The Washington Commanders have a long offseason ahead of them after Adam Peters' roster construction mistakes and a sea of injuries led to a massively disappointing 5-12 campaign in 2025. There will be no shortage of holes to fill as the team aims to return to playoff relevance next time around.
With $76.04 million in projected salary-cap space, the Commanders have considerable room to improve. But they also have to be careful how they spend all their money, because going the win-now route too fast is what doomed them in the first place.
For Peters, this is going to be the offseason that makes or breaks his tenure as the Commanders' general manager. He absolutely cannot screw up.
Commanders need to get younger without entirely starting over — easier said than done
Given how Washington's 2025 season went, the team is in an extremely difficult position. With quarterback Jayden Daniels on his rookie contract for at least two (almost certainly three) more years, the window must be maximized. But the Commanders can't go chasing big names, especially ones in the twilight of their careers.
Peters must zero in on post-rookie deal free agents entering the market for the first time. Players who are experienced enough to be proven commodities but also young enough to still have several productive years ahead of them. And he must find them in a multitude of positions.
On offense, wide receiver and tight end will be key holes to fill. A splash for Kyle Pitts Sr. or Isaiah Likely could be a solid class headliner. Replacing Deebo Samuel Sr. with a younger option such as Alec Pierce or Romeo Doubs would be ideal.
Washington will have major needs at defensive end, linebacker, and safety. A linebacker like Quay Walker or Nakobe Dean could be available at a reasonable price. A safety like Jaquan Brisker seems well-suited to the aggressive concepts new coordinator Daronte Jones is expected to run.
There is also the draft, where the Commanders will have the No. 7 overall pick. This is likely where Washington should try to grab an edge rusher such as Rueben Bain Jr. or David Bailey. Safety Caleb Downs will also be a slam-dunk option if he is available.
Needless to say, Peters will have his work cut out for him. He's fixed Washington's roster before, but his approach in 2024 was never going to be sustainable. Now he must build a team that can get good and stay good, or else he'll find his seat getting considerably warmer.
We'll see if he's up to the task.