The Washington Commanders have a lot of holes to fill this offseason. General manager Adam Peters is well aware of that, but there is one positive working in his favor ahead of a pivotal recruitment phase.
Peters has money to spend, and one leading NFL insider believes this is the time for Washington to spend it.
Even though Peters' gamble on one-year veterans and the large majority of the squad that took Washington to the NFC Championship game didn't pay off, he kept the team's future financial flexibility intact. The Commanders are projected to have $75.43 million in salary cap space. That could even exceed $100 million once the desired sacrifices are made. It's an exciting time, but utilizing the money wisely is crucial.
Ian Rapoport believes now is the time for Commanders to spend big
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network set the table ahead of the Commanders' free agency. The senior insider expects Peters to be incredibly active. And considering the pressure after a down year, coupled with maximizing Jayden Daniels' window, this is the time to strike with conviction by splashing the cash.
"They still have a lot of cap space. They're coming off a really disappointing season. For the Washington Commanders, I wonder what kind of an active offseason they have. Adam Peters has been aggressive. He's made trades — made a couple of big ones last offseason. It is an essential, important year for Washington. I wouldn't be surprised if there were some fireworks here — just knowing how important it is, how much space they have, and the window they have with a good young quarterback. The time to spend is now."Ian Rapoport
From The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: Meanwhile, the #Commanders have the fifth-most projected cap space. What awaits them? pic.twitter.com/CQacSjlI9y
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 14, 2026
This is not perceived as a strong free-agent group by most around the league. They said the same thing last year, too, but the New England Patriots made the most of it and reached the Super Bowl. Having plenty of money is nice, but how Peters spends it will be more important.
The Commanders need to move away from aging veterans past their prime. Peters must focus on ascending free agents who are coming off their rookie deals and have proven production at the highest level. They will be a little more expensive, but the time for half-measures is long gone.
With only six selections in the 2026 NFL Draft — two of which are in the first four rounds — it makes free agency even more pivotal for the Commanders. Peters will have a plan of attack, and some of his own free agents should get new deals despite almost nothing going right for the club in 2025. If the front-office leader can find the correct additions, Washington will be a prime candidate to bounce back emphatically next time around.
The stakes have been raised, but there are far worse positions that Peters could be in.