Adam Peters took some big swings last season, betting on veteran experience to stabilize a roster in transition. That gamble didn’t pay off the way the Commanders hoped, but here’s the silver lining: Washington heads into the 2026 offseason with one of the healthiest salary cap outlooks in the league-and Peters has the flexibility to reshape this roster in a big way.
Thanks to a larger-than-expected bump in the salary cap, the Commanders are sitting on a projected $74.55 million in available cap space, per Over the Cap. That’s the fifth-highest total in the NFL right now, and it’s a number that could climb significantly with a few calculated moves. League insiders, including NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, are already circling Washington as a team to watch when the legal tampering window opens.
And they should be. This is a franchise with a young quarterback in Jayden Daniels who needs more weapons, a defense that requires a serious overhaul, and a roster that has to get younger and more dynamic across the board. Peters has the resources-and now, the opportunity-to make that happen.
Let’s break down one of the moves that could help Washington unlock even more cap flexibility ahead of free agency: parting ways with offensive lineman Nick Allegretti.
Cutting Nick Allegretti: A Tough Call, But a Logical One
The Commanders could return all five starting offensive linemen in 2026 if Chris Paul is re-signed-a real possibility after the former seventh-round pick showed noticeable growth in the final year of his rookie deal. That kind of continuity is rare and valuable, especially for a young quarterback like Daniels who needs a stable pocket to develop.
But depth is a different story. A number of rotational veterans are set to hit free agency, and while Nick Allegretti brings versatility to the table, his price tag makes him a luxury the Commanders might not be able to afford.
Allegretti didn’t quite live up to expectations in his first two seasons in Washington. He started the year on the bench after losing the left guard job, and his move to the right side didn’t spark a turnaround.
After just two games, he was benched again. To his credit, he stepped in at center when Tyler Biadasz went down and held his own.
That kind of positional flexibility is valuable-but only to a point.
The issue is cost versus contribution. Allegretti is now one of the more expensive backup interior linemen in the league. And while the Commanders don’t have a ton of proven depth behind their starters, Peters may be able to find a younger, cheaper option who can offer similar versatility without eating into the cap.
This isn’t a knock on Allegretti’s skill set. He’s a Super Bowl champion with the ability to play all three interior spots. But in a year where every dollar matters-and where Washington has a real shot to build something new and sustainable-tough decisions like this one are part of the process.
Cutting Allegretti would be a calculated move, not a desperate one. It’s about maximizing flexibility and creating room to chase higher-impact players who can help reshape the Commanders’ identity on both sides of the ball.
And if Peters pulls the right levers, Washington could be looking at more than $125 million in cap space heading into free agency. That’s not just a war chest-that’s the kind of financial firepower that can change the trajectory of a franchise.