While the Washington Commanders have needs at running back, tight end and wide receiver, offensive coordinator David Blough says veteran Terry McLaurin will be a focal point in the 2026 offense
What the Washington Commanders offense in 2026 could look like is a bit more clear since the 2025 season ended roughly five weeks ago with David Blough officially in place as the team’s new offensive coordinator.
Now turns to the harder part with Blough, head coach Dan Quinn and the front office tasked with rebuilding an offense that has pieces to build around, yet ample room to grow.
Blough was transparent about the Commanders’ expected activity at running back with Jacory Croskey-Merritt the lone player currently under contract, though that was to be expected. Whether the team targets a feature back like a Kenneth Walker or Breece Hall, or targets a rotational piece who adds to the room like Kenneth Gainwell whose experience as a receiving back complements Croskey-Merritt, remains to be seen. But maybe as big of a question mark is the pass catchers for quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Washington is expected to be in the market for a pass catching tight end to join a room that returns both John Bates and Ben Sinnott in 2026 with former Titans fourth-round pick Chigoziem Okonkwo one mentioned earlier this week on John Keim’s podcast after Blough noted that Sinnott has a “long way to go.” The wide receiver room, though, is equally as much of a focus with veteran Terry McLaurin anchoring a bare room into 2026.
With Noah Brown hitting free agency and a divorce with Deebo Samuel, finding a second capable receiver to complement McLaurin is a storyline for the offseason heading into free agency, but Blough also sees McLaurin playing a much bigger role in the Commanders’ offense next season.
“This thing's going to be built around how do we get Terry ten targets a game and get him explosive receptions after explosive receptions to kind of flip the field,” Blough told WUSA9.
McLaurin eclipsed that mark just once in 2025 after posting seven catches for 96 yards and one touchdown on 14 targets in the Sunday night overtime loss vs. Denver, his first game back in a month. The veteran would draw more than five targets in just three other games in all of 2025, including seven targets for five catches and 63 yards in the Christmas Day loss vs. Dallas.
Of course, part of the equation for McLaurin was his delayed return to the team ahead of the season opener amid ongoing contract negotiations as he now enters year two of his renewed three-year deal, but with that now in the rear view mirror, the longtime Commander has a chance to establish consistency through the offseason before stepping back into his feature role.
McLaurin is coming off a career-low four catches on throws 20 yards or more downfield, but with a shift to an under-center offense and commitment to the run game that could set up more play action and downfield shots, the veteran can have a chance to change course after a setback 2025 season.
But with McLaurin possibly stepping back into an elevated role where he’ll command the lion’s share of the targets, it begs the question what type of free agent the Commanders will target to solidify the room ahead of the draft and free agency. Would Washington be willing to spend top dollar on someone like Alec Pierce or Romeo Doubs, who are likely to find bigger roles elsewhere, or could the front office opt to target a wideout like Carnell Tate with its top overall pick? Rashid Shaheed and Christian Kirk are other free agents who could thrive in the Commanders offense.