3 underrated Commanders sleepers who could break out in 2026 NFL season

There seems to be hope for the Washington Commanders’ offense, and Sonny Styles is turning heads on the defensive side of the ball. But some players need to step up if it’s going to be a playoff season. And here are three underrated Commanders sleepers who could break out in the 2026 NFL season.

Coming off a dreadful 2025 campaign, the Commanders have made major personnel adjustments on defense. And they’re hoping Jayden Daniels will be enough to make a star-thin offense put points on the board.

And here are three guys who could make all of this work.

TE Chig Okonkwo

If you look at his career progression, there’s not much to suggest Okonkwo could be a star. His 54, 52, and 56 catches over the past three seasons are plain vanilla. Consistent, for sure. Ditto for his 528, 479, and 560 yards. And he has a total of five touchdowns over that stretch.

Yawn.

However, he hasn’t exactly been playing with Patrick Mahomes as his quarterback. In fact, the Titans have trotted out some real duds behind center. Now, Okonkwo gets to play for accurate dart-sizzler Jayden Daniels.

And two big factors are working in Okonkwo’s favor. First, Daniels leaned on tight end Zach Ertz in his first two years. Daniels showed that he likes using the tight end. And he’s not afraid to attack small windows in the middle of the field.

Second, the Commanders have exactly one receiver who will command targets. That’s Terry McLaurin. He should be in the 120-plus range. But after that, the Commanders have a mish-mash of iffy receivers.

Add it up, and Okonkwo should easily exceed his career high of 79 targets. Plus, he should get way more goal-line looks. It’s not out of the realm of possibility for him to finish with 90-plus targets and a career-high five-plus touchdowns. The yards and catches should also be his best NFL work to date.

Another positive factor is that Okonkwo believes he’s in the right place, according to commanders.com

“That’s the plan for me is to take that next step of my career and becoming the player that I know I can be,” Okonkwo said. “I feel like this is definitely the place to do it.”

And Daniels said he’s excited to add Okonkwo to the starting lineup.

“I was super excited we got Chig,” Daniels said. “Just how he plays, he plays fast. Everything’s one hundred percent with him, so he’s smart. He’s been in this league for some time, and now he gets to go out there and show his talents on a bigger stage and a bigger role in the offense.”

RB Jacory Crowley-Merritt

For the Commanders’ GM and head coach, this breakout needs to happen. If Merritt flops and the Commanders have to rely on plodding veteran Rachaad White or rookie Kaytron Allen, that may mean Adam Peters and Dan Quinn could be looking for new jobs in 2027.

The Commanders put a lot on the plate of “Bill.” But there’s good news in that he bulked up in the offseason, trying to prepare his body for the potential lead role in the Commanders’ backfield.

Overall, Quinn said he likes the backfield, according to commanders.com

“I’ve been pleased with the additions that we’ve had,” head coach Dan Quinn said of the running backs’ performance during OTAs.

And that bodes well for Merritt because he’s the lead dog right now. Also, the running backs have a chance to catch the league by surprise if new offensive coordinator David Blough’s plans work out.

“I think it’s great with all the things that he [Blough] does for us, the different things that he does in the positions that he puts us in,” White said. “So, I think it’s great. It’s gonna be really fun.”

CB Trey Amos

This is another thing that needs to happen. The Commanders must get better play from their secondary, particularly at cornerback. And the bar isn’t high, as last year’s lead guy, Marshon Lattimore, couldn’t get much of anything done.

Amos, a second-round draft pick in 2025, started eight games as a rookie. There wasn’t much of a splash. However, with better pressure on the opposing quarterbacks, Amos may have a fighting chance this season.

Amos is no secret. He landed on the NFL All-Breakout team, according to Pro Football Focus.

“Last year’s second-round selection didn’t enjoy the kind of rookie showcase he desired, concluding with a 55.8 overall PFF grade with a 58.8 PFF coverage mark,” Bradley Locker wrote. “While Amos was certainly victimized at times, he reflected his talent by earning at least a 68.5 coverage grade in five of his 10 contests, and his 51.43% lockdown rate was 26th among all cornerbacks. Further, Amos broke up an eye-catching 17.6% of his targets.”

The Commanders should be much better on defense this year. They have more talent from front to back. And they have a defensive coordinator with an exciting upside in Daronte Jones. That’s something Washington hasn’t seen in quite some time.

This bodes well for Amos as a player who could step into the upper echelon of NFL cornerbacks.

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