The Washington Commanders are staring down a pivotal offseason in which the margin for error is thin. With a premium pick and a defense that needs immediate triage, Washington’s front office has to decide which holes can be patched with veterans and which positions demand a first-round cornerstone.
This Commanders-focused breakdown covers the biggest roster needs, critical 2026/2027 free agents, and the offseason priorities that will shape Washington’s 2026 outlook—including several potential fantasy football ripple effects.
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Pick 7: Washington Commanders
Team Needs: WR, CB, RB, EDGE, IOL
2026 Free Agents Key Losses: WR Deebo Samuel, TE Zach Ertz, C Tyler Biadasz, RB Chris Rodriguez Jr., CB Marshon Lattimore
2026 Free Agents:
- QB: Josh Johnson, Jeff Driskell
- RB: Austin Ekeler, Chase Edmonds
- WR: Noah Brown, Chris Moore,
- TE: Tyree Jackson (RFA)
- OL: RT Andrew Wylie, RT George Fant, RT Lucas Niang,
- EDGE: Von Miller, Jalyn Holmes, Drake Jackson
- DL: Shy Tuttle, Eddie Goldman, Sheldon Day
- LB: Bobby Wagner, Jake Martin, Preston Smith
- CB: Jonathan Jones, Noah Igbinoghene, Antonio Hamilton,
- ST: Jake Moody (RFA)
2027 Free Agents:
- QB: Sam Hartman (ERFA), Marcus Mariota
- RB: Rachaad White, Jeremy McNichols
- WR: Lawrence Cager, Nick Nash (ERFA), Ja’Corey Brooks (ERFA), Jacoby Jones (ERFA), Treylon Burks
- TE: Colson Yankoff (RFA)
- OL: G Chris Paul, RT Trenton Scott, G Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu (RFA), G Julian Good-Jones (ERFA), G Tyler Cooper (ERFA), G Tim McKay (ERFA)
- EDGE: Dorance Armstrong, Andre Carter II, K’Lavon Chaisson, Deatrich Wise
- DL: Daron Payne, Ricky Barber (ERFA)
- LB: Frankie Luvu, D.J. Johnson, T.J. Magurayang (ERFA)
- CB: Darius Rush (RFA), Tre Hawkins III (RFA), Qwuantrezz Knight (ERFA), Car’lin Vigers (ERFA), Rob McDaniel (ERFA)
- S: Jeremy Reaves, Percy Butler, Will Harris, Jartavius Martin, Tyler Owens (RFA)
- ST: Tress Way, Nick Bellore, Tyler Ott
The Commanders’ defense needs a lot of help. Last season, they finished second-to-last in yards per pass attempt faced (8.2).
Linebacker Bobby Wagner played the most snaps and is an impending free agent (also 36 years old). Von Miller led the team in sacks (10) and is 37 years old. EDGE Dorance Armstrong was the team’s best pass rusher last season and got hurt after 7 games. Last year of his contract.
HC Dann Quin talked about wanting speed and violence. Plenty of top-tier prospects in this class check off those boxes.
During free agency, they signed Charles Omenihu and K’Lavon Chaisson to one-year deals. LB Leo Chenal also signed a 3-year deal.
But let’s not bury the lede…the big edge move was pass rusher Odafe Oweh – signing a 4-year deal worth $100 million.
Perimeter CB is another need. Marshon Lattimore is not the same guy anymore after so many injuries. He was cut.
Jonathan Jones is also a free agent. CB Amik Robertson signed a two-year deal.
Safety Jartavius “Quan” Martin is still under contract, along with the other two starting safeties. But Martin allowed the 5th-highest passer rating in coverage last season. Safety needs to be addressed here for the Commanders to improve their defense. It’s a great draft class for safeties with three potential first-rounders (generally viewed as a strong safety class overall).
The Commanders signed safety Nick Cross during free agency.
Offensively, this backfield might get some more pieces. Jacory Croskey-Merritt is a former 7th-round draft pick (although the coaching staff has expressed confidence in him). Up-and-down rookie season with flashes. Chris Rodriguez is a restricted free agent, but he’s likely to return (the team loves him). However, he ended up going to the Jaguars.
I’d expect the other RBs not to re-sign in free agency.
The new offensive coordinator is David Blough (former assistant QB coach), who will replace Kliff Kingsbury.
Blough (former QB with the Browns, Lions, Vikings, and Cardinals) has played with the following RBs who could hit the open market this offseason (trade/cut candidates). Although they are all under contract at this time.
Assistant HC Brian Johnson coached both Swift and Kenneth Gainwell in Philadelphia. RB coach Anthony Lynn also coached Swift in Detroit.
Also, as noted in Matthew Berry’s highly-acclaimed “NFL Combine Takeaways” article, he claims the Commanders’ backfield is very much unfinished. Team wants to add a ‘thumper’ and deploy an RBBC akin to Ben Johnson’s offenses.
They signed Rachaad White to a one-year deal. Full breakdown here. They also added RB Jerome Ford, who played for the Browns.
WR depth is needed after Terry McLaurin (only 3 WRs on the current roster). They have a few young pieces like Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane – but no established names to pair with TMC. Don’t be surprised if Brandon Aiyuk reunites with his former Arizona State teammate, Jayden Daniels, this offseason.
It just makes so much sense for both sides with Aiyuk’s time in SF coming to an end. Adam Peters brought in former Niners WR Deebo Samuel last season.
Wes Welker is also supposed to take on a larger role with the Commanders’ offense, and he previously coached Aiyuk in San Fran.
So we shall see if Blough is true to his word, feeding TMC 10 targets per game.
For draft purposes – here’s another nugget: The Commanders’ WR coach, Bobby Engram, was the former OC at Wisconsin in 2022. A few college prospects in this year’s class from that Badgers team: WR Skyler Bell and WR Vinny Anthony.
The Commanders’ GM also emphasized selecting a young, explosive playmaker with their top draft pick (specifically highlighted pass rusher as an area of need).
David Bailey, Jeremiyah Love, Arvell Reese, Cashius Howell, Avieon Terrell, Caleb Downs, etc. Embarrassment of riches for the Commanders at 7th overall.
And after a historic combine showing…LB Sonny Styles could be the Commanders’ version of Fred Warner. Also seems less likely they take someone with shorter arms like Rueben Bain.
Zach Ertz is coming off a torn ACL in December, so he won’t be back at 35.
The Commanders have some interesting young guys on the roster, such as Ben Sinnott, who could be thrust into larger roles. But he’s hardly done enough to keep the team from drafting a tight end. Or signing one. Case in point, the Commanders splurged in free agency by signing tight end Chig Okonkwo. I love the transaction.
Okonkwo has had 50-plus catches in three straight seasons. And now the super underrated tight end has Jayden Daniels throwing him the ball after he signed a deal with the Washington Commanders in free agency. Okonkwo’s YAC-ability and potential to be the No. 2 target in the nation’s capital are teeing him up to break out in 2026. The YAC metric for tight ends was one of the reasons that drew me to Tucker Kraft over the last 2 years. Chigoziem Okonkwo: 3rd in YAC/reception in 2025 (6.2) & 1st in YAC/reception as a rookie (7.8).
As for the protection upfront, they have the starters from last season intact. Sam Cosmi missed the start of the season but returned in October. He missed the latter portion of the season with a concussion.
The Commanders need to consider OL more in 2027 with their starting center and LT hitting the open market. Laremy Tunsil re-upped his deal to add two more years to his contract.
Center Tyler Biadasz has already been released. G Nick Allegretti was re-signed a week before free agency (projected as starting center). Another guard would help round out the blocking up front.
The Commanders brought back starting left guard, Chris Paul, on a one-year contract as a 2026 projected starter. But again, no long-term commitment.
A few coaching notes to account for. Daronte Jones has taken over at DC after spending 2022-2025 with the Minnesota Vikings in various defensive roles.
He was also the defensive coordinator for the LSU Tigers in 2021. Draft-eligible players in this class from that team?
QB Garrett Nussmeier. Nussmeier is used to backing up Daniels (did for two years at LSU).
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