Marcus Mariota - Commanders QB
The Washington Commanders needed Marcus Mariota more than they probably desired in 2025. Jayden Daniels had trouble staying healthy all year. Fortunately for the club, they had one of the league's best backups ready to go in his absence.
Mariota's campaign also ended on the shelf, and his limitations are obvious at this stage of his playing career. Now, another free agency beckons, so the signal-caller is once again looking for a legitimate chance to start elsewhere.
That could arrive as a stopgap bridge option somewhere. Even if it doesn't, the Commanders may not want to pay him again when there are so many other needs to fill.
Daniels is in his third season. He no longer needs a mentor. Mariota is a popular figure in the building, so bringing him back is an option. But the Commanders cannot overspend.
Noah Igbinoghene - Commanders CB
Big changes are coming to the Commanders' defense. Head coach Dan Quinn fired Joe Whitt Jr. after two underwhelming campaigns with the club. He's been replaced by Daronte Jones, who promises to bring the aggression and creativity desperately needed.
That will inevitably involve substantial changes to the playing personnel. Aside from a few high upside defenders, everyone should be on edge. This brings cornerback Noah Igbinoghene under the microscope.
Igbinoghene's been a tricky evaluation throughout his two years in Washington. The 2020 first-round pick has moments when he looks impactful. As has been the case for most of his career, the consistency just isn't where it needs to be.
The Auburn product is still just 26 years old, so the Commanders could offer him another team-friendly one-year deal to see if Jones, an exceptional teacher for defensive backs, can fulfill Igbinoghene's pre-draft promise. But that is not set in stone by any stretch of the imagination.
Deebo Samuel Sr. - Commanders WR
The Commanders got some outstanding returns from Deebo Samuel Sr. It only cost general manager Adam Peters a fifth-round pick to acquire the wide receiver from the San Francisco 49ers, and he was a constant source of productivity as all around him seemingly crumbled.
Samuel was asked to do more than the Commanders originally envisaged. Terry McLaurin's injury changed everything. Jayden Daniels' health struggles were even more detrimental to the team's chances. The former South Carolina standout made the best of a bad situation, remaining professional and well-conditioned while increasing his dependability in the passing game.
This puts Samuel in a pretty good spot entering free agency. He'll have a market if the Commanders decide not to keep him around. Maintaining continuity around Daniels would be smart, but Peters could just as easily find younger, more dynamic options.
His previous connection to Samuel makes this a precarious situation that could go either way. And Peters must get this decision right.