Noah Brown - Commanders WR
The Washington Commanders gave Noah Brown a one-year deal to remain with the squad this offseason. This was a massive confidence boost for the wide receiver, especially considering his 2024 campaign ended abruptly with a serious internal injury that required kidney surgery.
Unfortunately, this was the start of a concerning trend for Brown. He was carted off during Washington's mandatory minicamp, which hindered his summer preparations. The former Ohio State star got back in time for Week 1, but he lasted just two games before getting hurt again.
The Commanders eventually put Brown on injured reserve when his recovery didn't go as expected. He's slowly progressing, and there is a chance that he can feature at some stage after the bye week. However, this would be a good time for Washington to go in a different direction.
Brown is a good player, but the best ability is availability in the NFL.
Nick Allegretti - Commanders OL
Washington thought that Nick Allegretti could become a long-term starter. The Commanders gave him a three-year deal after starring for the Kansas City Chiefs during their 2023 run to another Super Bowl. It hasn't gone as anyone hoped.
Allegretti struggled to find the consistency needed in his first season as the team's starting left guard. He looked set to go back into a rotational/backup role this season after Washington traded for Laremy Tunsil, moving Brandon Coleman to left guard. But the Commanders thought that he could shine on the right-hand side of the interior until Sam Cosmi came back from injured reserve.
Much like his first season, Allegretti struggled right out of the gate. The Commanders benched him after two games, and he's been seldom seen on the offensive rotation since. The Illinois product still has one year remaining on his deal, but Adam Peters should end this experiment ahead of time.
Bobby Wagner - Commanders LB
There is no doubt about Bobby Wagner's credentials. He is a future first ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker with 14-straight seasons with more than 1000 tackles. He was an integral force in Washington's culture shift last season, but the cracks are beginning to show this time around.
Wagner remains a force in between the tackles. He's a solid run defender who can still be effective on blitzes. Even so, the former Utah State prospect is becoming a glaring weak link in other areas that opposing teams are exploiting with alarming frequency this season.
The second-level presence has never been significant in coverage, but age is catching up to him. When Wagner gets isolated, he's prone to giving up explosive plays. This is magnified more than ever by the failings of others.
Although Wagner hasn't confirmed one way or another whether he'll walk away from the game this offseason, the Commanders need to find a younger, more dynamic linebacker to replace him.