Commanders re-signed Shy Tuttle
When the Washington Commanders signed Shy Tuttle extremely late in the 2025 campaign, most fans thought it would be a short-term stopgap to address the team's disastrous string of injuries. That wasn't the case.
Tuttle's career was on a downward spiral before joining the Commanders. His two years as the Carolina Panthers' starting nose tackle went horribly, and he was released with one year remaining on his deal. Things went even worse with the Tennessee Titans, where he became an afterthought before being cut in-season.
The Commanders gave him a shot, and they clearly saw enough to warrant another one-year deal. This doesn't come with any guarantees about his place on the 53-man roster, but it could be an experienced depth piece for Washington to lean on if he shows enough over the summer.
Tuttle is not a nose tackle. If Daronte Jones is switching to a 3-4 base as most experts predict, this cannot be an option to start. But if the plan is to make him a backup 3-4 defensive end, that seems a little more feasible.
- Roster Move Grade: C
This could be just a case of filling out the roster. But if the Commanders do have bigger plans for Tuttle, drastic improvements are needed.
Commanders re-signed Drake Jackson
Drake Jackson was a highly touted college prospect once upon a time. Adam Peters held an influential position in the San Francisco 49ers' front office when they took the edge rusher out of USC. It was no surprise to see the general manager give him a second chance once the team that drafted him finally cut its losses.
Injuries have decimated Jackson's ability to be impactful in recent years. The Niners were not going to wait around anymore, but Peters was more than happy to take the plunge. After taking time to get healthy and fully up to speed, the player saw action in a regular-season setting for the first time since Week 8 of the 2023 campaign.
The Commanders want to see if this is the start of things to come. Peters re-upped with Jackson for another year. Now, they must make sure he gets a full offseason to gradually build confidence and momentum. If he can do that, and there are no more setbacks, the player looks more than capable of being part of the pass-rushing rotation in 2026.
- Roster Move Grade: B+
What comes next for Jackson remains to be seen. But this big vote of confidence from the Commanders must have been a fantastic feeling after everything he's been through.