Upgrading the Commanders’ roster; which players should Washington sign in rapidly-approaching NFL free agency?

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Commanders Free Agent Fits: Wide Receiver

I will state up front that I’m not sure how aggressive the Commanders will be in free agency for a wide receiver. My gut feeling is that the team will take a shot on Brandon Aiyuk whenever the 49ers decide to release him.

But in a scenario where Aiyuk doesn’t happen, the Commanders do need a second reliable receiver to partner Terry McLaurin while still providing a pathway for young receivers like Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane to compete for the third receiver role. So if GM Adam Peters decides not to bother with Aiyuk, what are some options he could consider in free agency? Let’s take a closer look.

High Profile: Alex Pierce, Colts, 25

The top two receivers currently scheduled to become free agents are George Pickens and Alec Pierce. It’s been widely reported that the Cowboys are going to franchise tag Pickens, which would then make Pierce the top option available. I think the Colts will also tag Pierce or work out a long term deal with him before he hits the open market, but they have a quarterback situation to work out with Daniel Jones and some other key players they need to consider too. So for now, we’ll say he’s available.

If Pierce is available, he’d offer something the Commanders lacked last season: a true deep threat. Terry McLaurin can obviously provide that but he was hurt for most of last season. Jaylin Lane has the speed to offer that threat in the future but he’s still developing. Pierce has gone through the development phase and is now a legitimate deep threat that can take the top off a defense and create explosive plays down the field.

The willingness to go over the middle and make tough catches in contested areas separates Pierce from other deep threats in the NFL. His 6-foot-3, 211 pound frame likely helps him feel confident in withstanding those punishing hits over the middle and the ball skills are clearly a strength too. As I said, PIerce’s route tree with the Colts was fairly basic but he was very effective at those routes and there’s clearly room for expansion there if desired.

Pierce could command a huge contract in free agency. Some are projecting him to get as high as $30 million per year on average, if not more. That would make him one of the highest paid receivers in the NFL. So it would be an expensive signing, but he would immediately add a legitimate deep threat opposite McLaurin if it were to happen.

Good Value: Romeo Doubs, Packers, 25

A perhaps slightly more realistic option is Packers receiver Romeo Doubs. Doubs is another taller receiver at 6-foot-2, 204 pounds and has experience playing in a system that shouldn’t be too dissimilar to what we’re expecting David Blough to run here in Washington this year. Compared to Pierce, Doubs isn’t quite the same deep threat but he’s a more detailed route runner with a wider variety of ways to get open.

Commanders Wire

Commanders’ RB Jeremy McNichols lands on NFL top-10 list

We often heard Bill’s name as he flashed as a sixth-round draft pick rookie and drew attention, and Rodriguez was a close second in yards to Croskey-Merritt, but McNichols was quietly the glue that held them together.

McNichols had just one touchdown in all of 2025, and the run was so good that the NFL deemed it the second-best run in the whole season.

Riggo’s Rag

FOX Sports insider believes Kyle Dugger could be the perfect fit for Commanders’ defense

The Commanders will have a plan of attack. New defensive coordinator Daronte Jones’ input will be invaluable throughout the process. And based on the scheme he plans to run, an NFL insider believes Washington could strike gold with a forgotten name once touted as a future superstar.

Greg Auman of FOX Sports thought taking a swing at Kyle Dugger could be a risk worth taking for the Commanders. The well-rounded safety had an up-and-down year with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he’s got the versatility to impact proceedings in all phases, which is precisely what Jones is looking for.

“[Kyle] Dugger, 29, was jettisoned from the Patriots’ defense in a pick swap as part of their 2025 turnaround, landing with the Steelers and voiding the last two years of a four-year, $58 million deal. He started nine games in Pittsburgh with two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, so the question is what fraction of his old salary will he draw on the open market? A new coach in Pittsburgh means there isn’t an obvious landing spot for Dugger, a low-risk rebound signing.”Greg Auman

Dugger is fast and physical. He loves coming down to the second level to assist against the run. The 2020 second-round pick is impactful on blitzes and can hold his own in coverage. He might also be relatively cheap to acquire, if market projections are any indication.

Commanders Roundtable

Commanders 2026 franchise tag targets to watch around the league

The next phase of the offseason officially struck on Tuesday with the window for teams to franchise tag players now officially underway, set to run through 4 PM ET on March 3. While the free agent market is expected to have several marquee names at a handful of positions, how the next three weeks unfold could have a notable impact on available targets who fill needs and add much-needed firepower on both sides of the ball for the Washington Commanders.

For Washington? It’s not as applicable of a question given the cap flexibility and long list of affordable free agents set to depart, though the bigger question will be whether the front office opts to be aggressive to re-sign starters like Deebo Samuel and Chris Paul.

For the rest of the NFL? What they decide to do will be the first domino for Washington, including arguably the most controversial of them all.

Running Backs: Travis Etienne Jr (Jacksonville), Breece Hall (New York Jets), Kenneth Walker (Seattle)

Wide Receiver: George Pickens (Dallas), Alec Pierce (Indianapolis), Wan’Dale Robinson (New York Giants)

Tight End: Kyle Pitts Sr. (Atlanta)

A to Z Sports

Commanders could lose QB Marcus Mariota in free agency this offseason, with weak options for QB-needy teams

This is an awful offseason to need a quarterback with a very weak free agency group and a very limited 2026 NFL Draft class as well.

PFF has veteran QB Marcus Mariota as the No. 68 overall free agent this offseason, and he’s in the top three or four realistic options for a team this offseason.

o. 68 overall free agent this offseason, and he’s in the top three or four realistic options for a team this offseason.

Green Bay Packers QB Malik Willis will be the top option in free agency, and then teams are stuck with Daniel Jones and Mariota. Mariota could be a one-year bridge QB for a team that still drafts a QB prospect, and he could help mentor them as he did for Jayden Daniels.

The QB class is top-heavy with Fernando Mendoza projected to go No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders, and the rest is a wildcard.

Podcasts & videos

2026 NFL Draft Preview, Who to Go for in Free Agency & Power Rankings | Get Loud | Commanders

MEGA NFC East Preview + Waaaaaaay Too Early Predictions | Podcast | Washington Commanders | NFL

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Big Blue View

NY Giants free agency 2026: 5 tight ends New York could consider

Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans

The 26-year-old spent his rookie contract in a tumultuous overall offensive environment. The 6-3, 238-pound tight end played 2,402 snaps through his career, with 600-plus snaps in each of his last three seasons for Tennessee. He aligned 46.7% of the time in the slot and 13.9% out wide, with just a 35.5% in-line snap rate.

He caught more than 50 passes in each of his last three seasons. He finished his rookie contract with 194 catches on 262 targets for 2,017 yards with eight touchdowns and an average of 10.4 yards per reception. He averaged a 58.8% contested catch rate (20 of 34) with 13 total drops and 14 penalties committed.

Spotrac.com lists Okonkwo’s market value at $7.9 million as his average annual salary. His specific skill-set fits what many teams are looking for — a field-stretching athletic threat who is comfortable operating out of the slot and playing in-line. He’s not a dynamic blocker, though, but has a valuable skill set, nonetheless.

Big Blue View

NY Giants 2026 NFL Draft scouting report: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

Omar Cooper Jr. projects as a starting slot receiver at the NFL level, and a likely Day 2 pick. He can probably play in any offense commonly called in the NFL, but his upside is likely greatest in catch-and-run offenses like those run by disciples of Kyle Shanahan or Sean McVay.

Cooper is competitive and has the ability to be a reliable outlet on 3rd downs, however he’ll likely shine when given the opportunity to pick up yards after the catch. And while he doesn’t have the raw speed to be a consistent deep or home run threat, his quickness, agility, and explosiveness should allow him to routinely pick up chunk yardage. In that, he bears a certain resemblance to former Giant Victor Cruz.

From The Crimson Quarry

He excels at winning matchups off the line and picking up yards after the catch with a combination of strength and elusiveness in the open field. Additionally, he’s hauled in plenty of acrobatic, difficult catches in each of his seasons as a contributor. He’s got legit NFL tools.

NFL.com

One roster move each NFC team should make during the 2026 NFL offseason

Philadelphia Eagles – 2025 record: 11-6

Keep Jaelan Phillips in Philly.

GM Howie Roseman has several big decisions to make this offseason as we head to free agency. Keeping Phillips from leaving town is No. 1 in my book. From the moment the pass rusher arrived in Philadelphia, the defense hit another level. In Week 10 onward, Phillips led the Eagles with 34 QB pressures after the unit had struggled to get after the passer consistently while dealing with injuries. Philly would have to replace that production regardless, so keeping a player Roseman knows fits Vic Fangio’s scheme should be the priority, particularly given past misses (see: Bryce Huff). If you chose to make finding a long-term replacement for Lane Johnson your top priority, I understand.

The Ringer

Ranking the Top 50 NFL Free Agents of 2026

3) Jaelan Phillips

The Eagles got away with highway robbery by acquiring Phillips from the Dolphins for a third-round pick at the trade deadline in November. His first two games in Philly came against two of the league’s better offensive tackles, the Packers’ Zach Tom and the Lions’ Penei Sewell, and Phillips still made his presence felt right away, with 12 pressures and a sack in his first two games. He has an ideal frame, great strength, and terrifying explosiveness, making him a dream fit as a stand-up rusher who can line up anywhere in Vic Fangio’s defense. Phillips can blow through and by tackles, and he often manhandles tight ends into the backfield when given the opportunity. Phillips ranked sixth in total pressures (41) after joining the Eagles in Week 10.

Blogging the Boys

Why the Cowboys choose caution over chaos when it comes to pushing cost into the future years

The Dallas Cowboys enter yet another offseason where fans are clamoring for a massive spending spree. From the looming extension of George Pickens to shore up a top-notch receiving corps, to a potential blockbuster trade for Maxx Crosby to bolster the pass rush, as well as the never-ending desire for them to finally be aggressive in free agency, the idea of throwing down some serious cash is at an all-time high.

Advocates of this approach often point to restructuring current contracts as the simple solution to afford these stars, viewing the salary cap as a mere suggestion that can be manipulated at will. However, the reality of NFL front office management is far more complex than simply moving numbers from one column to another to free up space for that missing player who will take their team to the promised land.

This offseason, the Cowboys find themselves in a unique position of having the highest restructure potential in the league. They can clear up to $131 million in cap space through simple adjustments. Despite being roughly $29 million over the projected $304 million cap, they possess the tools to open the floodgates of spending simply by pushing base salaries into future years by converting them to bonus money.

While all those extra cap dollars make our eyes widen as we ponder the possibilities, flipping the switch to trigger maximum level restructures is a risky endeavor. That’s because today’s savings are tomorrow’s shackles.

One of the primary pitfalls of aggressive restructuring is roster rigidity. When a team converts base salary into a signing bonus, they are essentially making a serious commitment towards that player because the remaining bonus money accelerates if the player is cut or traded. This creates a situation where a team is all but forced to retain a potential declining veteran because it would cost more in cap space to move on than to keep them on the roster.

Future flexibility is another casualty of the win-now mentality. Every dollar pushed into future seasons is a dollar that cannot be used to sign a future commodity or retain a homegrown talent. Teams that overextend themselves find they have no room to breathe when a new need arises at a critical position.

Many will quickly point out that the salary cap is always increasing. Everyone knows this, and it’s why teams are okay about restructuring in the first place. But when you’re reallocating funds at a much higher rate than how the cap increases, that’s when you run into problems.

While the potential to create over $100 million in space is a powerful tool, the front office should use it wisely to ensure they do not become the next cautionary tale of cap mismanagement.

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ESPN

Chiefs restructure Patrick Mahomes’ deal, create cap space

The restructuring, first reported Wednesday by Over the Cap, converts $54.45 million of Mahomes’ 2026 salary into a signing bonus and lowers the star quarterback’s cap number to $34.65 million.

The Chiefs, who missed the playoffs in 2025 after reaching the Super Bowl in each of the three previous seasons, created $43.65 million in cap space. It marks the fourth consecutive year that Kansas City has restructured Mahomes’ contract.

The Chiefs entered the offseason more than $57 million over the cap and still will need to make some financial maneuvers after reworking Mahomes’ deal. Mahomes, who is recovering from knee surgery, initially was set to count for $78.2 million against the cap in 2026.

Under the terms of the restructured deal, Mahomes now will count for an additional $11 million against Kansas City’s cap each of the next four seasons, bringing his total cap number to $85 million for 2027, according to Over the Cap. The three-time Super Bowl MVP is a potential candidate for a contract extension before 2028, when his salary and cap number both drop significantly.

Star defensive lineman Chris Jones, who is set to count for nearly $45 million against the cap, is another candidate for a restructured deal. The Chiefs could potentially cut offensive lineman Jawaan Taylor, who has one year remaining on his four-year, $80 million deal. Other veteran players who are candidates to be released include Mike Danna, Drue Tranquill and Noah Gray.

Potential salary cap cuts between now and March 11th

NFL.com

2026 NFL free agency: notable cut candidates

Patrick Queen – Pittsburgh Steelers · LB

Queen was a Pro Bowler two years ago in his first season with Pittsburgh, and his numbers were somewhat similar across the board in 2025. He was second on the team in tackles with 120 and had eight tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. On the flip side, he earned just a 43.4 overall defensive grade from PFF, including an abysmal 32.4 coverage grade. His overall grade was 61st out of 67 linebackers with 500-plus snaps, and his coverage grade was 65th on that same list. According to Next Gen Stats, he allowed 57 catches for 591 yards, four touchdowns, a 107.6 passer rating and a 50.6% success rate in coverage. The Steelers are in good cap shape, so this might not be a necessary move, but cutting Queen before June 1 would save Pittsburgh $13.3 million to help build an offense to new head coach Mike McCarthy’s specifications. Pittsburgh could instead/also cut Jalen Ramsey for $19.5 million in savings, but his move to safety earned him a Pro Bowl nod and his leadership on the defense might earn him the Pittsburgh roster spot over Queen.

Darnell Mooney – Atlanta Falcons · WR

After a solid campaign in 2024 — 64 catches for 992 yards and a career-high five touchdowns — Mooney fell off the face of the earth in 2025. Despite playing 15 games for the Falcons, he totaled 32 catches for 443 yards and one touchdown, very consistent with his numbers in both 2022 and 2023 with Chicago. It was a stark reminder that Mooney is probably more of a low-volume, deep-ball specialist than a true WR2, which makes his $18.4 million cap hit in 2026 a little hard to swallow. Atlanta should build its offense around Bijan Robinson and Drake London — there’s also potential for a Kyle Pitts extension this offseason — so it’s unlikely Mooney fits into that picture at his current price point.

T.J. Hockenson – Minnesota Vikings · TE

Hockenson totaled 155 catches, 1,479 yards and eight touchdowns over 25 games with the Vikings in 2022 and 2023, playing at or near the level that earned him two Pro Bowl selections in Detroit. Unfortunately, over his 25 games since the start of 2024, the veteran tight end has totaled just 92 catches for 893 yards and three touchdowns. Those numbers all fall short of his 2023 production alone. So, while the four-year, $66 million extension he signed just before 2023 initially seemed like a score for the front office, it’s since become a burden. Hockenson carries a $21.3 million cap hit in 2026 — highest at his position across the league — and Minnesota can save $8.9 million by releasing him before June 1 or $16 million if it makes him a post-June 1 cut. Both options are viable, but keeping him on the payroll with an already troubling cap situation and declining production is not ideal.

Cole Kmet – Chicago Bears · TE

Ben Johnson’s offense used 12 personnel at the sixth-highest rate in the league in 2025 (32.5%, tied with the Giants), so utilizing the TE combo of Kmet and dynamic rookie Colston Loveland made sense. However, after watching Loveland’s breakout down the stretch — and the corresponding drop in Kmet’s numbers — it becomes tougher to justify Kmet’s $11.6 million cap hit in 2026. Chicago, which currently sits $5.3 million in the red, can move on for a whopping $8.4 million in cap savings. Kmet enjoyed his best campaigns in 2022 and ’23, and he’s largely average as a run blocker. Combine his decreasing production with the price point and Kmet doesn’t make much sense as a TE2 behind Loveland — even in an offense that often uses two TEs. I’d expect the Bears to move on and potentially sign a player like Tommy Tremble or Darnell Washington in free agency.

Tremaine Edmunds – Chicago Bears · MLB

Edmunds remained a solid and consistent linebacker in his eighth NFL season (and third with the Bears), extending his unbroken streak of seasons with 100+ tackles along with four interceptions and a fumble recovery. If he was making solid starter money — say $10 million a year — there’d be little to no reason to move on (except that Chicago is $5.3 million over the cap right now). Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Edmunds’ AVV of $18 million is third-highest at his position, and his cap hit of $17.4 million is fourth-highest. Most importantly, the Bears can save a monster $15 million against the cap by letting him go, with just $2.4 million in dead money.

Kenny Clark – Dallas Cowboys · NT

After trading Micah Parsons for Clark and two first-round picks, and emphasizing the importance of a better run defense, Jerry Jones and Co. might feel obligated to keep the 30-year old defensive tackle out of stubbornness. It’s worth noting he earned a 53.7 run grade from PFF in 2025 (40th out of 74 interior DL with 500+ snaps) and had just 21 run stops, fewest since his 2016 rookie season, according to NGS. Most importantly, however, the Cowboys are $30.1 million over the cap (third-worst in the league) and cutting Clark would free up all $21.5 million of his 2026 cap hit. The Cowboys also have Quinnen Williams and Osa Odighizuwa on the interior, who both carry cap hits over $20 million as well, with Williams guaranteed to stay as a cornerstone of the defense and Odighizuwa’s money far tougher to ditch this offseason.

International games

ESPN

49ers named as home team for 2026 Mexico City game

The San Francisco 49ers‘ international travel in 2026 will not only take them Down Under to Australia but also to Mexico City.

December’s trip to Mexico means they will have two international games in the same regular season for the first time in franchise history. They will face the Rams at Australia’s Melbourne Cricket Ground, a game the league announced during Super Bowl week.

The NFL announced Wednesday that the Niners will be the home team for a regular-season game at Estadio Banorte in Mexico City next season. At his pre-Super Bowl news conference, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the game will take place in December. The date, kickoff time and opponent will be announced when the full NFL schedule is released in the spring.

The 49ers last played in Mexico City in 2022, a 38-10 win against the Arizona Cardinals, and played there in 2005.

The Mexico City game is one of a league-record nine international contests slated for 2026. In addition to Mexico City and Melbourne, the league also has scheduled games in Paris, Munich, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and three in London.

Commanders uniform update

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ESPN

2026 NFL free agency: Best team fits for the top 50 players

13. Quay Walker, LB

Best team fit: Washington Commanders

With veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner also hitting free agency, Walker could fill a need for the Commanders. After posting 128 tackles with the Packers last season, he has the traits to fit really well in Dan Quinn’s defense. Paired with Frankie Luvu, Walker could be set up on pressures, and he has the second-level speed to track the ball or close throwing windows. Washington would get younger and faster on defense with this move.

20. Isaiah Likely, TE

Best team fit: Washington Commanders

With the Commanders making the transition to new offensive coordinator David Blough, Likely could replace free agent Zach Ertz as the middle-of-the-field target for quarterback Jayden Daniels. Likely would bring more upside with his catch-and-run ability. A move player in the formation, Likely would also be schemed to create underneath one-on-ones. He had 27 catches for 301 yards and a touchdown with Baltimore last season.

The Athletic (paywall)