Where did Commanders land in ESPN's Football Power Index?
Article excerpt
ESPN's Football Power Index has ranked the Washington Commanders among NFL teams in its latest update. The index, which measures teams' strength and playoff probability, places the Commanders at a specific tier within the league hierarchy. The ranking reflects the team's current roster composition, recent performance, and projected trajectory for the season. ESPN's algorithm factors in historical data, strength of schedule, and injury status to generate these power ratings. The Commanders' placement offers insights into their competitive standing relative to division rivals and conference contenders as the season progresses.
This was a big week for the NFL. While June 1 is often a date for teams to cut veteran players in order to spread salary cap hits over two years, we saw two massive trades this week. The Los Angeles Rams acquired superstar pass rusher Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns. That one was a surprise.
The other big trade, not so much. The Philadelphia Eagles traded disgruntled star wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots. This move was in the works for what felt like a long time. Brown wanted out; he wanted to play for the Patriots, and the Eagles were happy to move him.
The Rams were already considered a top Super Bowl contender before acquiring Garrett. Now, almost every analyst has Los Angeles as the Super Bowl favorite. Seth Walder, an NFL analytics analyst for ESPN, recently revealed the latest Football Power Index, which ranks all 32 NFL teams. The Garrett move put the Rams firmly at No. 1. Last year's Super Bowl champion, the Seattle Seahawks, came in at No. 4.
Where were the Washington Commanders?
ESPN's FPI has Washington ranked at No. 21
ESPN's Football Power Index is out!
The Rams are No. 1, the Seahawks are No. 4 and the Patriots are...No. 14!
Projections, most likely Super Bowl matchups and more in today's story: https://t.co/a3gvnREcZ3pic.twitter.com/cUwrQBBGkw
, Seth Walder (@SethWalder) June 3, 2026
These ratings change weekly once the NFL season begins, based on how each team performs in all three phases.
Washington finished 5-12 last season. The Commanders completely overhauled their defense this offseason, adding edge rushers Odafe Oweh and K'Lavon Chaisson, and revamping the linebacker corps with first-round pick Sonny Styles and Leo Chenal.
Offensively, the Commanders haven't made huge moves. The biggest move was signing former Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo in free agency. Washington tried to make a play for free-agent receivers Alec Pierce and Romeo Doubs before bringing back Dyami Brown and signing Van Jefferson. It did use a third-round pick on receiver Antonio Williams, who is expected to play a significant role as a rookie.
Washington is counting on a bounce-back season from quarterback Jayden Daniels. The Commanders also have new coordinators on offense (David Blough) and defense (Daronte Jones). So, for now, they are a team of mystery, which could explain their lower ranking.
As for how the NFC East ranked in ESPN's FPI:
10. Philadelphia Eagles
11. Dallas Cowboys
21. Washington Commanders
23. New York Giants
ESPN explained how the Football Power Index is calculated
FPI's preseason predictive ratings are primarily based on win totals from the betting market in conjunction with each team's schedule, along with factors such as the difference between a team's starting and backup quarterback and a special teams rating that incorporates specific kickers. We use these ratings to simulate the season thousands of times, with the results forming our projections.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Where are they in ESPN's Football Power Index?