Intriguing Commanders' rookie named a player to watch in 2026
· Yahoo Sports
When you think about which Washington Commanders' rookie outside of Sonny Styles who could make a significant impact in 2026, wide receiver Antonio Williams first comes to mind. And for good reason. The third-round pick from Clemson is expected to have a big role as a rookie.
However, Josh Edwards of CBS Sports has another intriguing name: edge rusher Joshua Josephs.
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The Commanders selected the 6-foot-3, 242-pound Josephs in the fifth round, at No. 147 overall. In the latest edition of "Commanders Log," there was genuine excitement from GM Adam Peters and his team about landing Josephs.
Washington has three edge rushers on the roster with a combined 20 years of experience. Dorance Armstrong has become a physical run defender. Odafe Oweh and K'Lavon Chaisson have shown growth in that regard over the course of their own careers after being profiled as twitchier players in the draft. The latter two finished among the top-35 in pressure rate among players with at least 200 pass rush snaps in 2025, per TruMedia.
Josephs is not going to begin his career as an every-down player, but his presence can be felt on passing downs. Last season, he produced pressure on 18.9% of pass rush snaps, according to TruMedia. As Washington deploys its NASCAR package (the personnel it feels can pressure the quarterback quickest), Josephs is likely to have a spot on that unit to help the defense get off the field.
The Commanders went from having no depth at the edge to potentially having a battle over how many to keep. Nothing Edwards said is wrong. Josephs has a chance to make an impact as a rookie. He will play a specialized role. However, he will begin the year behind Oweh, Chaisson and Armstrong. Charles Omenihu will also be in the mix, but he could play defensive end, too. So, finding snaps for Josephs could be tough, at least initially. But his athleticism and quickness off the edge are traits you want on the field.
Head coach Dan Quinn and new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones love edge rushers with great length. Josephs has that and then some. He has the wingspan of an NBA forward. If Josephs could make an impact as a rookie, it would allow the Commanders to rotate their edge rushers more freely, making them more dangerous late in games.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Day 3 pick named a player to watch in 2026