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!
Articles
JP Finlay
Wednesday marks our first chance to see the 2026 version; here’s what I’m watching at this very early stage
On Wednesday the Commanders will hold their first OTA session with the media in attendance. What we see – and don’t see – will be our first real look at what the 2026 season might look like.
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It’s vital to stress these are May workouts and actual football is months away. These are glimpses, brief ones, into what things will be so don’t go crazy with assumptions.
An unfortunate reality of the NFL is contract issues happen. Last year the organization’s tough stance in contract talks with McLaurin drove a wedge in the entire offseason.
This year there aren’t any obvious contract disputes but it won’t be a shock if some of the veteran players going into the final year of their deal don’t show up for OTAs. Especially if there’s no guaranteed money left on the deal.
OTAs are voluntary. It’s reasonable for players to miss them. Another thing that happens often, players take part in most of the offseason workouts but skip the days the media attends. That gets their message out.
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With all the newness going on in Ashburn the team doesn’t need the added distraction of contract issues. There doesn’t appear to be anything simmering behind the scenes, but you never know who might skip an OTA session.
Last Man Standig (this article is unlocked and free for all to read)
Jayden Daniels, new schemes and fresh starts: What to watch as Commanders OTAs begin
The Commanders won’t learn everything in non-contact practices, but early clues about Daniels entering his third season, the new coordinators’ plans, and the roster hierarchy are coming.
Three weeks of three-day OTA sessions begin Wednesday in Ashburn. This also marks the lone “open” practice this week for reporters to see the newly formed squad. That means early glimpses of edge defenders Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson attempting to boost Washington’s pass rush, while pass catchers like tight end Chig Okonkwo and wide receiver Terry McLaurin test their chemistry and timing against the revamped secondary.
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These non-contact workouts are more about acclimation than acceleration for a squad coming off a dismal 5-12 record. Both sides of the ball are learning new schemes as offensive coordinator David Blough and defensive counterpart Daronte Jones take those reins for the first time in the NFL. There is little intention of showing too much this early.
Most eyes will naturally focus on Jayden Daniels and how Washington’s franchise quarterback looks and sounds after an injury-riddled sophomore season. How comfortable does the Daniels-led offense appear during this transition from a shotgun-heavy, no-huddle approach to a more under-center design?
Free-agent signings Oweh, Chaisson, Leo Chenal and Nick Cross make their initial appearances in the Burgundy and Gold as the defense’s three levels each received reinforcements. Will the defense primarily align in a 3-4 or 4-3 base, thus limiting the amount of nickel coverage on the backend — and potentially changing the number of interior linemen or true linebackers on the field?
We won’t learn tons about the trenches, tackling or the run game in these non-contact practices. But who receives first-team work? Where do the rookies, from first-round linebacker Sonny Styles to undrafted free agent hopefuls, fit in? Will practice intensity rise after the steep fall from NFC contender to afterthought?
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On those fronts, the breadcrumbs start now.
Riggo’s Rag
Eagles insider rips Commanders decision on Daron Payne
[O]ne Philadelphia Eagles reporter slammed the Commanders’ decision to keep Payne around rather than removing him from the equation.
Washington had many holes to fill. Trading or cutting Payne would have left another gaping void. General manager Adam Peters is confident improvements can come with a better supporting cast within Daronte Jones’ scheme, but what comes next is down to the player.
Eagles insider thought Commanders should have cut bait with Daron Payne
Jimmy Kempski of Philly Voice couldn’t believe Payne is still on the Commanders. He thought cutting him with the savings attached should have been a no-brainer, especially given his production was spiraling. But at the cap commitment, nothing but dominance will do.
“[Daron] Payne had a monster season in 2022, when he had 11.5 sacks. The following offseason he scored a four-year deal worth $90 million. His production has dropped off sharply since. He has 11 sacks in the last three seasons combined, and hasn’t been the same run defender either.
“Payne will count for just under $28 million on the Commanders’ cap this season. The Commanders could have cut Payne this offseason and saved over $16 million, which felt like a no-brainer to me, but they chose to keep him.”
The Commanders haven’t committed to Payne beyond 2026. It’s a contract year, which is always enough to raise urgency for everybody. The former Alabama standout shone in this situation during the 2022 campaign, and even though he is a little older now, there is nothing to suggest this scenario cannot happen again.
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If he cannot raise performance levels, the Commanders will get a good compensatory pick when Payne signs elsewhere in free agency next year. If he performs well and continues to evolve as a leader, Peters would be wise to give him another two or three-year deal for his efforts.
Commanders Wire
What is Dan Quinn’s mindset on Commanders’ NFC East road openers?
“I actually love when we get to start the season against a division opponent,” Quinn told “The Sports Junkies” on 106.7 The Fan on Friday.
“It kind of sets the tone and mindset right from jump street. So I like those spaces to go (at Philly, at Dallas). It seems like this year there are more division games earlier in the season than there was last year when there were more towards the end. It’s exciting, you know who we’re playing all along, but to see it all flow out and where it is, is exciting.”
Commanders fans may recall Quinn also adopted an aggressive motto prior to the start of the 2024 season, proclaiming, “Anybody, Anywhere, Anytime.”
Sports Illustrated
One Reason for Every NFL Team to Be Optimistic
Washington Commanders
The Commanders are improving their defense, which might be the best way to support Jayden Daniels. As seen with Joe Burrow and Dak Prescott, even a great offense and quarterback play can’t overcome bad defenses. That is especially resonant with Daniels, who is 12–0 when his defense allows 24 or fewer points, per NFL researcher. When they give up more than 24 points, their record drops to 2–10.
Photos
Commanders.com
PHOTOS | A new look for JD5
Check out the top photos of Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels wearing the team’s new uniforms for the first time.
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PHOTOS | Bill rocks the new threads
Take a look at Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt wearing the team’s new white and black alternate uniforms.
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PHOTOS | Scary Terry in uniform
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin put on the team’s new uniform for the first time. Check out the top photos of him in the new burgundy and gold.
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Podcasts & videos
UNSCRAMBLING JAYDEN DANIELS: Does Commanders’ Quarterback NEED to Run Less? How Blough Helps
NFC East links
Bleeding Green Nation
8 Eagles things we’ll be watching out for at OTA practices
Given that the team isn’t really overhauling their offensive personnel, they seem to be hoping that improved coaching is going to make a big difference in 2026.
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Mannion is largely an unknown and will mostly remain that way until the real games start. But at least now we’ll get a glimpse of what the offense is going to look like under his direction.
The early word is that the Mannion and Jalen Hurts relationship is off to a good start, which is encouraging to hear. It’ll be interesting to see if Mannion’s finger prints are instantly noticeable, such as Hurts lining up more often under center. And it’ll be interesting to see how Hurts fares in practice given these changes.
Attendance
Save for the Eagles’ mandatory minicamp from June 9-10, the team’s offseason workout program is voluntary. So, it’ll be interesting to see which players aren’t in attendance. It’d be pretty shocking if A.J. Brown, who is widely expected to be traded after June 1, shows up. DeVonta Smith has missed some spring practices in recent years while working out on his own; interested to see if that remains the case or if he’ll be around this year given Brown’s impending exit and Mannion’s arrival. The Eagles seemingly don’t have any players threatening to hold out due to contract disputes.
Blogging the Boys
The forgotten Cowboys edge rusher getting a mulligan
What are you expecting from Sam Williams in 2026?
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There is plenty of intrigue surrounding the new arrivals, but one player who isn’t being talked about much is veteran Sam Williams.
In a move of little consequence, the Cowboys re-signed Williams to a one-year, $3 million deal this offseason after playing out his rookie deal. A once-promising prospect out of Ole Miss due to his athleticism and closing burst making him one of college’s top disruptors. And he was coming off a 10.5-sack final college season, so the combination of athleticism and production piqued the interest of the team’s scouting department, making him their second-round pick in 2022.
Williams’ career in Dallas so far has been a bit turbulent. His first two seasons were encouraging. Despite playing limited snaps, Dan Quinn knew exactly how to use him. He was incredibly efficient, racking up 4 sacks as a rookie and 4.5 in his sophomore campaign. He also turned into a legitimate weapon on special teams, most notably when he blew through the line to block a punt in a game against the Rams that ultimately resulted in a safety. Every time he stepped on the field, he was a splash maker, with the only question being, just how much splashing was he going to do?
While the good stuff was good. The bad stuff wasn’t too bad. His being typecast as an exclusive pass rusher due to weaknesses in the run game was fair, and he did little to debunk the notion. He also had an unfortunate knack for committing bonehead, unnecessary roughness penalties at the worst times, generously gifting opposing teams free yards and extra chances. These moments highlighted his lack of discipline at times, showing he still had a lot to learn.
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His play was still up and coming, and just as he seemed poised for a breakout season, the football gods intervened in a cruel way. A devastating ACL and MCL tear during training camp wiped out his entire 2024 season. When he finally returned to the field last year, he was quiet. The splash was gone, and anything decent he did was washed away with all the terribleness of the Cowboys’ defense last season.
Big Blue View
The Giants will field a much different defensive line this season; whether it is better is something we will find out
Lawrence, at his best, has done things no man his size should do from the nose tackle position. The Giants cannot replace him with a single player who is equally as talented. He wanted out of New York, and the Giants did the right thing by obliging — as head coach John Harbaugh said, you want players who want to be on your team. Still, losing Lawrence was unfortunate.
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Maybe Reader, a sixth-round pick in Jamison-Travis and scheme, isn’t enough to make up for the loss of Lawrence. Maybe Golston and Alexander don’t give the Giants more this season. Maybe the loss of Robertson-Harris is felt more than we want to believe. Maybe none of the journeyman free agents or undrafted players the Giants signed will prove to be reliable rotational pieces.
The verdict
Harbaugh has said he wants to build the best offensive and defensive lines in the NFL. Losing Lawrence was not the way he had hoped to start building the defensive line. The Giants did a good job in collecting options on the line after trading Lawrence. Did they do a good job actually collecting talent? Only time will tell.
There is no way to credibly say they are better now than they were last year on the defensive line. They are less talented than they were with Lawrence and Robertson-Harris. That is undeniable. Could they end up playing better as an overall group? Yes, but that is something they are going to have to prove.
aBit o’Twitter
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