The Washington Commanders have done a good job of finding the pieces needed to improve this offseason. General manager Adam Peters maximized available resources while retaining future financial flexibility. And he may not be done yet.
June 1 is approaching. This is an important date in league circles. It allows teams to split dead cap money over two seasons rather than have it all count against the 2026 cap if players are released or traded. Given Washington's need to make drastic improvements during the upcoming campaign, there could be new opportunities to strengthen the ranks in the very near future.
The Commanders have $43.7 million in available salary-cap space right now, third-highest in the league. Peters will want to keep some back for any in-season moves that may be required, but he'll be ready to strike with conviction if the right players become available. Though the roster looks better and deeper, Washington's front-office leader is in no position to settle.
With this in mind, here are seven potential post-June 1 cut candidates who could help the Commanders next season.
Potential post-June 1 cut candidates the Washington Commanders should watch closely
Commanders should monitor Brandon Aiyuk
I mean, technically, Brandon Aiyuk will be released after June 1 if no willing trade partner comes forward or Adam Peters doesn't budge on his reported stance. But any Commanders fans hoping for this to be immediate will be out of luck.
The San Francisco 49ers have been stung by Aiyuk's behavior. Emotions and bitterness are getting in the way of decisions, which is never good. General manager John Lynch has stated on countless occasions that the wideout is no longer part of their plans, but the NFC West club is holding on to him in hopes of getting something in return.
Looking at Aiyuk's injury history, how things have unfolded, and the financial implications, it would be a bombshell if someone gave up a draft pick for him. ESPN insider Adam Schefter also reported that he's not interested in speaking to other teams about reworking his contract, which only complicates matters further.
Aiyuk wants to join Washington. Jayden Daniels is pushing for the move behind the scenes, and the Commanders are supposedly intrigued. But unless Peters decides to speed up the process by sending over a late-round pick, this could potentially drag on for the entire summer.
It's a frustrating situation, and nobody is coming out of it looking especially good. But it does appear as if all sides are dug in right now.
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