The Washington Commanders seemed to have their offensive line all set after wrapping up the 2025 season. With everyone but left guard Chris Paul under contract for 2026, and Brandon Coleman waiting in the wings as a potential replacement, things looked pretty stable.
But, as we know, the NFL is full of surprises, and Washington delivered a big one right before free agency kicked off in March by releasing starting center Tyler Biadasz. This move caught many off guard, considering Biadasz had been a reliable starter for two seasons and seemed more likely to get an extension than a pink slip.
In their quest to fill the void at center, the Commanders reportedly had their sights set on Tyler Linderbaum during free agency. However, they were blindsided when the Raiders swooped in with a record-breaking offer for him. With Linderbaum off the table, Washington pivoted to veteran Nick Allegretti, securing him for a one-year deal, and he's now the frontrunner to start at center in 2026.
Meanwhile, Chris Paul decided to stick around, signing a one-year deal to compete with Brandon Coleman for the starting left guard spot. The rest of the line looks solid with Laremy Tunsil at left tackle, Sam Cosmi holding down right guard, and Josh Conerly Jr. at right tackle. Tunsil, fresh off an extension that made him the NFL's highest-paid offensive lineman, had an outstanding 2025 season, showcasing his prowess in both run blocking and pass protection.
Despite these promising elements, the Commanders' offensive line was ranked 22nd by Sharp Analysis heading into the 2026 season, which might raise some eyebrows. Laremy Tunsil, surprisingly, missed the Pro Bowl for the first time since 2021, but that snub doesn't reflect his performance. He was arguably the best left tackle in the league last year.
The real question mark seems to be Josh Conerly Jr., who allowed 8 sacks and 43 total pressures last season. However, it's worth noting that Conerly turned things around significantly in the second half of the season. He's been putting in the work this offseason, reshaping his body and training alongside Tunsil, who sees a lot of potential in him.
If the Commanders' offensive line ranking is primarily due to Conerly's early struggles, it feels a bit unjust. His progress from Week 1 to Week 18 was remarkable, and with the right support, this line could very well be a strength for Washington in 2026. Of course, as with any team, there are questions to be answered, but the pieces are in place for the Commanders to make some noise on the offensive front.
In Other News...
Former Bills Coach Suddenly Linked To A Surprising NFL Opening
Washingtons coaching picture already looks different after a round of staff turnover, and now the conversation is widening beyond the current season. Dan Quinn has done enough in the league to keep people interested in the big picture, but the Commanders are in that familiar spot where a reset on the sidelines can start to feel like the next logical step if the results dont keep pace.
Sean McDermotts name is the one making the rounds in those discussions, which tells you how quickly this can turn from routine offseason chatter into something more serious. He has the rsum to draw attention, and for Washington the bigger issue is whether the organization stays patient with Quinn or starts looking at familiar, proven alternatives if the team slips in 2026. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Fans Needed This Zach Ertz Recovery Update
Zach Ertz is still deep into the long grind back from knee surgery, and for Commanders fans, any update on where the veteran tight end stands is worth tracking. He is about five to six months post-surgery and remains in daily rehab, a reminder that even for a seasoned pro, getting back from a major injury is a process measured in steady work more than dramatic milestones.
Ertz has made it clear the recovery is ongoing, with each day built around getting back to full strength. For Washington, that makes his status one of the quieter but more important summer storylines, because the Commanders know how much a dependable tight end can matter in the middle of the offense and how much patience these recoveries usually require. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Fans Just Got Another Uncomfortable Reminder About This Draft Gamble
The NFLs supplemental draft is one of those obscure offseason mechanisms that only comes into focus when a team has real interest in a player who slipped out of the regular process. For Washington, it also serves as a reminder that this path has rarely been kind to the franchise. The Commanders have taken swings in the past, including on Jeremy Jarmon in 2009 and Adonis Alexander in 2018, and neither move turned into much of a payoff.
That history matters because a supplemental selection is not free, since the team has to give up a matching pick in the next regular draft. It is a costly gamble even before considering how unpredictable the pool can be, which is why the leagues brief look at Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby was worth watching from a Washington perspective. The Commanders did their quarterback work through the annual draft, so the bigger question now is less about whether they were in the mix and more about how much value this process ever really offered them. [Read more 🡒]