Washington Commanders fans are eagerly anticipating the legal tampering window finally opening after weeks of intense speculation. General manager Adam Peters is about to show his hand, and he cannot put a foot wrong in his quest to get this ambitious franchise back on the correct path to contention.
It's an interesting situation. The Commanders won just five games in 2025. They only have two picks in the first four rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft. However, they have a significant amount of cash to spend in free agency, and leading insiders around the league are expecting Washington to be aggressive.
The clock is ticking. Jayden Daniels is entering Year 3 of his rookie contract, and this window must be maximized. There is a lot of hard work ahead, but there is a definite chance to bounce back if Peters has a strong offseason on the recruitment front.
Before then, the Commanders had been tying up their own free agents. Not everyone will get a reprieve, and some will get signed during free agency once Peters gauges their market and potential price tag. Still, the pieces are slowly coming together.
With this in mind, we graded the latest five Commanders re-signings before the free-agent chaos officially begins around the league.
Grading the latest five Commanders' roster moves before the free-agent frenzy
Commanders re-signed Deatrich Wise Jr.
The Washington Commanders had high hopes for veteran defensive lineman Deatrich Wise Jr. They brought him into the franchise to become an edge-setting run stopper who could generate pressure when needed. Unfortunately, it was a minimal contribution.
Wise sustained a season-ending injury in Week 2, and the Commanders missed his presence greatly. The Super Bowl champion is making encouraging progress and plans to be back sooner rather than later. As such, Washington gave him the benefit of the doubt with another one-year deal.
Even though Wise might not be a starter if the required roster enhancements arrive on the defensive edge, he represents an intriguing rotational piece who could help in run support. He will also be eager to get back to his old self after so long away from the gridiron.
This is a win-win if Wise makes a full recovery. He's a strong leadership presence, which will be needed during another period of transition into a new defensive scheme. Even if it's in a backup role, his contribution will go way beyond the field.
- Roster Move Grade: A
Not many among the fan base complained too much when the re-signing was confirmed. The Commanders are going to prioritize the pass-rush, but Wise has the qualities to be an asset without any more bad luck on the health front.