The NFL's legal tampering period is officially underway, and the Washington Commanders have already seen bad news come early and often.
Washington's top running back target, Kenneth Walker III, was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs. The top wide receiver target, Alec Pierce, was brought back by the Indianapolis Colts. The top tight end, Isaiah Likely, followed head coach John Harbaugh to the division rival New York Giants.
That left the Commanders to prioritize defense for their first new signing of free agency: cornerback Amik Robertson. For $16 million over two years, with $9.3 million guaranteed.
Commanders' Amik Robertson signing already looks like a disaster waiting to happen
Between Robertson and Mike Sainristil, the Commanders might have the smallest cornerback room in the NFL. The signing of the former Detroit Lion and Las Vegas Raider will allow Washington's 2024 second-round pick to move back to the outside full-time, but that's about the only positive takeaway from this massive overpay.
Last season, Robertson's overall Pro Football Focus grade ranked 110th out of 114 eligible cornerbacks. The Lions' secondary was a mess, and he was a major part of that. Still, somehow, he was considered a coveted free agency prize.
Robertson has had solid production in the NFL prior to his down year in 2025. Even then, he made some plays last fall with an interception, two fumble recoveries, and 12 passes defended. He could be a solid fit in Daronte Jones' scheme, and he's never had a chance to be a full-time starter.
But there are too many questions, and it's never great to spend that much on a player who is on a downward trajectory. All in all, this feels a lot like when Washington signed Javon Kinlaw last year, based on what he might be rather than on the substance of what he is.
Maybe Robertson will pan out. We can only hope he does, because the Commanders are paying him more than any other cornerback on their roster and nearly twice as much as the Lions did. Peters opened free agency with the fifth-most cap space in the NFL, but that doesn't mean he can afford to just throw money around with no consequences.
This is a signing could backfire in a bad way. A year from now, if the Commanders have another disappointing season and Peters finds himself on the hot seat, Robertson will likely be one of the biggest reasons why.