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Washington Commanders promote to fill pass game coordinator role
[The Commanders are] promoting David Raih to the team’s new passing game coordinator, filling the vacancy left by Brian Johnson, who became a senior offensive analyst for the Los Angeles Rams under head coach Sean McVay this offseason.
This marks the latest promotion for Washington’s revamped 2026 coaching staff after shifting Darnell Stapleton to the new offensive line coach and Shane Toub to assistant offensive line coach. This also marks Raih’s first time in his current role, though adds experience and familiarity to the offensive staff in year three under Dan Quinn.
The news comes days after head coach Dan Quinn noted the team was “probably a day or two away” from finalizing the 2026 coaching staff while noting the ongoing meetings with new coordinators, David Blough and Daronte Jones, ahead of free agency and the NFL Draft.
“There’s some good energy hat comes from that because you’re actually starting at the beginning to say, well, this is why we’re going to call this this and this is how we want to play this,” Quinn said at the NFL Combine. “And so, I like that feeling of what that is and I like what I’m seeing so far from them.”
Raih first joined the organization as the tight ends coach in 2024 where he served for two seasons before moving into a passing game coordinator role beginning today. Raih previously served as a senior offensive analyst for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023 while his first NFL job came with the Green Bay Packers where he served as a coaching administrator for two seasons beginning in 2014 then moving to assistant offensive line coach in 2016, offensive perimeter coach in 2017 then wide receivers coach in 2018.
Washington Commanders add former Dan Quinn assistant to 2026 staff
Ben Steele is expected to be named the Commanderes’ new tight ends coach. The news comes hours after the Washington Commanders promoted David Raih to replace Brian Johnson as the team’s new passing game coordinator.
He joins the organization after serving as the tight ends coach for the Arizona Cardinals the last three seasons where he coached star playmaker Trey McBride, who proved to be the best player at his position in 2025 after amassing 126 receptions for 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. It was McBride’s second consecutive season with at least 100 catches and 1,100 receiving yards while he finished with more touchdowns in 2025 than he did in his first three seasons combined (six).
Steele now joins a Commanders coaching staff tasked with replenishing that room this offseason. Both John Bates and Ben Sinnott return in 2026 where the young tandem will upgrade Washington’s blocking capabilities in both the pass and run game, but adding a receiving tight end has been a continued point of emphasis for a team in desperate need of adding weapons around quarterback Jayden Daniels in his third season.
Steele, who played six season in the NFL and one with Frankfurt Galaxy in 2003, has been coaching since 2008 and has been an NFL assistant since 2014.
Commanders.com
Combine notebook | Prospects praise Commanders’ weapons, DBs take the field for workouts
— The Commanders could be in the market for a backup quarterback and are looking into the crop of talent in the draft for someone to add to the room. That includes Texas Tech’s Behren Morton, who said he had a positive meeting with the Commanders.
“It’d be awesome to learn from a young guy that’s already had success at the NFL level,” Morton said of playing with Daniels. “That’s really what I’m looking for; a guy that’s done it before, been in this process not too long ago, but a guy that can understand how it is being a rookie coming in and what I could do to help him.”
— Let’s get to some on-field workouts. It seems like skill players get faster by the year, and it looks like there will be no shortage of speed in this year’s crop of defensive backs. Missouri cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. paced the cornerbacks with a blazing 4.32 time in the 40-yard dash. Pride, who is not currently ranked on Mel Kiper Jr.’s big board, transferred to Clemson in 2024 and had his two best seasons with eight pass breakups and four interceptions in that stint. Draft analysts love players with speed, so it’s possible Pride will creep up people’s boards next week.
— Indiana’s D’Angelo Ponds caught some attention in the vertical for tying linebacker Sonny Styles with a 43.5-inch vertical — the fourth-highest vertical in the last 13 years.
Hogs Haven
Should propensity for injury, by position, effect your draft selection thinking?
Are injuries detected at the NFL Combine, for example, significant? Yes they are. In one publication, the most common sites of injury identified at the combine were (1) ankle, (2) shoulder, (3) knee, (4) spine, and (5) hand. Overall, performance in the NFL tended to worsen with injury history, with a direct correlation found between injury at a certain anatomic location and position of play. Defensive players tended to perform worse compared with offensive players if injury history was present.
So….. who is most likely to be injured based on real data?
Academic papers have studied this.
[I]n…one single analysis, the single highest NFL injury rate occurred among left guards. Why left versus right? Unknown. The next highest rates in that study occurred among defensive secondary players. In another similar analysis, defensive backs consistently have the highest number of all-cause injuries, time-loss injuries to the lower extremity, and in-game injuries among all positions.
This is true across a number of studies, defensive backs are consistently among the most injured and lose the most time, and it tends to be lower extremity injuries.
Pre-season activities cause a higher incidence of injuries than in-season play, likely because players are not yet in game shape and they are not used to the activity when returning from the off-season.
[F]or just one specific injury, an Achilles tendon rupture: 72.7% of Achilles tendon ruptures were sustained in the first eight games of the regular season.
With all of the discussion locally about Jayden Daniels, it is interesting that when viewing players with the lowest injury occurrence, the positions LEAST injured include kicker (K), punter (P), and quarterback (QB). These positions are expected to have the lowest injury occurrence because they are football’s most well-protected positions and there are specific rules about when they can be hit and how they can be tackled. Quarterbacks who run down the field are obviously more likely to sustain contact.
Podcasts & videos
1-on-1 With General Manager Adam Peters From 2026 NFL Scouting Combine | NFL | Washington Commanders
SURPRISE RELEASE: Washington Commanders DROP Tyler Biadasz—What’s NEXT for Their Offense?
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Blogging the Boys
George Pickens franchise tag, explained: What ‘non-exclusive’ means for Dallas Cowboys
A notable part about the Pickens tag is that it is of the non-exclusive variety. This means something very specific, for those unaware.
From the NFL’s Operations Manual:
Teams that use the non-exclusive franchise tag hold the right of first refusal. If a designated player signs an offer sheet with another team, the player’s previous team has five days to match the offer sheet. Should it decide not to, the player’s original team shall be entitled to draft-choice compensation equivalent to two first-round picks.
The Cowboys have effectively given themselves leverage against Pickens by giving him the non-exclusive tag. At least they have hypothetically done so. You see, Pickens is now free to negotiate with whatever team he likes. Should Team A like Pickens enough to make him an offer then the Cowboys have the right of first refusal. They can literally let another team do the work for them.
“But why wouldn’t Team A just offer Pickens a huge deal so the Cowboys will have to match it? Wouldn’t that be smart so that the Cowboys would be stuck?”
This is why there is a protection in there. Should Team A offer Pickens a deal and the Cowboys feel it is not worth matching, then Team A owes the Cowboys two first-round picks. That is a pretty decent consolation prize.
ESPN
Jerry Jones sees Cowboys being bigger spenders in free agency
“I really can’t accept just the thought of winning one Super Bowl and then what?” Jones said Friday night from the NFL scouting combine. “I’ve got more time on my clock than that in my mind. And so I don’t see it that way. I see a chance to put a team together and basically be knocking at the edge and get another one or get a chance at a another one.
“It runs that way in my view. … Make no mistake about it now, if you told me I could, because I’ve done a lot of hitchhiking in my life. … I’d start here with you right now and hitchhike back to Dallas to win a Super Bowl.”
After a 7-9-1 finish in 2025, Jones promised change. One change will be the team’s approach to free agency.
The Cowboys have not relied heavily on free agency in years, choosing to pick their spots to shore up holes on the roster with cost-effective players.
“I would bet that we will spend more money in free agency than we have,” Jones said.
To do so, the Cowboys will first have to create salary cap room.
they will restructure the contracts of quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and left guard Tyler Smith, which will create $66 million of room.
Jones said the Cowboys will rework the contracts of defensive tackles Kenny Clark, Quinnen Williams and Osa Odighizuwa, who are scheduled to count around $63 million against the cap. With Clark and Williams, the Cowboys can look to add voidable years to their contracts then restructure that way.
“I want you to know that the only way to push more [out] is for me to go borrow some of my future, OK?” Jones said. “Expect me to go borrow some of my future.”
“I want to do everything we possibly can to [build a defense that can] stop somebody and to basically win [more] third downs…than we did last year. And so I think that would be the area that you would see me bust the budget. Where you would see me do that is what we’re doing defensively.
“And I would expect anybody that’s a Cowboy fan or a critic of the Cowboys to say, ‘Duh, that’s not hard to see, Jerry, to do.’ But I guess what I’m doing is saying, yes, I intend to do that if given the opportunity.”
Big Blue View
NY Giants free agency 2026: 5 potential upgrades at inside linebacker
Kaden Elliss, Atlanta Falcons
The 30-year-old free agent. Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham was vague when addressing the media about Kaden Elliss’ future with the Falcons:
“He’s a guy that we’re obviously evaluating, and I think there’s a lot of linebackers in this market. We’ve got to really look at our cap situation and our roster moving forward”
Elliss is not a household name, but he’s been solid for the Falcons since 2023.
Elliss was used frequently in the Falcons’ pressure package. The 6-foot-3, 238-pound linebacker would often align on the edge and he’s not a stiff dropping into coverage. Elliss has played more than 1,000 snaps in each of his last three seasons. He has 124 pressures and 22 sacks in his career. Elliss should not cost much on the open market and he would be an immediate upgrade…at linebacker.
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Riggo’s Rag
Former Commanders star Jonathan Allen could be cut again this offseason
Thor Nystrom of SKOR North, citing his conversations at the NFL Scouting Combine, believes Allen’s future in Minnesota is far from secure. And if he had to lean one way, he didn’t think the Alabama product would still be on the roster in 2026.
“One of the surprising things I’ve heard is, I thought Jonathan Allen was going to be on the team next year because of [his] contract, [but] I don’t know that he will be. The team is going to look into different stuff. Could they trade him? They’re exploring, but it is well within play that they release Jonathan Allen. I would’ve had his odds of being on the team next year, I would’ve had it pretty high coming into this week, and now I think it’s pretty low.”Thor Nystrom
It’s a surprising statement, especially considering the money involved. But things like this don’t come out of nowhere.
Allen is set to count $23.86 million against the salary cap next season. Releasing him comes with just $6.53 million in savings and…$17.33 in dead money. If the Vikings push this into a post-June 1 release, it becomes $11.2 million saved and $12.66 million in dead [cap].
ESPN
Will Seahawks re-sign Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III?
With ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting last week that Walker is not expected to receive the franchise or transition tag from the Seahawks, there’s a real possibility that he signs elsewhere when free agency begins next week. If so, he’d become only the fourth player all-time to win Super Bowl MVP and begin the following season on another team.
While speaking with reporters in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Schneider conveyed a sense that the Seahawks are prepared for that outcome unless the two sides can work out a deal on the team’s terms.
“We’d love to have Ken back, and he knows this better than anybody — it’s about our 70 and our collective and what that’s going to look like,” Schneider said. “We’ll have those meetings down here. We’ll start talking to all the agents and we’ll have a better feel of where we’re going towards the end of the week.”
Schneider declined to comment on a potential tag for Walker, but the report that he won’t use it was another indication that he’ll take a disciplined approach to negotiations — even with the specter of Zach Charbonnet missing much of next season as the other half of Seattle’s backfield tandem recovers from a torn ACL.
Over the Cap
NFL Salary Cap Set at $301.2 Million
The NFL officially set the salary cap at $301.2 million for the 2026 league year, marking the first time that the league has had a cap above $300 million.
On a percentage basis the 7.88% growth ranks 13th all time and this would be considered slightly above the historical averages in the NFL. This is probably going to be around what the cap increases by every year moving forward until a new TV contract is signed with the league expanding to 18 weeks.
ESPN
NFLPA has finalists for executive director job, sources say
The NFL Players Association executive committee has narrowed its search for a permanent executive director to a group of finalists, including interim executive director David White and former union chief strategy officer JC Tretter, according to four sources briefed on the process.
Also among the finalists is American Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti, the sources said. The union’s 32 player representatives will vote on the finalists at the annual NFLPA meeting in San Diego next month.
The NFLPA has been searching for a permanent leader since July, when then-executive director Lloyd Howell resigned following ESPN reporting that he had charged a pair of strip club visits to the union.
Other candidates for the executive director role included Domonique Foxworth, a former player and an ESPN commentator who was the NFLPA president from 2012 to 2014; Matt Schaub, a former player rep who was a candidate in 2023; and Jeff Saturday, also a former player and an ESPN commentator, according to three other sources familiar with the process.
NFL Draft / Combine
NFL.com
2026 NFL combine stock up/stock down, Day 2: 10 prospects on the move
Stock up
Daylen Everette
Georgia · CB · Senior
Everette’s 2025 game film was not elite, but he ran a stellar 4.38-second 40-yard dash (1.54 10-yard split) at 6-foot-1 1/4 and 196 pounds. He displayed his explosiveness with a 37 1/2-inch vertical, too. His hands were solid in field drills, extending away from his frame to secure passes with and high-pointing deep throws better than most other participants. If teams put more value on Everette’s pre-2025 tape his combine workout, he might end up being picked in Round 2.
Kenyon Sadiq
Oregon · TE · Junior
Sadiq measured 6-3 1/8, which put to rest any concerns that he would not reach the 6-3 mark. His 43 1/2-inch vertical and 11-1 broad jump showed his elite athleticism. Then he posted a 4.39-second 40 at 241 pounds, the fastest time for a combine tight end since at least 2003. Unfortunately, Sadiq and fellow workout king Eli Stowers (4.51 40, 45 1/2-inch vertical) passed on the opportunity to show their ball skills during drills. The former Oregon Duck has 10-inch hands but had some issues with drops last season. He’ll need to show that skill at his pro day or in private workouts with teams.
Stock down
Max Klare
Ohio State · TE · Junior (RS)
Klare’s production at Purdue in 2024 made him a coveted player when he entered the transfer portal after that season. However, he did not see as many passes with Ohio State in 2025, so I was a bit surprised when he entered the draft instead of returning for another college season. He chose not to run or jump at the combine on Friday. His ball skills, change of direction and suddenness in routes looked average during drills. In a deep tight end group, Klare failed to stand out as an athlete or pass-catcher in Indianapolis. His pro day will be even more important as he tries to convince teams he’s worthy of a top-75 pick.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
Toledo · S · Senior
McNeil-Warren did not have a poor workout, but he fell victim to outstanding performances by other top safety prospects. With Jalon Kilgore, Genesis Smith and Thieneman displaying elite athleticism, McNeil-Warren’s 4.52 40, 35 1/2-inch vertical and 10-2 broad jump just didn’t stand out. His drill work was fine, too. He grabbed passes smoothly and moved relatively well for a player his size. However, “EMW” wasn’t flawless in his change of direction and was told by coaches on multiple occasions to finish drills through to the end.