Free agency expectations for the Washington Commanders

NFL Free Agency 2022 for the Washington Commanders will bring a reshuffling of the roster, but the changes are unlikely to be monumental and it could be a very low-key affair for this offseason.

Welcome to the 2022 NFL season as free agency arrives and the deals are flying off of the front office shelves.  The frenzy is about to explode and the new season will be underway.  The Washington Commanders will make some changes this offseason – first through free agency and then through the draft later next month.  Undoubtedly, the roster will look different in the coming weeks, but it may not be a total transformation.

Free agency has been kind to the Commanders since the Rivera regime came to Ashburn over the last two years.  In 2020, Washington added Cornelius Lucas, Kendall Fuller, Wes Schweitzer, Peyton Barber, J.D. McKissic, Logan Thomas, Kevin Pierre-Louis, and Ronald Darby.  In 2021, the Commanders added Curtis Samuel, William Jackson, Tyler Larsen, Adam Humphries, and DeAndre Carter.  These are solid signings and these players help to form a nucleus that should bring more success in the coming years.

Yes, there were some misses and we chose to omit them from this list.  Free agency is not perfect, but Washington’s front office has added some good playmakers since early 2020.  Some players have moved on already, but this list fully demonstrates why free agency is vital to the success of any team.

Starting this week, free agency will bring a new crop of players to the Burgundy and Gold and we’ll take a short, quick look at how everything could unfold.  Thus far, Washington has re-signed Troy Apke to a one year deal and has tendered three of their restricted free agents.

Additional transactions are likely to take place as the Commanders seek to keep some of their own players.  Let’s take a look at some of the potential free agents that Washington may consider.

A prized free agent to sign

Here are some free agents that could be pricey, but not overly expensive.

• D.J. Chark, Wide Receiver, Jaguars
• C.J. Uzomah, Tight End, Bengals
• Austin Corbett, Offensive Guard, Rams
• Andrew Norwell, Offensive Guard, Jaguars
• Bobby Wagner, Linebacker, Seahawks
• Marcus Williams, Free Safety, Saints
• Tyrann Mathieu, Free Safety, Chiefs

From this list, the names to keep an eye on include Norwell, Williams, and Mathieu.  Some reports suggest that the team could be interested in Mathieu, but that seems to be centered on various rumors and where some pundits think that he would be a good fit for the Commanders.

Also, there is no way the team can sign all of these players.  If Washington adds pricey free agents, it will most certainly be one or two at most.

Bargain free agents for the Commanders

The Rivera regime has been thrifty in free agency over the last two years and we can expect more of the same in 2022.

• Darrel Williams, Running Back, Chiefs
• Evan Engram, Tight End, Giants
• Quinton Jefferson, Defensive Tackle, Raiders
• Leighton Vander Esch, Linebacker, Cowboys
• Marcus Maye, Free Safety, Jets
• Jayron Kearse, Free Safety, Cowboys

There are many other players to consider and it is nearly impossible to know who the team will target in the lower tier free agent market.  Many hidden gems are waiting to be mined and this staff has proven to be effective at doing so.  Keep an eye on each of these players.  Any number of them could be playing for the Washington Commanders in 2022.

Look for the Riggo’s Rag team to keep you informed of the latest changes in free agency.  The middle of March always brings many changes in the NFL and Washington has been active the last two years.  Look for a bit less in 2022.