The Washington Commanders have given themselves a head start on free agency, making a series of roster moves. The most shocking was the release of starting center Tyler Biadasz, and the subsequent decision signals that the team might already have his replacement.
The Commanders signed Nick Allegretti to a new two-year extension, which comes as somewhat of a surprise. The Super Bowl winner with the Kansas City Chiefs, who started all 17 games for Washington in 2024, was reduced primarily to a backup role last season.
It seemed questionable whether the Commanders would keep Allegretti at all in 2026. Not only is he here to stay, but it sounds like he might be the new starting center. This is a bad idea, and everybody knows it.
Commanders can move forward with Nick Allegretti, but not as a starter
Mark Bullock, who has covered the Commanders for The Athletic and The Washington Post and now works independently, is among the Allegretti skeptics. His assessment was balanced and honest, given the situation's nuance.
Allegretti has value to Washington. He can play all 3 interior spots, which provides great depth. So I was always good with him staying in Washington, even on an extension to lower his cap hit this year
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) March 2, 2026
But I wouldn’t feel great about him replacing Biadasz as the starting center https://t.co/xgzJ6322Qs
Allegretti, as Bullock points out, is a versatile body who can play all over the line. Ideally, he's the perfect backup or spot starter, because he can fill in wherever he's needed.
But he's not a starter. He was one of the line's weak links while playing at left guard in 2024. It's hard to see him doing any better at center, a position he's less familiar with. There's a reason why Washington used him in a rotational role last year, even while Sam Cosmi was out with his torn ACL for the first eight games.
The Commanders cannot afford to rely on Allegretti to play such a heavy role. There are starting-caliber options available in free agency at center, notably Tyler Linderbaum, Connor McGovern, Cade Mays, and Ethan Pocic. They would be more expensive, but general manager Adam Peters has money to spend.
Washington has no room for half-measures when it comes to meeting their goals in 2026. Expectations won't be as high as they were this time last year, but they have quarterback Jayden Daniels on his rookie deal and a gold mine of cap space to utilize as they see fit. They should fully intend to put together a roster capable of competing for a playoff spot.
NFL games are won in the trenches. As valuable as Allegretti is in his backup role, the Commanders need to upgrade their starting center.