The Washington Commanders are wasting no time reshaping their identity this offseason. With new coordinators already in place-David Blough stepping in on offense and Daronte Jones taking over the defense-the franchise is signaling a clear shift in direction.
Out are Kliff Kingsbury and Joe Whitt Jr., and in comes a new era under GM Adam Peters. But the coaching staff is just the beginning.
The real shakeup is coming for the roster.
Free agency opens March 11, and with 30 players set to hit the open market and over $63 million in cap space to work with, Washington is positioned to be one of the most active teams in the league. Expect a flurry of moves. Peters has the flexibility and the mandate to reshape this team from top to bottom.
But with every addition comes subtraction-and this offseason, some of those departures are going to sting.
Let’s start with the veterans who helped spark the Commanders’ improbable run to the NFC Championship Game just two seasons ago. Bobby Wagner, Zach Ertz, and Austin Ekeler were all major pieces in that 2024 playoff push.
They brought leadership, experience, and a winning mentality to a franchise that desperately needed it. But that chapter is likely closed.
Ertz and Ekeler are both recovering from major injuries-ACL and Achilles, respectively-and their NFL futures are very much in doubt. Wagner, a future Hall of Famer, could be looking at retirement. If this is the end for that trio, they’ll leave behind more than just empty lockers-they’ll leave a legacy of helping to change the culture in Washington.
Then there’s Daron Payne. Drafted back in 2018, Payne has been a mainstay on the defensive front and a former Pro Bowler.
At his peak, he was a game-wrecker. But the last three seasons haven’t lived up to that standard, and his hefty contract makes him a tough fit for a team in transition.
While there’s a chance he sticks around for the final year of his deal, it’s clear his long-term future in D.C. is uncertain.
And the list doesn’t stop there.
Marshon Lattimore’s time in Washington appears to be nearing its end. Injuries and inconsistency have plagued his stint with the Commanders, and while the trade for him once felt like a franchise-defining move, the reality hasn’t matched the hype.
Quan Martin is another name to watch. His 2025 season was rough, no question.
But his pick-six in the divisional round against the Lions was one of the defining moments of that postseason run. If he’s let go, it won’t just be a roster move-it’ll be another piece of that magical 2024 playoff puzzle falling away.
And then there’s Frankie Luvu. The emotional engine of the defense.
The guy who brought fire, passion, and a little chaos-especially when he tried to single-handedly dismantle the Eagles’ infamous “tush push.” Luvu’s on an expiring deal, and while trading him might make sense from a value standpoint, his departure would hit differently.
He embodied the spirit of that 2024 team.
What’s clear is that this isn’t your typical offseason teardown. This isn’t a team cutting bait with underachievers or clearing out a losing locker room. This is a necessary evolution, yes-but it’s also a bittersweet one.
The Commanders are parting ways with players who helped redefine what the franchise could be. Players who brought playoff wins, big moments, and a renewed sense of belief. For fans, those memories won’t fade anytime soon.
But the NFL doesn’t wait for nostalgia. Peters knows that.
The 2026 version of the Commanders will look very different. And that’s the point.
The goal now is to build something sustainable-something that doesn’t just flash for one season but competes year in and year out.
Still, when training camp opens and the familiar faces are few, it’ll be hard not to think back to that 2024 run. A fairytale, yes-but one that helped set the foundation for whatever comes next.