The Washington Commanders are staring down one of their most pivotal offseasons in recent memory. After a disappointing 2025 campaign, new general manager Adam Peters has both the opportunity and the resources to reshape this roster - and fast.
With a projected $75.43 million in salary cap space, and the potential to clear even more with a few strategic moves, Washington enters free agency with one of the league’s most flexible financial outlooks. Now it’s about turning that cap space into real, tangible improvement.
And according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the time to strike is now.
“They still have a lot of cap space,” Rapoport said. “They’re coming off a really disappointing season...
It is an essential, important year for Washington. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were some fireworks here - just knowing how important it is, how much space they have, and the window they have with a good young quarterback.
The time to spend is now.”
That “good young quarterback” is, of course, Jayden Daniels - the Commanders’ high-upside signal caller who flashed enough promise to be considered a potential franchise cornerstone. But Daniels is still developing, and the best way to support a young quarterback is by surrounding him with talent - now, not later.
That’s the pressure Peters is working under. The clock is ticking on Daniels’ rookie contract, and the Commanders can’t afford to waste the affordability that comes with it.
This isn’t just about spending money - it’s about spending it wisely. Washington can’t afford to repeat the mistakes of last offseason, when a handful of one-year veteran deals failed to move the needle.
Peters may have preserved long-term cap flexibility with those short-term bets, but the return was minimal. That approach might have kept the books clean, but it didn’t get Washington any closer to contention.
This year, the strategy has to shift.
The Commanders need to target ascending players - those hitting free agency for the first time, coming off rookie contracts, and trending upward. These are the types of signings that cost more upfront, but offer long-term payoff.
Think proven production, not name recognition. No more rolling the dice on aging vets trying to squeeze out one more year of relevance.
Washington needs players who can grow with the team, not just fill gaps for a season.
That becomes even more important considering the Commanders only have six picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, and just two of those come in the first four rounds. That’s not a lot of draft capital to work with. So free agency becomes the primary tool for building out this roster - especially on the offensive line, in the secondary, and at wide receiver, where upgrades are badly needed.
Peters will also have to make some decisions on his own free agents. While 2025 didn’t offer many bright spots, there are still a few pieces worth retaining.
Continuity matters, especially for a young quarterback. But the emphasis needs to be on bringing in difference-makers - players who can help flip the narrative and get this team back on track.
The good news? Peters has the cap space, the authority, and now, the urgency.
Washington isn’t in rebuild mode - it’s in reset mode. The foundation is there, but it needs reinforcement.
With the fifth-most projected cap space in the league and a front office ready to be aggressive, the Commanders are positioned to make serious noise this offseason. If Peters can hit on the right additions, don’t be surprised if this team is back in the playoff conversation sooner rather than later.
The stakes are high, but in the NFL, that’s often when the biggest leaps happen.