5 former Commanders who still need a team for the 2022 season

The Washington Commanders have done a solid job navigating their cap situation by re-signing key starters and depth pieces. Ron Rivera and the front office have preached confidence in the talent of the current roster and the team’s core, so it was never likely they were going to be big spenders in free agency.

As we know, the NFL is extremely recent bias and a “what have you done for me lately?” business. It’s draconian in some aspects, but understandable in others.

After all, reputation can only get a player so far before his age limits his overall effectiveness. In other circumstances, teams can’t afford to retain players following their rookie contracts and they mutually (sometimes, not always) part ways.

Though we’re still pretty into free agency, the market hasn’t been kind to these former Washington players. Some of them have suited up for the squad fairly recently, while others haven’t repped the Burgundy and Gold for several years.

With that in mind, let’s run through five former Commanders who remain unemployed on the current market.

Worth noting that these free-agent statuses are current as of March 29. As we learned with a recent linebacker list, free agency isn’t always cooperative and one of these players could get signed at any given moment.

5 former Commanders who are still unsigned in free agency

5/4. Ryan Kerrigan and DeSean Jackson

We decided to split Nos. 5 and 4 between Kerrigan and Jackson simply because they’re nearing the end of their respective careers and it wouldn’t be all that surprising if either one of them hung up their cleats this offseason.

Washington’s all-time sack leader with 95.5 QB takedowns, Kerrigan is a free agent after spending last season with the Eagles. The soon-to-be 34-year-old was a non-factor for most of the year as a rotational edge rusher, failing to record a sack over 330 defensive snaps (16 games, 2 starts) for the first time in his career.

While Kerrigan is nearing the end of his career, his lack of production was shocking for Washington fans. After all, he managed 5.5 sacks and a 69.6 pass rush grade from PFF while logging a 38 percent snap share in 16 games just two years ago.

Jackson, on the other hand, found more success in 2021 than his former Washington teammate. Though he didn’t set the earth on fire, Jackson’s 20 catches for 454 yards and two touchdowns weren’t too shabby for a 35-year-old.

Jackson is one of the more recognizable free agents still available alongside Julio Jones, Jarvis Landry, Will Fuller, TY Hilton, AJ Green and Emmanuel Sanders. D-Jax still has speed to burn even in his mid 30s, but it goes without saying no team is chomping at the bit to sign him with so many other WRs still looking for work.