Washington Commanders fans had been looking forward to the offseason long before the 2025 campaign concluded. A season that promised so much delivered very little, and massive changes were needed to turn the tide.
General manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn were under a fierce microscope. The latter did his part, firing Joe Whitt Jr. and Kliff Kingsbury to signal a new era. After that, all eyes were on Washington's front-office leader when the free-agent frenzy commenced.
Peters needed to change the way he went about his business. The Commanders made mistakes in Year 2 of this project, but they maintained financial flexibility. And the former San Francisco 49ers executive was not going to sit on his hands.
The Commanders were among the most aggressive teams. Twelve new signings have been made, and more could be arriving soon. Fans are starting to believe again, but Peters will know there is still a lot to get through before confidence in their bounce-back chances increases in 2026.
These alterations were extremely welcome, but they may not be good news for everybody. With this in mind, here are four winners and three losers from the Commanders' first wave of free agency.
Winners and losers for the Commanders after the first wave of free agency
Winner No. 1
Laremy Tunsil - Commanders OT
The Washington Commanders struck gold when they traded for five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Not much went right for the club in 2025, but this transaction with the Houston Texans was a masterstroke.
Tunsil played at an elite level all season. He didn't earn Pro Bowl or All-Pro honors, but he played like one. As such, the former Ole Miss standout wanted to be paid accordingly.
It was no secret that Tunsil wanted a contract extension in advance. General manager Adam Peters recognized his importance to the franchise and reacted accordingly, agreeing to a two-year, $60.2 million extension with a $32.5 million signing bonus. This keeps the franchise's blindside enforcer under contract until 2029, which is a win-win for everybody.
If that wasn't enough, he also has familiarity with the offensive line next season. Chris Paul tested the market to see what else was out there, but he ultimately re-signed with the Commanders on a one-year deal. And according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, playing next to Tunsil was one of the biggest reasons.
The blocking concepts are going to change under the new offensive coordinator, David Blough. However, Tunsil will remain an integral figure in any success that comes Washington's way.