Darius Rush - Commanders CB
The Washington Commanders made some slight tweaks to their cornerback room in free agency. More is needed, but general manager Adam Peters could potentially fix this issue via the 2026 NFL Draft.
LSU prospect Mansoor Delane should be under strong consideration with the No. 7 pick. Others lower down the pecking order will also be on the shortlist. Signing Amik Robertson and Ahkello Witherspoon won't be enough, though the Commanders have high hopes for Trey Amos and Mike Sainristil within Darontee Jones' schematic concepts.
Marshon Lattimore was cut as expected. Jonathan Jones signed for the Philadelphia Eagles, and Noah Igbinoghene joined the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. The Commanders still have four capable options, but any more arrivals are not going to look favorably on Darius Rush's chances of more involvement.
Rush spent most of last season on the practice squad, appearing in one regular-season game. He's got the size and length, but improving consistency is the only way he'll stick around.
Colson Yankoff - Commanders TE
Washington needed a productive pass-catching tight end to replace Zach Ertz. While the door hasn't been completely closed on the Pro Bowler, his age and current ACL recovery make a return extremely unlikely.
Fortunately, Adam Peters had something else up his sleeve. The Commanders signed Chig Okonkwo, arguably the highest-ceiling free agent available, to a three-year deal. This brings significant intrigue, and the player is looking to take the next step within a more expansive passing attack with quarterback Jayden Daniels under center.
John Bates and Ben Sinnott are still around. The Commanders are also reportedly high on Lawrence Cager's promise with another offseason to hone his craft. That would be a nice bonus, but it wouldn't make Colson Yankoff's chances of making the team any easier.
Yankoff joined the Commanders as an undrafted free agent in 2024, earning a roster spot and becoming a solid special-teams asset. A massive effort will be needed this summer to get another reprieve.
Drake Jackson - Commanders DE/OLB
The Commanders gave Drake Jackson a chance to build some confidence after the San Francisco 49ers pulled the plug on their costly experiment. A constant stream of frustrating injuries held him back, but general manager Adam Peters was not willing to give up on his potential with a better run of luck on the health front.
Jackson was immediately stashed on injured reserve to continue his rehabilitation. He got involved down the stretch, flashing some promise in limited reps. This was enough for the USC product to get another deal from the franchise, but the edge-rushing dynamic has shifted dramatically.
Peters needed to prioritize the pass-rush this offseason. He achieved this objective, signing Odafe Oweh, K'Lavon Chaisson, and Charles Omenihu. With Dorance Armstrong Jr. also making encouraging progress from an ACL injury, Washington has a potentially productive quartet on its hands.
What that means for Jackson's future remains to be seen, but the stakes have been raised exponentially.