The Washington Commanders' roster is going to look a lot different by the time on-field preparations for the 2026 campaign begin. After how things unfolded for head coach Dan Quinn in his second season at the helm, massive alterations are an absolute necessity.
And that is going to put some established veterans on the proverbial scrapheap.
General manager Adam Peters isn't going to let all of his free agents walk. He should allow most to take their chances elsewhere, but the Commanders have a lot of holes to fill. They must be aggressive. They must also counsel Washington's two new coordinators on who fits and who doesn't fit the new schematic concepts being implemented.
Commanders' relationship with Bobby Wagner has seemingly run its course
Daronte Jones' defense promises to be aggressive, violent, explosive, and ruthless under his leadership. His personnel needs an injection of youth and dynamism for this hire to work, which could leave future first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Bobby Wagner on the outside looking in.
Wagner's been a fantastic presence in Washington over the last two years, but this seems like a good time for both parties to go their separate ways. Greg Auman of FOX Sports agrees, projecting the former Utah State standout to keep playing with a return to the Los Angeles Rams in free agency.
"[Bobby] Wagner is also years past people saying it's amazing he was still playing. He had 162 tackles for Washington in 2025, with 4.5 sacks and two interceptions, missing Pro Bowl honors (he's made it 10 times already). A new coordinator for the Commanders could mean Wagner is signing elsewhere, a future Hall of Famer still making plays on a consistent basis. Could he return to the Seahawks or Rams and try to chase a second ring on the way out?"Greg Auman
The newly crowned NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year still managed to achieve 162 tackles last season at 35 years old. Wagner was a force in between the tackles and on blitzes. But given the scheme Jones plans to install, his lack of athleticism and inconsistent coverage make a departure from Washington more likely than another deal.
Wagner is now at 2,000 tackles for his career, but his frailties are becoming more glaring in the final stages of his NFL journey. The Commanders need to get younger and faster. Still, if the second-level enforcer is well insulated with an outstanding supporting cast around him, he could have one or two more relatively productive years left if he wants to continue playing.
That shouldn't be with the Commanders, but one cannot put into words how impactful Wagner has been on Washington's immediate cultural shift under the current regime.