Everyone associated with the Washington Commanders knows the stakes are high in 2026. Things fell miserably flat last season. There were viable excuses behind their demise, but that doesn't detract from the increased urgency across the board.
Head coach Dan Quinn recognized this by replacing his offensive and defensive coordinators. General manager Adam Peters did too, signing no fewer than 15 players in free agency with the promise of more new faces to come. Things are looking up, but it remains a precarious situation.
The Commanders are a strong candidate to bounce back next season. Everything has to go well, but there is room for improvement. If the recent signings hit the ground running, Washington's established stars reaffirm their credentials, and the team avoids the countless stream of injuries that held them back during the previous campaign, they will be a tough nut to crack.
Peters will be watching events unfold closely. He's focused on the now, but he'll also be acutely aware of some pivotal decisions on the distant horizon when the 2027 offseason arrives. The front-office leader is still in evaluation mode, which should be enough to keep the pressure to produce extremely high through the summer and into competitive action.
This means more to some than others. With this in mind, here are seven Commanders players who could be staring down their final seasons in Washington if things don't go well.
Commanders players staring down their final season in Washington as the stakes skyrocket
Chris Paul - Commanders OL
Following a redemption season in 2025, most expected Chris Paul to get a decent offer in free agency. After seeing what else was out there, the interior offensive lineman opted to re-sign with the Washington Commanders on a modest one-year agreement.
Paul highlighted his comfort level and the opportunity to play alongside five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil as reasons for his decision. The Commanders were only too happy to oblige, and the former Tulsa mauler was confident enough to bet on himself.
The Commanders are giving Paul a chance to prove last season's surge wasn't just a flash in the pan. They want to see more before giving him a longer-term commitment, but with the money already tied into Sam Cosmi and Tunsil, he'll need to step things up considerably.
There was a lot to like about Paul's pass blocking from the left guard position last season. Things were less impressive on running plays, so that should be the subject of his development this offseason in pursuit of even better fortunes during the 2026 campaign.
If not, the Commanders could let Paul take his chances elsewhere.