Javon Kinlaw - Commanders DL
The Washington Commanders need more from Javon Kinlaw this season. General manager Adam Peters took a big risk by giving the defensive lineman a three-year, $45 million guaranteed contract, but the player did not repay that faith.
Kinlaw failed to disrupt opposing backfields much. His brash comments during game-day weeks didn't have much substance attached when it came to the crunch. It was deeply disappointing, but the Commanders are keeping faith with the South Carolina product in 2026.
If Kinlaw wants to keep it that way, he must excel as a 3-4 defensive end in Daronte Jones' aggressive system.
While Kinlaw certainly has the tools that make him well suited to the role, he needs to use his physical gifts much more effectively. If the 2020 first-round pick underperforms again, a situation could emerge where the Commanders cut this experiment short, with $9.9 million in dead money and $7 million in savings.
John Bates - Commanders TE
The Commanders' tight end room could be a surprising strength this season if everyone meets expectations. New offensive coordinator David Blough plans to use the group more in his scheme, and there are some decent options to call on when the season starts.
Chig Okonkwo is the new signing and Washington's best pass-catching threat. There is renewed confidence around 2024 second-round pick Ben Sinnott as he looks to become a bigger piece of the puzzle. Colson Yankoff flashed promise over the summer, so there's a chance he could also become a part of the game plan.
Then, there's John Bates. He is an exceptional blocker who can make tough catches when opportunities arise. But with a cap hit of $10.83 million in 2027, that might be too much for a specialist tight end.
Bates is an important part of the team's plans. And rather than cutting him loose to save $8.5 million, perhaps the Commanders can work out an early extension to get the number down.
Andrew Wylie - Commanders OL
The Commanders signed versatile offensive lineman Andrew Wylie to a two-year extension this offseason. While that may have been a head-scratching move for some fans, no team can ever have enough experienced depth in the trenches.
Wylie spent the first two years in Washington at right tackle. He had some nice moments but often got exposed on an island. Switching him to the interior came with better consistency last year, but his role was restricted once Sam Cosmi came back into the lineup.
That said, the Commanders found value in keeping him around. That move was instantly justified after Laremy Tunsil's long-term complication, making Wylie a value cog on the depth chart who could potentially play anywhere along the offensive line.
Just how much time he'll see on the field is anyone's guess. But with $3.55 million in savings compared to $750,000 in dead money attached to an early release next spring, the Super Bowl winner must maximize every opportunity that comes his way.
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