Commanders enter free agency with $80M to fill growing roster holes

The Commanders have cap space to burn and are reportedly willing to chase top-tier talent as the NFL enters its free-agent negotiating period on Monday.

Washington, emerging from the doldrums of a disastrous 5-12 campaign, enters Monday’s offseason phase with more than $80 million in available cap space. Only three teams have more flexibility than the Commanders.

General manager Adam Peters has shown a willingness to be aggressive through his first two years in Washington. He led a full-fledged roster overhaul in his first offseason. It paid off, as Washington made its first NFC championship game appearance in 30 years. His second spring saw a pair of blockbuster trades with more mixed results.

But this offseason presents increased pressure for Peters and coach Dan Quinn. Their roster — which ranks as one of the oldest in the league — is pockmarked with flaws. To be competitive in 2026, the team will likely need to add pass-catchers, pass-rushers, a running back and secondary depth.

The clock is ticking. The Commanders’ flexibility is unlikely to carry over into next season. Quarterback Jayden Daniels is eligible for an extension next offseason, and the dual-threat signal-caller’s next deal could leave the front office hamstrung in the future.

Here are a handful of free agents to watch as the Commanders look to reload the roster for another postseason run.

Defensive end Trey Hendrickson: Commanders fans have spent years begging for a marquee edge rusher to carry the defense. Hendrickson, first as the subject of trade rumors during his final seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, has remained near the top of that list.

The four-time Pro Bowler shone in Cincinnati, earning four consecutive Pro Bowl selections and All-Pro honors in 2024. The former New Orleans Saint turns 32 next season, but he’s coming off the best stretch of his career. Only Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt have recorded more sacks than Hendrickson’s 74 1/2 since 2020.

In Cincinnati, Hendrickson was single-handedly buoying a Bengals defense that was often bereft of secondary pass rushers. It didn’t affect his production. He recorded 35 sacks between the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

His campaign was cut short last season due to a season-ending pelvis injury.

Hendrickson’s next deal will likely garner between $25 million and $28 million per year, according to estimates from the salary cap site Spotrac.

Outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips: If Hendrickson’s age or price tag worries the Commanders, they could look to Phillips. The Miami Dolphins traded the 26-year-old to the Philadelphia Eagles midway through last year’s campaign. He posted five sacks, boosting his career tally to 28.

Phillips isn’t one of the league’s elite edge rushers, but he possesses a first-round pedigree. Injuries have limited his NFL production, as he played just 12 total games throughout the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

His play, when healthy, has been solid. The Miami product has averaged 7 1/2 sacks per 17 games, a solid floor for a player with room to grow.

Depending on how the pass-rushing market shakes out, Phillips could sign a one-year deal with a new club. He could instead ink a longer contract similar to the four-year, $80 million deal that the Buffalo Bills gave Greg Rousseau, Phillips’s former college teammate.

Running back Kenneth Walker: The reigning Super Bowl MVP has quickly become a popular name in free-agent discussions. He did not sign an extension with the Seattle Seahawks, allowing him to become one of the top running backs on the market.

Seattle’s Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots was a showcase for Walker. He flashed a patient but aggressive running style that ground down New England’s defense over the course of the game.

Walker hasn’t epitomized consistency across his career, though. In his two best seasons — 2022 and 2025 — the Michigan State product rushed for a combined 2,077 yards with 14 touchdowns and a 4.6-yard-per-carry average.

But his down years in 2023 and 2024 raised concerns. Walker averaged less than four yards per carry across those two seasons, failing to reach the 1,000-yard mark in either campaign.

The Commanders need a running back, though. Only second-year rusher Jacory Croskey-Merritt is under contract for next season.

Walker will likely sign the biggest deal among running backs on the open market, with early estimates expecting him to fetch $9-14 million in a new contract.

Wide receiver Alec Pierce: Pierce didn’t break any records or shatter expectations during his first four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. But the former first-round pick has blazing speed as a deep threat. The Commanders could use a playmaker.

Last season, Washington struggled with injuries at pass-catcher as Daniels and Marcus Mariota relied on unproven receivers like Chris Moore, Jaylin Lane and Treylon Burks.

Pierce, 25, caught 47 passes for a career-high 1,003 yards last season, adding six touchdowns for Indianapolis last season. The Cincinnati product is — at least on paper — entering the prime of his career.

Some analysts have expressed concerns about his relatively limited route tree given his hefty price tag. 

Pierce is expected to land a $20 million salary from whichever team signs him.

Center Tyler Linderbaum: Linderbaum is widely considered the best center available, and reports around the league indicate that he’s looking for a potentially market-setting deal. Early indications from Spotrac predict a potential four-year, $70 million deal for the 25-year-old three-time Pro Bowler.

The Commanders have an opening in the middle of their offensive line. Washington shocked fans by releasing center Tyler Biadasz earlier this month. The 28-year-old had played well across two seasons in the District but suffered knee and ankle injuries in December. Biadasz signed a three-year, $30 million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers last week.

Smaller deals: Though the Commanders are expected to be aggressive in free agency, they’ll likely use a combination of smaller deals to help secure a roster that was filled with holes last season. Washington has clear needs at pass-catcher, defensive back and running back ahead of April’s draft.

The tight end market lacks a marquee name after the Atlanta Falcons gave the versatile Kyle Pitts their franchise tag. Washington could instead look to Chig Okonkwo — a Maryland product who most recently played with the Tennessee Titans — if the franchise decides to replace the aging Zach Ertz.

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White has openly entertained joining Daniels and the Commanders for the upcoming season. The pair shared a backfield at Arizona State. White would provide a much-needed pass-catching option on third downs.

Running back Kenneth Gainwell could fill a similar role. The former Eagle and ex-Pittsburgh Steeler caught a career-high 73 passes last season.

The Commanders are also expected to pursue a wide receiver, even if they don’t land a top-of-the-market deal with a player like Pierce.

Former Green Bay Packer receiver Romeo Doubs, 25, garnered a career-best 724 receiving yards last year. He lacks the explosive downfield ability of a speedster like Pierce, but Doubs moved the chains in Green Bay. He recorded first downs on 41 of his 55 receptions.

Washington will likely cast a wide net as it looks to bolster a secondary that ranked near the bottom of the league in most statistical categories. Former Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen has endured a turbulent career. The fifth-round pick took the league by storm as a rookie in 2022, nabbing six interceptions en route to All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections.

He recorded six total interceptions over the next three seasons, including just one last year as he lost his starting role in Seattle. Woolen, with a long frame and stellar athleticism, could be a high-ceiling addition for coach Quinn’s defense.

Free agents and teams are allowed to open negotiations at noon on Monday. Players may agree to deals, but they can not sign contracts until 4 p.m. on Wednesday.