This is a critical stage of the Washington Commanders' offseason. Training camp is in the books, and there is only one more joint practice and preseason game left before general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn finalize their 53-man roster.
But the front-office leader is already at work.
The Commanders have made a flurry of notable transactions in recent days. Players have been removed from the equation, and others were brought into the fold. This all started with the bombshell acquisition of four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs and has accelerated even further.
If Peters isn't happy with how things are looking, he won't hesitate to make changes. The Commanders are dealing with some injury issues right now, and there are some problem areas of the depth chart that could hold them back. But if Washington gets the next few days right, Quinn's squad has a good chance of bouncing back this season.
Before then, we graded the eight latest Commanders moves of significance with final cuts on the very near horizon.
Grading the latest eight Washington Commanders moves that matter most with final cuts looming
Commanders released Jerome Ford
The Commanders gave Jerome Ford an opportunity to force his way onto the 53-man roster this offseason. His time with the Cleveland Browns fizzled out after they drafted the running back duo of Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson last year, but his previous production and home-run ability were enough to intrigue Washington's decision-makers.
Ford made a decent start over OTAs. Unfortunately, he was unable to keep up with other running backs over the summer.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White quickly established themselves as the top two. Sixth-round rookie Kaytron Allen has a physical presence, and Jeremy McNichols is a respected leader and core special-teams presence.
Grade: A
Even undrafted rookie Robert Henry Jr. shone more than Ford. When the 2022 fifth-round pick out of Cincinnati sustained a hamstring injury, the decision to release him was an easy one.
Commanders signed Boogie Basham
Adam Peters never settles. He's always looking for tweaks and ways to boost competition. That was no more evident than with the late signing of versatile defender Boogie Basham following a successful workout.
Basham may not have ever reached the heights expected of a second-round pick, but he's got experience and versatility. He can operate as a 3-4 defensive end or standing up as a 3-4 outside linebacker. He also has experience in this sort of system during his time with the Carolina Panthers in 2025.
Making the roster will be difficult for Basham. He's only got a few days to stand out, so how he performs in Washington's preseason finale against the Houston Texans is crucial. But if he can somehow stick around with a place on the practice squad, that arguably represents his best-case scenario.
Grade: B
And it also gives the Commanders another veteran asset to call up in the event of more injuries.
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