It was a memorable campaign for the Washington Commanders in 2024. But no team gets anywhere by standing still.
Adam Peters is a cutthroat roster builder. He was delighted by the way things unfolded in year one of his rebuild as the Commanders defied expectations to reach the NFC Championship game. They couldn't get to the Super Bowl, but the foundations have been laid for a successful future.
Not everyone is going to come along for the ride. The Commanders have 28 unrestricted free agents and a lot of hard work ahead. Peters acknowledged it'll be a busy few weeks, but the improved culture in the locker room makes retaining players an easy sell.
Peters won't bring everyone back. Washington has $81.91 million in available cap space and seven draft selections. This team is an attractive place to play again and the recent NFLPA report card shows how the Commanders are heading on the right path. The general manager must take advantage by attracting the correct characters to the organization.
A fascinating few weeks lie ahead for Washington's expectant fanbase. With this in mind, here are five fan favorites who might not be back in 2025.
We'll begin with veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota.
Commanders fan favorites who might not be back in 2025
Marcus Mariota - Commanders QB
Fans took Marcus Mariota to their hearts. Not for his performances on the field, which were pretty good when called upon, but for the way he embraced his role as a mentor with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.
The Washington Commanders identified Mariota as the support system Daniels needed to ease him through this important transition. His experience became a major asset — something that helped the Heisman Trophy winner take the league by storm in 2024.
Mariota was always on hand to provide advice and guidance. He played a role in keeping Daniels on an even keel. One only has to look at how glowingly the former LSU star and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury spoke about him to see how impactful he became behind the scenes.
The Commanders would probably love to have Mariota back. However, the weak free-agency options and less-than-stellar quarterback crop emerging from the college ranks could see a potential starting chance come his way.
That would be difficult for Mariota to turn down at this stage of his playing career. He performed well enough in limited involvement this season to improve his chances. The Commanders need to make contingency plans if this scenario comes to fruition.