Adam Peters made no secret of his priority before free agency. The general manager wanted to bolster the Washington Commanders' anemic pass rush, and no stone would be left unturned in acquiring the players needed to flourish.
Based on his early moves, it's mission accomplished.
No fewer than three edge defenders have been signed to kick off the free-agent period. All have the physical tools needed to make an impact within new coordinator Daronte Jones' scheme, which is expected to be aggressive and creative in equal measure.
Adam Peters is building the Commanders' defense correctly at long last
Odafe Oweh was the big splash, signing a four-year, $100 million deal with $68 million guaranteed. The Commanders are also aiming to see if K'Lavon Chaisson's breakout in 2025 can be the start of something more. These additions will help enormously, but Peters was still unsatisfied.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Commanders have sealed a deal with Charles Omenihu. It's a one-year, $4 million agreement that could rise to $7 million with incentives. This bolsters the defensive trenches with another versatile piece with his best years ahead.
Omenihu has the size and length that Washington has coveted throughout free agency. He was a solid if unspectacular performer with the Kansas City Chiefs. Perhaps tellingly, the lineman also spent two years with the San Francisco 49ers during Peters's influential tenure in their front office.
The 2019 fifth-round pick out of Texas will be able to slot in either as a 3-4 outside linebacker, 4-3 defensive end, 3-4 defensive end, or even a 3-technique defensive tackle in a 4-3 base. Omenihu represents a useful chess piece for Jones' system. And given the money involved, it's a no-brainer.
The Commanders' defensive front seven looks a lot stronger now than it did before free agency, which wasn't exactly a high bar for which to aim. Omenihu, Oweh, and Chaisson are major assets to the edge. Washington also enhanced its second-level dynamism with linebacker Leo Chenal, who joined from the Chiefs.
This won't be enough to make a deep postseason run. At the same time, Peters is just getting started.
The Commanders still have plenty of money to spend. He also has six picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, including the No. 7 overall selection. More changes are coming, and fans are already raising their excitement levels regarding a potential bounce-back for this sleeping giant in 2026.
Owenihu is experienced and productive with the athleticism and work rate needed to make his presence felt. If he meets or perhaps even exceeds expectations, this will be money well spent.