Adam Peters has already started to change how the Washington Commanders approach undrafted free agents, and the early returns suggest it could matter more than the raw number of signings.
That point sits at the center of a larger debate about whether Washington has done enough to build depth, especially after long-time sports writer Mike Tanier argued in a mailbag response that Peters “should have stockpiled late-round picks and UDFAs and given the ones they did have better opportunities to win roster spots and roles.” But the Commanders’ recent track record tells a different story. In 2026, they brought in nine undrafted free agents, a figure that landed below the league average and far behind the Baltimore Ravens’ nineteen, yet that smaller pool gave the coaching staff more room to actually evaluate players in real competition.
That opportunity showed up quickly. Kicker Drew Stevens is the clearest example, with Larry Izzo handing him the starting job after the first preseason game.
Washington also found room for Tanoa Togiai, a highly athletic but raw guard who made the final 53-man roster after the loss of Laremy Tunsil exposed issues in the offensive line depth. Another 2024 UDFA, safety Tyler Owens, survived final cuts over veteran Will Harris.
Peters’ approach marks a real change from the way Washington has often handled these players in the past. In 2024, the Commanders gave undrafted free agents the highest amount of guaranteed money in the league, including $300K for Chigozie Anusiem and $275K for running back Michael Wiley.
They also handed offensive lineman Timothy McKay one of the largest guarantees in 2025 at $275K. Ron Rivera generally signed a similar volume of undrafted players, but the sense around the roster was that those additions rarely got a genuine shot to win jobs, with Rivera leaning on veterans like David Mayo in reserve spots.
That has looked different under Peters and Dan Quinn, who arrived in 2024 preaching open competition. The idea has not played out perfectly every time, but it has mattered for the undrafted group.
Tyler Owens and Colson Yankoff both earned roster spots in 2024 because of athletic traits and special teams value. Heading into 2026, both appear positioned for larger roles as they continue to develop and settle into the scheme.
The Commanders kept that pattern going in 2025 with linebacker Ale Kaho, who was something of a surprise addition but made the team because of his preseason performance and tackling. He is on the practice squad this year, where he still has value as a depth call-up and a possible roster candidate in 2027.
He was the only UDFA to make the final 53 in 2025, but the class has already produced another useful piece in Ricky Barber, who is now lined up as Johnny Newton’s replacement in the current defense. Add Stevens winning the kicking job and Togiai making the roster, and Peters has a case for real success in this part of the market.
The bigger question is whether that success changes the pace of Washington’s rebuild. The Commanders have given away a number of mid-to-late round picks in trades, which makes finding contributors among undrafted players especially valuable. But to understand how much it can matter, Baltimore offers the clearest model.
Over the last five years, the Ravens have had 92 undrafted free agents earn spots on the active roster or practice squad, the most in the NFL. They’ve also carried at least one undrafted rookie on their initial 53-man roster in 22 of the last 23 seasons, with 2020 as the lone exception because of the COVID-limited year.
The market is more crowded now than it used to be, with teams racing to sign players as soon as the draft ends, but Baltimore has built a clear edge. Mark Azevedo, the team’s current director of player personnel, works with both scouting and coaching, and part of the advantage is simple: the Ravens have a long, proven history of turning undrafted players into roster pieces.
That’s the lesson Washington is trying to learn. Success in this lane creates momentum. If Tyler Owens, Colson Yankoff, Drew Stevens, and the rest keep building on what they’ve already shown, Peters may have another tool to speed up the Commanders’ long-term reset, especially with roster churn continuing and a potentially high-value extension for Jayden Daniels looming.
In Other News...
Commanders Quietly Added A Tackle Who Could Solve A Real Depth Concern
As the Commanders wrapped up their 53-man roster and practice squad, they also spent the back end of roster-cut day bringing back familiar pieces and hunting for help from outside the building. Washington re-signed 12 players it had waived or released, then added five newcomers, a group that included veteran cornerback Isaac Yiadom and offensive tackle Esa Pole.
Pole is the more interesting addition for the line conversation because he has already been through a bit of a whirlwind. The former Chiefs and Jets blocker made his NFL debut last season, started four games at left tackle, then was waived before Washington brought him in, giving the Commanders another tackle option at a spot where depth can disappear fast. The real question now is whether he can turn that opening into something bigger once the season starts. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Aiyuk Keeps Sending A Message Washington No Longer Needs
Brandon Aiyuk has spent part of the summer sending Washington a message in plain sight, showing up on social media in Commanders gear and making it clear where he would like to land. For a while, that kind of public courting might have at least sparked a real conversation in Ashburn, especially with a talent like Aiyuk still under contract with the 49ers and looking for a path to a new team.
Instead, Washingtons side of the equation has been settled for some time. The Commanders have not shown interest in signing him, and general manager Adam Peters has already made it clear veteran Stefon Diggs was the preferred option all along. Aiyuk still has not applied for reinstatement, which leaves his NFL future hanging in the balance while the team he keeps signaling to has moved on. [Read more 🡒]
Former Commanders Contributor Is Latest Reminder Of Washingtons Cornerback Turnover
Noah Igbinoghenes run in Washington was a reminder of how quickly the Commanders have cycled through help at cornerback in recent seasons. He played in 32 games over two years for the team before reaching free agency, then moved on this spring after signing a one-year deal with the Seahawks in March.
His path took another turn when Seattle released him during final cuts, and he soon landed a one-year contract with the Browns. For Washington, it fits the broader picture of an offseason that featured several defensive backfield signings and practice squad additions as the team kept trying to stabilize a position group that has seen plenty of turnover. [Read more 🡒]