The Washington Commanders are heading into a pivotal offseason, and new general manager Adam Peters isn’t mincing words. In his season-ending press conference, Peters laid out a clear vision for 2026: this team needs to get “younger and faster.” That’s not just a catchy soundbite-it’s a mandate rooted in harsh reality.
In 2025, Washington fielded the oldest roster in the NFL. After a 2024 campaign that saw some surprising success with a veteran-heavy squad, the Commanders tried to run it back.
But lightning didn’t strike twice. Injuries piled up early and often, derailing the season before it ever had a real shot.
Now, with over 30 players set to hit free agency next month, Peters faces the challenge of reshaping this roster-without leaning too heavily on aging stopgaps.
Three big names top the list of impending free agents: linebacker Bobby Wagner, tight end Zach Ertz, and wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Wagner and Ertz, both turning 36 in 2026, are at career crossroads.
Wagner hasn’t said whether he plans to keep playing, and Ertz is coming off a torn ACL suffered in December. He reportedly wants to continue his career, but the question is whether Washington will want to be the team that gives him that chance.
If Peters truly wants to inject youth and speed into this roster, it likely means moving on from veterans like Wagner and Ertz. But that also means finding capable replacements-players who can step in and contribute right away. And that brings us to a name that’s starting to generate buzz: Devin Lloyd.
Lloyd, a former first-round pick by the Jaguars in 2022, is expected to hit the open market. Jacksonville is unlikely to use the franchise tag on him-at an estimated $27.45 million for linebackers, it’s a steep price for a player who doesn’t rush the passer. That opens the door for linebacker-needy teams like Washington to make a move.
Lloyd’s first few seasons were a mixed bag, but he put it all together in 2025. He posted 81 tackles, six tackles for loss, five interceptions, 1.5 sacks, and six passes defended-his most complete season to date. The Jaguars didn’t pick up his fifth-year option, and now, after a breakout year, Lloyd may have played his way out of their price range.
The challenge with Lloyd is positional value. He’s an off-ball linebacker, and in today’s NFL, those guys don’t always get paid top dollar unless they’re elite-think Fred Warner-level elite.
Lloyd hasn’t reached that tier yet, at least not consistently. But he’s trending in the right direction, and for a team like Washington looking to get younger, faster, and better in coverage, he checks a lot of boxes.
Spotrac projects Lloyd’s next deal to come in around three years, $60.4 million-roughly $20.1 million annually. That’s a big investment for a non-pass-rushing linebacker, and Peters will have to weigh that cost against other pressing needs on the roster.
If Lloyd’s price tag proves too steep, there are other options. One name to watch is Eric Wilson, who played under new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones in Minnesota.
Wilson is over 30 but had a strong 2025 season and would come at a lower cost with less long-term commitment. He’s not the long-term solution, but he could be a bridge while the Commanders develop younger talent.
Of course, linebacker isn’t the only position on Washington’s offseason checklist. The Commanders are expected to be active spenders, with edge rusher, cornerback, and offensive playmaker all likely priorities. That could complicate any pursuit of Lloyd, especially if the front office feels it can find value at linebacker elsewhere.
But make no mistake-Devin Lloyd would be a strong fit in Washington’s new vision. He brings the speed, athleticism, and coverage skills this defense sorely lacked in 2025. The only question is whether Peters sees him as a foundational piece worth the price, or if the Commanders will look to allocate those dollars elsewhere.
Either way, expect Washington to look very different in 2026. The era of patching holes with aging vets appears to be over. Now it’s about building something sustainable-and fast.