The Washington Commanders received widespread plaudits for the way they approached the 2026 NFL Draft. General manager Adam Peters had only two picks in the first four rounds and six in total, but he spent them wisely. And he wasn't done there.
Once the draft ended, and potentially in the rounds before, the Commanders got to work on identifying undrafted free agents who could potentially force their way into the team's plans.
Washington is a developmental staff that rewards those who prove their worth. Previous reputations don't matter, and everyone starts with a clean slate. This is the best way to build a sustainable winner and ensure complacency doesn't become an issue.
The Commanders have unearthed some undrafted free agent gems in recent years. Tyler Owens enters his third season with the club, as does tight end Colson Yankoff. Linebacker Ale Kaho made the squad last year, becoming a force on special teams. These examples should provide the incoming crop of undrafted hopefuls with all the motivation needed to achieve similar feats.
Not everyone is going to make it. For some, sticking around during the summer to potentially get places on the practice squad would be an achievement. But for a select few, their ambitions might be a lot bigger.
With this in mind, here are five Commanders UDFAs who could potentially force their way onto Washington's 53-man roster next season.
Commanders UDFAs who might sneak onto the 2026 roster before anyone notices
Malik Spencer - Commanders S
The Washington Commanders were expected to make big changes to their safety room this offseason. Instead, general manager Adam Peters made only slight tweaks, indicating confidence in the options currently available.
Nick Cross was acquired in free agency, which should give the defense a tone-setting force after Washington lost Jeremy Chinn to the Las Vegas Raiders. That was about it in terms of legitimate reinforcements, which was somewhat surprising.
Daronte Jones obviously believes all hope is not lost with the likes of Quan Martin, Will Harris, Jeremy Reaves, Percy Butler, and Tyler Owens. Even so, Malik Spencer's arrival could shake things up if he builds on the positive momentum accumulated over his final three years at Michigan State.
The former three-star high school recruit isn't the biggest or the most athletic, but Spencer is fundamentally sound. He's got the versatility to play anywhere across the secondary, tackles well, and his play recognition is impressive.
If Spencer can improve in coverage, he's got a shot at making things uncomfortable for others in the safety room. He's also got proven special-teams production, which is always beneficial the further down the depth chart you go.
Add us as a preferred source on Google