There is no doubt that Washington Commanders offensive lineman Chris Paul earned another payday in free agency. Whether that's with the team that drafted him or not is anyone's guess right now.
Paul finally seized what was probably his last chance in Washington. The Commanders put him at left guard after just two games, and he never gave up his spot. While his production still has flaws, this was the biggest step forward of his professional career by a considerable margin.
And based on what Jeremy Fowler of ESPN had heard at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, the market for Paul could be robust if the Commanders don't work out another deal before the legal tampering window opens.
Commanders may have more competition for Chris Paul than fans initially thought
The insider revealed that there could be more interest in Paul than people might expect. That is only going to drive up the price, and even though the Commanders have plenty of cash to spend, general manager Adam Peters is not going to overpay.
All signs still point to Paul getting another contract in Washington. He's well-liked and was among the best pass-blocking guards in the league last season. There is work to do from a run blocking standpoint, but the trajectory is finally pointing up for a player who looked almost down and out once upon a time.
Paul will make significantly more than the $1.12 million he counted against Washington's salary cap in 2025. According to Spotrac, his market value is affordable, standing at $4.69 million per season on a two-year, $9.39 million deal. That seems like a no-brainer for a team that can easily afford it, but if there is a bidding war for his services, that'll make things even more complicated.
After the Commanders released starting center Tyler Biadasz, losing Paul would mean another productive presence would need to be found. Not exactly ideal, but much will also depend on whether new offensive coordinator David Blough sees a vision for the Tulsa product within his new blocking concepts. That could arguably be more crucial to this equation than any financial aspect.
It's a precarious situation. Paul rose from the proverbial wilderness to become a consistent performer at the best possible time. If the Commanders don't want to pay up, there will be teams that do. And for an offensive line unit that looked pretty stable just a few short days ago, it seems anything but — at least on the interior.
Peters will have a plan in place, but the last thing Washington needs is more instability around quarterback Jayden Daniels. If the Commanders can extend Paul, they should.