Winner No. 2
Trey Amos - Commanders CB
Almost everyone predicted big changes to the cornerback room this offseason. Injuries and underperformance dictated nothing less, but general manager Adam Peters opted for tweaks rather than a complete overhaul.
The Commanders inevitably cut Marshon Lattimore, saving $18.5 million on their salary cap. Jonathan Jones departed for the Philadelphia Eagles, and Noah Igbinoghene landed on the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Amik Robertson and Ahkello Witherspoon were acquired in free agency. Antonio Hamilton Sr. was brought back. Just how much they'll move the needle is another matter.
This indicates supreme confidence in Trey Amos. The 2025 second-round pick flashed tremendous promise as a rookie before a serious leg injury abruptly ended his campaign. All signs point to a full recovery, and the Commanders have given him the chance to be the guy.
Amos is already being touted as a potential breakout candidate. Hopefully, he matches these expectations and more.
Loser No. 1
Terry McLaurin - Commanders WR
The Commanders have been far too reliant on wide receiver Terry McLaurin over the years. Unless further additions are made to the wideout room, they could be doing the same again in 2026.
Washington didn't benefit much from McLaurin last season. His long contract standoff over the summer added friction. Injury problems held him back throughout the campaign. By the time he was healthy enough to make a lasting contribution, it was too late to matter.
Adam Peters hasn't done much to fortify the receiver room this offseason. Dyami Brown and Van Jefferson Jr. were signed in free agency to bolster depth. Treylon Burks got a new deal, and the Commanders spent a third-round pick on Antonio Williams. Aside from that, Washington placed trust in the young guns to break out.
Speculation remains around Brandon Aiyuk and Stefon Diggs potentially joining at some stage. McLaurin will be hoping for precisely that to take some pressure off his shoulders.
Winner No. 3
Nick Allegretti - Commanders OL
There were doubts around Nick Allegretti's future heading into the offseason. The interior offensive lineman was benched after just two games of the 2025 campaign and was used sparingly after that. With a salary-cap commitment of over $7 million, some fans and experts thought he could be a possible cut candidate.
Adam Peters had something else in mind. The Commanders took the surprising decision to release starting center Tyler Biadasz. Allegretti was given a one-year extension in advance. And considering Washington only spent a Day 3 pick on center Matt Gulbin, the veteran could be in line to start next season as the offensive line anchor.
This was surprising, but the Commanders obviously feel like Allegretti can handle the responsibility within David Blough's new schematic concepts. He'll still need to earn it over the summer, but his outlook looks a lot better now than it did in 2025.
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