The Washington Commanders were among the NFL's biggest underachievers in 2025. It was a deeply disappointing campaign, bringing everyone associated with the franchise crashing back down to earth after their remarkable run to the NFC Championship game in head coach Dan Quinn's first season at the helm.
Now, it's time to refresh, refocus, and do what's necessary to get this ambitious project back on track toward prosperity.
Quinn has two new coordinators after parting ways with Kliff Kingsbury and Joe Whitt Jr. General manager Adam Peters is also expected to make substantial alterations to the playing personnel before preparations for the 2026 campaign gather pace.
Things are going to look a lot different, that's for certain. Peters only has six picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, but the front-office leader could have upwards of $100 million to spend in free agency to make the moves needed to get the Commanders on a sounder footing. And he will need to maximize every possible resource as pressure builds.
Peters also has some tricky problems to figure out with those already around. Players under contract will be released, but there are a few trickier conundrums for the Commanders to navigate that fans should keep a close eye on.
With this in mind, here are five delicate contract situations that are suddenly on the clock after a wasted year for the Commanders in 2025.
Delicate Commanders contracts that are suddenly on the clock after a wasted year
Javon Kinlaw - Commanders DL
When the Washington Commanders gave defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw a three-year, $45 million contract with $30 million guaranteed, the move was mocked by fans and experts alike. One year later, the decision already looks like a grave error of judgment.
Kinlaw's brash talk wasn't backed up much on the field. He failed to record a single sack, and his lack of consistency mirrored what the former South Carolina standout has endured throughout his career to date. It became an ongoing source of frustration, prompting fans to demand change.
The Commanders didn't have the personnel to support Kinlaw in making the desired alterations. He is now counting $16.2 million on Washington's salary cap this season, which is way above his performance levels. Unfortunately, the contract's structure makes it financially infeasible to part ways with him this offseason.
There is no real out on his deal until 2027. Kinlaw could improve under new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones, but fans are not holding out much hope after this transaction quickly blew up in Adam Peters' face.