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.
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.
Commanders re-signed Jake Moody
It seemed as if the Washington Commanders were about to spin the kicking carousel once again this offseason.
Jake Moody, an in-season arrival after the Matt Gay experiment failed miserably, didn't have his restricted free agent tender triggered. That led most fans and experts to suggest that general manager Adam Peters was seeking more.
While another option could arrive at some stage, the Commanders ended up re-signing Moody to a one-year deal. This keeps him around with the chance to cement his starting spot. It's also reportedly cost Washington a lot less.
A restricted free agent tender would have been pricier, so Peters made the right call. Moody was largely accurate during his six games with the Commanders, making 90.9 percent of his field goal attempts and the same percentage of his extra points. His leg isn't the biggest, but the 2023 third-round pick out of Michigan did convert both of his efforts beyond 50 yards in 2025.
- Roster Move Grade: B
This also gives the Commanders some breathing space. They could decide to kick up another veteran or perhaps an undrafted free agent to compete with Moody, but at least they have one option locked in. Whether he'll be the starting kicker in Week 1 is the big question nobody really knows the answer to right now.
Commanders re-signed Treylon Burks
The Commanders took a chance on wide receiver Treylon Burks last season. His time with the Tennessee Titans failed to meet the heights expected of a first-round pick, but there were also plenty of mitigating factors behind his demise.
Injuries dented the momentum he had begun to build. The Titans' offense was poor overall, and the constant stream of quarterbacks made it almost impossible for anyone to thrive.
Washington thought there was something to salvage. As it turned out, the flashes displayed upon joining the franchise were enough for another commitment.
According to reports, the Commanders have re-signed Burks to a one-year deal worth up to $4 million. But unlike the other veteran retentions, the former Arkansas standout still has long-term potential if he can finally put his outstanding physical attributes together more consistently.
First, Burks needs to stay healthy. He needs to get a better run and a full offseason to prepare. He's always had the tools, but if he can generate some positivity over the summer, the wideout has a shot to be Washington's big slot receiver in 2026.
- Roster Move Grade: B+
This is a low-risk move from the Commanders with high-end rewards attached. And if anyone deserves a bit of luck in the coming months, it's Burks.