It's been one disaster after another for the Washington Commanders this season. Fans and analysts were expecting this upstart contender to make another strong playoff run after reaching the NFC Championship game. However, an eight-game losing run has seen these dreams evaporate.
This dismal campaign is also raising more questions than answers about the team's current direction. The Commanders have the NFL's oldest roster. They have the most pending free agents of any club. They have plenty of salary-cap space but only six draft picks — only two of which are in the first four rounds. Adam Peters has a lot of hard work ahead, and it might take time to put all the correct pieces in place.
Last season was nothing short of a fairytale. This time around, the Commanders have come crashing back down to earth. The team looks unmotivated, unprepared, and easy to figure out. That's a dangerous combination, and the pathetic performances and poor results speak for themselves.
It's evaluation mode from here on. Peters and head coach Dan Quinn will already have thoughts on how best to take the franchise forward. Some are still fighting hard to secure their futures. But for others, their respective statuses are hanging in the balance.
With this in mind, we picked out seven Commanders players whose fate is already sealed, for differing reasons, heading into the final four games of the campaign.
Commanders players whose fate is already sealed heading into the final stretch
Daron Payne - Commanders DT
- Fate: Trade candidate in 2026
The Washington Commanders need to consolidate during the offseason. No more gambles on veteran free agents looking for one last shot at the Super Bowl — it's time to start building for the future. And that means accumulating as many assets as possible to ensure some long-term goals can be met.
That brings Daron Payne under the microscope. The veteran defensive tackle started the season impressively but seems to be tailing off. Any hopes he had of earning an extension in advance are seemingly gone, though there is no telling for sure. What Adam Peters must decide is whether trading the former Alabama star is a risk worth taking.
Payne would probably have a market if the Commanders became more receptive to offers. He's counting $28.01 million on Washington's salary cap next season with no guaranteed money left. He's not living up to that financial commitment, and even though they'd be eating some dead money, the $16.81 million in savings could be utilized elsewhere if a suitable trade offer arrives.
Time will tell on that, but handing Payne another extension seems far too risky right now.