aiyuk can force his release, he must apply for reinstatement
The 49ers undoubtedly would cut him in lieu of letting him risk popping an Achilles tendon on the practice field or dropping a dumbbell onto his foot in the weight room. A season-ending injury would result in the 49ers owing him his full compensation for 2026 in excess of $26 million. (Currently, not a penny of it is guaranteed.)
But it’s not as simple as Aiyuk walking through the front door. He remains on the reserve/left squad list. By rule, he must apply for reinstatement with the league. Once he’s reinstated (it’s presumably automatic — but we thought applying for the supplemental draft was automatic, too), he can show up and secure his release.
Advertisement
Aiyuk has a simple way to put the 49ers in checkmate. One, submit the petition for reinstatement. Two, once reinstatement is granted, show up.
