The Washington Commanders' attention has immediately turned to an offseason that will feature no shortage of sweeping changes to one of the most disappointing rosters in the NFL.
The Commanders have 30 pending free agents this spring. Most of them should not return. But there's at least one of them who absolutely should.
That would be three-time Pro Bowl punter Tress Way. He wants to be back just as badly as everyone in Washington does.
Commanders' first move of free agency should be a complete no-brainer
Way was the only member of the Commanders to qualify for the Pro Bowl in 2025, following a season in which he averaged 47.3 yards per punt and pinned more than half of them inside the 20-yard line. In his 12th year in the NFL, he's remained one of Washington's most reliable performers.
The team's longest-serving player is also a pending free agent this offseason, after playing on a one-year deal this past campaign. It doesn't sound like he has any plans of leaving.
"I'd love to come back... I'd love to play next season. I know at this point in guys' careers, when you've played as long as I have, it's kind of a year-to-year thing, and I'm fine with that."Tress Way
Commanders P Tress Way said he definitely wants to keep playing. “I would love to come back,” he said. pic.twitter.com/VQkKl1s76y
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 5, 2026
There's no telling how important it is to have long-term continuity on special teams, particularly at kicker and punter. Washington has struggled for many years to find the correct answer in the former role, but Way gives them someone the team can always trust to do his job effectively.
The former Oklahoma Sooner has been in D.C. through four head coaches (counting Bill Callahan's interim stint in 2019), three team names, and 17 different starting quarterbacks. He's played in an NFC Championship game (and even completed a pass in it), and he's played in countless draft position derbies.
Through thick and thin, he's been one of Washington's most dependable leaders for over a decade.
Way should never see a single snap for any team besides the Commanders. He's come this far with Washington, so he might as well stick it out until the bitter end. There's no reason the team shouldn't keep him in the fold for as long as he remains a quality punter.
As long as Adam Peters is on the same page, this should be the easiest decision the Commanders will make all summer.