Commanders open free agency by giving big deals to Oweh, Tunsil

The Washington Commanders made a pair of splashes during the first day of free agency on Monday. General manager Adam Peters extended left tackle Laremy Tunsil with a two-year, $60.2 million deal and agreed to sign edge rusher Odafe Oweh to a four-year, $100 million contract, sources familiar with the negotiations told The Washington Times.

Oweh’s deal addresses a key need for Peters and the Commanders.

Oweh, 27, recorded 7 1/2 sacks in 12 games with the Los Angeles Chargers last season following a midseason trade. The former first-round pick recorded 23 sacks through his first four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.

The Penn State product joins a Washington pass-rushing group that needed fresh blood. Von Miller, 36, led Washington with nine sacks last year. The Commanders broadly struggled to rush the passer from the defensive line.

In Los Angeles, Oweh recorded a 17.3% pressure rate, ranking sixth in the NFL over the last 12 weeks of the season. Oweh is a uniquely gifted athlete — he ran an incredible 4.37 40-yard dash before the 2021 draft — and projects to fit well with the versatile fronts favored by new Commanders defensive coordinator Daronte Jones.

The Commanders’ defensive line now features Dorance Armstrong — who led Washington in sacks before suffering a season-ending injury in October — Daron Payne, Javon Kinlaw and the recently resigned duo of Shy Tuttle and Deatrich Wise.

Washington also agreed to a three-year, $24 million deal with defensive tackle Tim Settle on Monday. The Commanders drafted Settle in 2018, though he spent the last four seasons with the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans.

The Northern Virginia native has recorded 15 sacks and 133 tackles across eight NFL seasons.

On the offensive line, Tunsil’s deal will keep the five-time Pro Bowler in Washington through the 2028 season. He was initially scheduled to become a free agent after the upcoming season.

The Commanders traded for Tunsil, a five-time Pro Bowler, last offseason. Washington general manager Adam Peters sent a hefty trade package to the Houston Texans that included four total draft selections: second, third, fourth and seventh round picks across the 2025 and 2026 drafts.

In his first season as a Commander, Tunsil started 14 games at left tackle. He was widely considered the standout on Washington’s offensive line before an oblique injury prematurely ended his season in December.

The Commanders also agreed to extend backup quarterback Marcus Mariota on a one-year deal. One source told The Times that his contract was worth $7 million, though it could earn the veteran up to $11 million based on performance incentives.

The Oregon product started eight games for Washington last season, securing a 2-6 record while tossing 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions with 1,695 yards. The 32-year-old added 297 yards as a runner.

Mariota signed with Washington in 2024 and has served as a mentor for starting quarterback Jayden Daniels over the last two seasons.

Washington opened Monday’s free agency period slowly, to the dismay of fans who were eager for a splash after last year’s disappointing 5-12 finish.

The franchise signed cornerback Amik Robertson, a former Detroit Lion, to a two-year deal worth $16 million early on Monday afternoon. The undersized corner is expected to slot into the starting secondary alongside current Commanders Trey Amos and Mike Sainristil.

But the Commanders had their eyes on bigger fish. The front office tried to sign center Tyler Linderbaum, wide receiver Alec Pierce and edge rusher Jaelan Phillips as well. But Linderbaum agreed to join the Las Vegas Raiders, Pierce chose to re-sign with the Indianapolis Colts and Phillips plans to sign with the Carolina Panthers.

NFL free agents were free to negotiate with teams on Monday afternoon. However, deals will not become official until 4 p.m. on Wednesday.