General manager Adam Peters has a lot of careful navigating to get through in the coming weeks. Free agency is fast approaching, and the Washington Commanders have countless needs to fill and a lot of money to spend.
That doesn't always guarantee success, but it's not a bad place to start.
The Commanders aren't in a position to be sitting on their hands. Peters must be aggressive in pursuit of solidifying depth and upgrading the starting positions in key position groups. And there may be some options pretty close to home that warrant consideration if they end up hitting the open market.
With this in mind, here are eight high-impact free agents within the NFC East who could be targeted by the Commanders.
High-impact free agents Commanders could rip away from NFC East rivals
Commanders could sign Brandon Aubrey
The Commanders haven't had stability at the kicking position for years. Adam Peters could be looking to rectify that this offseason, and it might be worth keeping a close eye on developments involving Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey.
Aubrey is currently in a contract stalemate with the Cowboys. Reports suggest he's seeking around $10 million per season, so it's no wonder Dallas is stalling. He has one of the biggest legs in the league, and aside from a few jitters, performed superbly in 2025. However, allocating this sort of financial commitment to a special-teams player just doesn't seem feasible.
Washington won't be looking to spend that, either. However, if Aubrey tests free agency, it wouldn't hurt to put in a call.
Commanders could sign Cordale Flott
Washington needs more in its cornerback room. Trey Amos and Mike Sainristil will have roles to play in 2026. Nothing else is guaranteed, and four-time Pro Bowl corner Marshon Lattimore looks like a prime salary-cap cut candidate in the very near future.
New defensive coordinator Daronte Jones needs dependable players in coverage to allow his front seven to wreak havoc within what's expected to be an aggressive scheme. Cordale Flott needs some work against the run, but at 24, he's more than capable of making the desired improvements.
Flott's ability to mirror receivers and lock people down took significant strides forward last season. The former LSU standout gave up just 52.2 percent of his targets and a 73.3 passer rating when targeted in 2025. The turnover numbers are low, but his rising influence could make this a risk worth taking as the Commanders look to fill a clear hole on their defensive depth chart.
Commanders could sign Nakobe Dean
Changes could be coming to the Washington Commanders' linebacking corps this offseason. Bobby Wagner wants to keep playing, which will be his 15th season of a future Pro Football Hall of Fame career. Whether that'll be with the team he's spent the last two years with or not remains a hot topic of discussion.
Frankie Luvu and Jordan Magee should have roles to play. Still, the Commanders need a more athletic linebacker to fill the void if Wagner departs as expected.
Though he's dealt with some injury issues throughout his career, Nakobe Dean remains a decent option with his best years ahead if the money works out.
The 2022 third-round pick showed what he could do in a full season, racking up 130 tackles and three sacks for the Philadelphia Eagles during their 2024 campaign that resulted in the Super Bowl. Everything needs to be satisfactory on the medical front, but this would provide the explosiveness Washington desperately needs at the defensive second level.
Commanders could sign Wan'Dale Robinson
The Commanders need more firepower for quarterback Jayden Daniels. New offensive coordinator David Blough wants to build the team's passing attack around wide receiver Terry McLaurin, which is the right move. Unfortunately, that won't nearly be enough.
Washington has the money needed to make a splash in free agency if the situation presents itself. They need a young, dynamic weapon with proven capabilities at the highest level. Wan'Dale Robinson is one of the more intriguing possibilities, especially if Deebo Samuel Sr. takes his chances elsewhere in free agency.
Robinson put together an exceptional campaign for the New York Giants in 2025, bringing in 92 receptions for 1,011 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He's now looking to cash in when the legal tampering window opens, and the former Kentucky standout looks tailor-made for the projected pro-style scheme that Blough plans to run in Washington.
Commanders could sign Dane Belton
Daronte Jones singled out almost every safety under contract with the Commanders during his introductory press conference, highlighting their versatility and athleticism as potential fits within his defensive system. But the moves Adam Peters makes on the back end of his defense will be far more telling.
The Commanders cannot stand pat. This group fluffed their lines last season. Changes are needed. Attacking this with a potential high-end draft pick and a dependable veteran in free agency wouldn't be the worst idea in the world.
If the Commanders are looking for someone a little under the radar, Dane Belton ticks a lot of boxes. He came of age with the New York Giants last season, recording 120 tackles and becoming a force against the run through instinctive playmaking and physical explosiveness. If he can improve in coverage under Jones, this could be a shrewd addition.
Commanders could sign Jaelan Phillips
The Washington Commanders need a legitimate game-changer on their defensive edge. One could make a strong case for everyone except Dorance Armstrong Jr. being let go this offseason, though general manager Adam Peters may decide to retain someone like Jacob Martin for depth.
Peters also has cash to spend to achieve this objective. Finding the right fit is more important than any salary cap space. There will be several intriguing options available, and the Commanders could do far worse than examine Jaelan Phillips' credentials in greater detail.
Phillips joined the Philadelphia Eagles via trade from the Miami Dolphins before the 2025 deadline and played well. The veteran revealed after the campaign that he is looking forward to testing free agency for the first time, so it wouldn't be a great surprise to see the Commanders inquire about what it might take to bring him into the fold.
Commanders could sign Reed Blankenship
The Philadelphia Eagles have some monumentally important decisions to make this offseason. There isn't much money to go around, and they have several free agents who would generate significant interest on the open market. General manager Howie Roseman has his work cut out for him, and every team in the league will be watching closely.
Although Reed Blakenship may not have reached the same heights as his Super Bowl-winning campaign, he's young enough to keep growing throughout his prime years. The Commanders also need assistance at the safety position, despite Daronte Jones outlining his confidence in the options currently available.
With 308 tackles in 50 starts, Blakenship does most of his good work closer to the line of scrimmage. If Jones moves the Commanders' defense to a 3-4 front, he'll need this sort of forcefulness and versatility within his secondary. His ability to come on blitzes is something else Washington can put to good use.
Commanders could sign Sam Williams
As previously mentioned, the Commanders are in desperate need of edge-rushing assistance this offseason. Adam Peters recognizes the fact, and it would be a massive letdown if the general manager wasn't ultra-aggressive in his quest to rectify these glaring issues.
The Commanders need starting-caliber upgrades. They also need to enhance their depth with dependable pieces capable of making a difference when the numbers are called. Sam Williams would fall into the latter, but he did manage to put together a full campaign after missing the entire 2024 season due to injury.
Williams and head coach Dan Quinn know each other well from their time together on the Dallas Cowboys. He's got the length for a defensive end, but he's also got enough athleticism to utilize as a 3-4 outside linebacker if that's the direction Daronte Jones plans to go with his unit. This is also unlikely to break the bank.