The Washington Commanders have a glaring problem after Laremy Tunsil’s season-ending injury, and the simplest fix might still be sitting on the free-agent market.
Tunsil’s loss leaves a massive opening at left tackle, and while Washington does have internal choices, none of them comes without some real concerns. Brandon Coleman has already started at left tackle, but the results were mixed.
Andrew Wylie has tackle experience too, yet that route would also thin out the depth chart even more. Coleman was originally expected to open at left guard, which only makes the shuffle more complicated.
That’s why the Commanders have been pushed toward at least checking out the veteran market, and one name stands out above the rest: Taylor Decker.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report recently highlighted several possible landing spots for the top remaining free agents and included Washington as a fit for Decker. The veteran tackle was cut by the Detroit Lions this offseason after the team and player couldn’t agree on a reworked contract.
“While Decker’s experience should be valued-he’s started all 140 games in which he has appeared-his age and recent performance should leave him open to a modest, incentive-laden deal. He was graded 41st among offensive tackles by Pro Football Focus last season,” Knox explained.
Decker’s 2025 season wasn’t his best, but he still earned a Pro Bowl nod as recently as 2024. He’s generally been stronger in pass protection than in the run game, and he gave up just two sacks in 2025.
“Decker would be a sensible option for the Washington Commanders, who lost left tackle Laremy Tunsil to a torn triceps-though Washington plans to replace Tunsil with an in-house option, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler," Knox added.
Even with that internal-plan note, Decker has one thing the other options don’t: a built-in connection to offensive coordinator David Blough. Decker and Blough were teammates with the Lions from 2019-2021 and again in 2023.
A one-year deal for Decker would give Washington some needed stability and a little more breathing room. At the very least, it would raise the floor. And if the Commanders are trying to rebound in 2026, keeping Jayden Daniels protected has to be part of the plan.
In Other News...
Commanders Fans Are Getting An Official Redskins Throwback They Didn't Expect
The Commanders are leaning into a piece of franchise history in a way that is sure to catch longtime fans attention, even if it is not the kind of return they may be hoping for. The team has started selling merchandise with the retired Washington Redskins name and logo, a move tied to preserving trademark rights while also giving the old branding a limited, official place in the present.
For fans, it is a strange but familiar sight: the identity once tied to the franchise is back on gear, but only in this controlled, commemorative form. The team says the use is meant to honor former players and protect against unauthorized reproductions, while making clear the Redskins name and logo are not coming back as the clubs primary branding. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Have A Real Backup QB Battle To Watch
A backup quarterback competition is usually the kind of camp storyline that only gets attention in a pinch, but Washington has found a real one brewing behind the top spot. Athan Kaliakmanis, a seventh-round pick, has made a steady case in the 2026 preseason and has put together the sharper showing so far than Sam Hartman, giving the Commanders something meaningful to sort through as roster decisions get closer.
Kaliakmanis has been the more efficient passer in limited action, with better yards per attempt and a stronger passer rating while avoiding interceptions. Washington is set to keep evaluating both quarterbacks in the upcoming scrimmages and the preseason finale, and for a team trying to settle the depth chart, the next few live reps could go a long way in deciding who sticks. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Daniels Just Got Pulled Into Another Awkward Offseason Mess
Jayden Daniels has found himself in the middle of an offseason headache far removed from the Commanders' playbook, with his family threatening legal action against LSU over the use of his old No. 5. The number was assigned to another player despite what Daniels' side says was a promise it would not be reused, and the whole thing quickly spilled into the kind of social media swirl that turns even a uniform detail into a national talking point.
For Washington, it is another awkward subplot around a quarterback already spending the offseason recovering from injuries sustained last season. Daniels has enough on his plate without a college-number dispute following him into the summer, but the situation has now become part of the larger conversation around him, thanks in no small part to the internet's willingness to turn it into a running joke. [Read more 🡒]