As attention turns to the NFL Draft, it's still hard to ignore what the Washington Commanders accomplished in free agency. After all, general manager Adam Peters turned the league's oldest roster into one with long-term answers at multiple positions.
Edge rushers Odafe Oweh and K'Lavon Chaisson. Tight end Chig Okonkwo. Safety Nick Cross. Running back Rachaad White. Linebacker Leo Chenal. They all fit exactly what Washington needs, and most of them are here on modest deals.
After the Commanders were one of the NFL's biggest disappointments in 2025, Peters could have panicked heading into a make-or-break 2026 campaign. He did the exact opposite.
Commanders' quick free agency re-tool proves Adam Peters knows exactly what he's doing
Independent Commanders reporter Ben Standig appeared on The Team 980 to recap Washington's haul of new additions, and one theme rings out. These were not panic moves. They were calculated, setting the team up nicely for future success.
"During the coordinator searches, it felt like it became apparent quickly that they weren't going to be able to get more established names because there's a fear on the street that another sub-.500 season and Dan Quinn might be in some trouble. I didn't get that sense as much in free agency."
It's worth noting, as Standig points out, that Washington's free agency success came despite missing on several top options. The Commanders struck out on wide receivers Alec Pierce and Romeo Doubs. They struck out on center Tyler Linderbaum. And their response told fans everything.
Instead of overpaying on the next-best options, they focused elsewhere around the roster and snagged up pieces at key areas of need. The holes at wide receiver and center are still there, but you're not going to solve every problem in one go. Peters understood that and did the best he could.
As a result, the narrative on the Commanders heading into next season has completely flipped.
After the hirings of new coordinators David Blough and Daronte Jones, it felt like Washington had its back against the wall. They settled for two unknowns who weren't their top choices, and now they're their only choice.
Free agency was not like that.
Peters cleaned up. There will still be opportunities to address the rest of the team's needs. At the end of the day, calm heads prevailed as they attempted to fix an extremely difficult dilemma with Washington's roster.
Now, we'll see if it translates to the field.