Will Harris - Commanders S
The Washington Commanders needed a revamp of their safety room this offseason. Defensive coordinator Daronte Jones praised almost everyone in the unit during his introductory press conference, but Adam Peters' actions would speak much louder.
Washington signed Nick Cross in free agency, which could be an absolute steal at the money. Analysts also believe more reinforcements could arrive during the 2026 NFL Draft, with Ohio State safety Caleb Downs being strongly linked to the Commanders at No. 7 overall.
What that means for the rest is undetermined. It'll be an anxious wait for everyone, which places the microscope on Will Harris after an underwhelming first season in Washington.
Harris dealt with some injury problems early in the campaign, which wasn't ideal. When he came back, he struggled to generate any positive momentum. A massive offseason awaits, and the margin for error would diminish significantly if another starting-caliber safety arrived.
Nick Bellore - Commanders LB
The Commanders added to their linebacker room with Leo Chenal in free agency. He's been a fantastic asset to the Kansas City Chiefs throughout his career, both as a rotational defensive player and a special-teams contributor. Now, Washington is giving him a chance to increase his influence by adding extra responsibilities to his shoulders.
Frankie Luvu is moving back to an off-ball role after being forced onto the edge last season, where he was not particularly comfortable. Jordan Magee has promise as a rotational force, but all bets are off regarding the rest. Though Nick Bellore has a contract, he is aging enough to be on the chopping block this summer.
Bellore is a special-teams weapon. But with the Commanders moving towards a youth movement, others may be preferred unless he leaves no doubt when on-field preparations for the new campaign get underway.
Javontae Jean-Baptiste - Commanders DE/OLB
Strengthening the defensive edge was among the Commanders' biggest priorities this offseason. And unlike previous years, Adam Peters gave it the correct attention during a frenzied start to free agency.
Odafe Oweh was the big prize, signing a four-year, $100 million deal with $80 million guaranteed. The Commanders acquired K'Lavon Chaisson after his breakout campaign with the New England Patriots, and Charles Omenihu should bolster the depth as a versatile piece for Daronte Jones' front seven.
With Dorance Armstrong Jr. making encouraging progress from a serious knee injury, this could be a productive foursome for the Commanders if everyone gets a clear run of luck on the health front. What that means for the rest remains to be seen, but Javontae Jean-Baptiste's role in 2026 is far from clear-cut.
The 2024 seventh-round pick out of Notre Dame has flashed promise, but he's also dealt with nagging injury problems. A massive effort is needed this summer to stick around.