The Washington Commanders are making a move to shore up a shaky secondary, agreeing to a one-year deal with veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas worth up to $3.8 million, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Douglas is headed to his sixth NFL team and his second stop in the NFC East. He began his career with the Philadelphia Eagles, who took him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, and spent his first two seasons in Philadelphia before winning a Super Bowl with the team.
Last season, Douglas landed with the Miami Dolphins in August and didn’t take long to carve out a starting role. Once he was on the field, he put together one of the strongest seasons of his career. When targeted, he allowed a completion rate of 54.5% and a passer rating of 73.0.
Pro Football Focus graded the season as a well-rounded one. Douglas’ lowest mark came against the run, where he posted a 61.8, which is about average.
He also earned a 72.6 coverage grade and an 82.0 pass-rush grade, ranking 24th and ninth among cornerbacks, respectively. His 72.7 overall grade placed 21st.
For Washington, the fit is obvious. The Commanders had one of the league’s worst defenses last season, and the pass defense was especially rough. They gave up 242.5 passing yards per game in 2025, the fifth-most in the NFL.
That leaves plenty of uncertainty at corner heading into 2026. Trey Amos’ rookie year was cut short by a fractured fibula, while Mike Sainristril took a step back in his second season.
Douglas gives Washington a proven option on the outside and a steady fallback if those spots remain unsettled. He has some slot experience too, but his best work has come on the boundary.
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