The Washington Commanders have almost no margin for error this offseason. General manager Adam Peters has the second-most cap space anywhere in the league, but spending it effectively is a completely different matter.
There is now an urgency to change the Commanders' trajectory after a five-win campaign in 2025. At the same time, Washington is a prime bounce-back candidate if they have a strong offseason. There is a fine line between success and failure, which could lead Peters to take some additional risks when the free-agent frenzy commences.
Peters relied heavily on aging veterans on one-year deals last spring. He also ran it back with the large majority that got Washington to the NFC Championship game in Year 1 under head coach Dan Quinn. That didn't go according to plan, but the front-office leader maintained the team's future financial flexibility. That bodes well for what promises to be a fascinating few weeks for fans.
With this in mind, here are eight high-risk free agents who could make or break the Commanders' offseason in 2026.
Boom or bust free agents who could make or break the Commanders' offseason
Commanders could sign Brandon Aiyuk
We'll start here, because even though Brandon Aiyuk is not technically a free agent right now, his departure from the San Francisco 49ers is imminent. And the Commanders are unsurprisingly at the forefront of speculation regarding his next destination.
Aiyuk is extremely close with quarterback Jayden Daniels. He has a prior connection to Adam Peters from their time together in San Francisco. The front-office leader even praised him during his media availability at the NFL Scouting Combine, so it's not hard to connect the dots.
There are grave concerns. Aiyuk's recent injury history is deeply concerning. Peters will also need to find out exactly what went down with the Niners and the player before giving this potential acquisition the green light.
Commanders could sign Riq Woolen
The Commanders released veteran cornerback Marshon Lattimore, which was always the inevitable outcome. However, the four-time Pro Bowler still leaves a hole that must be filled.
Washington's cornerback room is understrength right now. Mike Sainristil and Trey Amos will be back, but if defensive coordinator Daronte Jones wants his scheme to flourish, he needs another physical presence on the boundary who can handle press coverage effectively.
John Keim of ESPN revealed that the Commanders are expected to make a bold bid for one of the top free agents set to his the market. Riq Woolen ticks the boxes on paper, but he will need to improve his discipline to justify the expected financial commitment.