Adam Peters' gamble on aging veterans blew up in his face last season. But fortunately for the Washington Commanders, the general manager retained the team's future financial flexibility.
The Commanders are in a healthy financial position entering the offseason. Peters received another boost with the larger-than-expected salary-cap hike, and Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network is among those around the league who are expecting fireworks from Washington when the legal tampering window opens.
There is a lot of hard work ahead, and many challenges remain. The Commanders need to get younger and more dynamic across the board. They need to identify immediate-impact players who represent sound long-term investments. They also need a significant defensive overhaul and more firepower for quarterback Jayden Daniels.
According to Over the Cap, the Commanders are projected to have $74.55 million in available funds at the moment. That's the fifth-highest in the NFL, but there is a good chance Peters can get this number up even further as the offseason goes on.
With this in mind, here are five moves that could get the Commanders above $125 million in available salary-cap space before the free-agent frenzy commences.
Measures that could get the Commanders above $125 million in cap space this offseason
Commanders cut Nick Allegretti
- Savings: $3.64 million
- Dead money: $3.53 million
- New salary-cap space: $78.19 million
The Washington Commanders will get their entire starting five offensive linemen back in 2026 if left guard Chris Paul gets another deal. Much will depend on the money involved, but it's a definite possibility after the 2022 seventh-round pick made such impressive strides in the final year of his rookie contract.
That would be immensely positive for the team's continuity. However, general manager Adam Peters has some questions about depth. Most of the rotational veterans are free agents. And even though Nick Allegretti's versatility is useful, he is now a very expensive backup option.
Allegretti hasn't quite hit the heights expected during his first two seasons in Washington. He lost his starting left guard role entering the campaign, and he was benched after just two games, as his switch to the right-hand side of the interior failed to yield the desired results.
The former Illinois standout can play anywhere on the interior. Allegretti looked pretty comfortable at the center position when Tyler Biadasz got hurt, and it's not like the Commanders have much else behind the starting lineup currently.
At the same time, if Peters can find better options for a little bit cheaper, cutting the Super Bowl winner couldn't be dismissed entirely.