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INDIANAPOLIS — When Commanders coach Dan Quinn took over in Washington two years ago, he refused to call his overhaul of a long-suffering franchise a rebuild. It was, instead, a recalibration.

In Year 1, the Commanders were well calibrated, with then-rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels leading Washington to the NFC championship game. But in Year 2, they were back to needing help. Beset by injuries and a disappointing defense, Washington finished 5-12 last season.

At the NFL scouting combine on Tuesday, Quinn joked that he hadn’t thought too hard about this offseason’s rebrand. But both Quinn and general manager Adam Peters acknowledged that the Commanders’ roster needs work. Their depth is lacking. Some starting jobs need upgrades. There are holes to fill, if not a team to rebuild.

Here are four takeaways from what Quinn and Peters said at the combine.

Rushing for help

The Commanders need a lot of help for a defense that allowed a league-worst 384 yards per game last season and replaced coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. with Daronte Jones last month. But the search for maybe the most important piece could take a few months.

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Quinn called the pass rush “one of the biggest tenets in winning the game.” Over the second half of last season, Washington had the NFL’s seventh-worst pressure rate (36.3%), according to Sports Info Solutions. Outside linebacker Von Miller, who led the team with nine sacks, is a pending free agent and turns 37 next month.

The Commanders have $66.9 million in “effective” salary cap space, according to Over the Cap, and an intriguing mix of free agent edge rushers to evaluate, including the Miami Dolphins’ Jaelan Phillips, the Cincinnati Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson and the Los Angeles Chargers’ Odafe Oweh.

But the best value could come in the first round of the draft. Texas Tech’s David Bailey, Ohio State’s Arvell Reese and Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. could all be in play for Washington at No. 7 overall. Peters said last month that teams are “always trying to get younger and faster.” He called that a “big emphasis” in Washington.

“You want to see somebody that has demonstrated speed and initial quickness to beat somebody on the field,” Quinn said. “Beating somebody to the punch, having an explosive get-off to make someone feel overwhelmed, that’s what all the great rushers have.”

Added Peters: “Ideally, you want Myles Garrett. That’s who you want, but there’s only one of those guys walking on the face of the earth. But a lot of those same traits — long, fast, explosive, can turn the corner, can finish, all those things. In terms of guys with shorter arms ... there are a few in this draft who are really, really good players.”

‘Motivated’ to re-sign Tunsil

Getting a new deal done with left tackle Laremy Tunsil is one of the Commanders’ most pressing pieces of business — but it’s not necessarily urgent, Peters said.

He confirmed that he’s had multiple conversations with the 31-year-old Tunsil and his representatives, but they’ve yet to settle on a new deal. Tunsil started 14 games for Washington last season after being traded from the Houston Texans, and he was a standout on an offense that otherwise regressed in 2025.

Tunsil has a cap hit of nearly $25 million in 2026, the final year of his current contract, which could be spread out if he negotiates a new deal. But Peters said he wasn’t champing to get that done before free agency begins next month.

“We’re as motivated as ever to get that done,” Peters said. “I don’t think either side wants to drag it on, but I don’t think the league year is going to be a deadline of sorts.”

The Commanders had an unpleasant experience last year when receiver Terry McLaurin agitated for a new contract entering the last season of his deal. McLaurin was late reporting to camp, then requested a trade before the two sides finally agreed on a $96 million extension in August.

There is not much appetite for a sequel in 2026 with Tunsil. But Peters made it seem as though the Commanders are not worried that the talks will stall to that point.

“I have a ton of respect for Laremy — not just the player, but the person,” he said. “And the way he’s approached everything since we’ve acquired him — as a player, as a leader, taking the other guys under his wing and just being a great overall locker room guy. ... It’s something we really want to get done, and we’re really happy with him.”

Question mark at tight end

Since the Commanders signed Zach Ertz two years ago, it’s hard to say who did more for whom. On one hand, joining Washington revitalized Ertz’s career after a few forgettable seasons in Arizona in his 30s. On the other, Ertz caught 116 passes and 11 touchdowns over 30 games for the Commanders.

But the mutually beneficial partnership hit a hump this past season when Ertz — one of Daniels’ best targets over that span — tore his ACL and was lost for the season after 13 games. It’s unclear how soon Ertz, who turns 36 this year, will be able to return to full activity, but NFL Network reported that he wants to play in 2026.

Even though his current contract is up, Ertz could come back to Washington, Peters said. The Commanders have kept up conversations with his agent about a return.

“He’s just always open. He makes big plays,” Peters said. “We’ll keep the door open for him for sure.”

Peters acknowledged that backups John Bates and Ben Sinnott could step up for the Commanders, but both were pale imitations of Ertz as pass catchers last season, winding up with a combined 22 receptions to Ertz’s 50.

Quinn said the Commanders could do more to feature Sinnott, a second-round pick in 2024, in ways where “he can do his thing.”

“To compare him to Zach, they’re way different skill sets,” Quinn said. “So I know they’re both playing tight ends, but they’re featured differently in that way. What I do know is, him on the move, whether it’s the run game, pass game, running away from people, maybe not finding the zone and stopping, those are differences. And I’m looking forward to seeing that this year.”

If Daniels needs another big-bodied target, tight end could be a position Washington targets in free agency or the draft.

Staffing changes

An offseason of coaching and support staff alterations for the Commanders has continued well into the offseason.

Among the coaches, passing game coordinator Brian Johnson left to join the staff of the Los Angeles Rams, a move that was officially announced Monday. Quinn said Johnson’s role would be “absorbed” by other coaches.

Johnson was a potential candidate to rise to Washington’s OC before the job went to quarterbacks coach David Blough. A huge part of Blough’s appointment is his familiarity with Daniels, who’s entering his third year after showing incredible promise as a rookie but suffering injury setbacks in 2025.

The team is also making big changes outside the coaching staff. Tim McGrath, who headed the team’s health and performance over the last two seasons, has moved back to his native Australia — a decision Peters insisted had nothing to do with the injury issues that the team suffered last season. The franchise is looking for a replacement.

The Commanders will also have a void as they work on their draft. Tim Gribble, the team’s director of college scouting, left for the Pittsburgh Steelers last month in a return to his hometown. Peters said the organization gave its blessing after Gribble had worked for the team for the last 24 years. Washington is looking at internal and external candidates to replace him.

Quinn indicated that the Commanders would finalize their staff later this week. “For the most part,” he said, “it’s pretty intact.”