The Washington Commanders have done a good job in free agency so far. General manager Adam Peters did well to fill so many key needs early in the process. Now that things have simmered down, attention turns to solidifying depth and providing flexibility during the 2026 NFL Draft.
Some needs are greater than others right now. The defense rightfully took priority after Joe Whitt Jr.'s unit plummeted to the league's worst in 2025. He's gone, and new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones is going to shake things up with the creativity and aggressiveness sorely lacking previously.
The pieces are slowly coming together to achieve this objective. However, the Commanders may have no option other than to take a risky swing in free agency on a player already extremely familiar with head coach Dan Quinn's demands.
Commanders could sign Trevon Diggs to bolster cornerback depth before the draft
Washington is light on cornerback options right now. The Commanders released Marshon Lattimore as expected, saving $18.5 million in cap space. Jonathan Jones signed for the Philadelphia Eagles, and Noah Igbinoghene landed on the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Only Amik Robertson has come in so far, and options from the veteran pool are dwindling.
The biggest remaining wildcard on the market is Trevon Diggs. He propelled himself to All-Pro superstardom under Quinn's guidance, and his drop-off was just as alarming when his old coordinator joined the Commanders. Injuries didn't help, leaving the Dallas Cowboys with no option but to release him late in the 2025 campaign.
Diggs was claimed off waivers by the Green Bay Packers, but this was just as an insurance policy. He didn't get much of a look, and the former Alabama star remains on the proverbial scrapheap. This is a damning indictment of how the league views his recent trajectory, but he's still young enough at 27 to bounce back in the right fit.
What better place than with the coach who briefly made him a borderline elite player?
Quinn will know what makes Diggs tick. He knows how to nurture his talent and bring out the very best in himself. He'll also know how to keep the corner motivated, which was a problem in Dallas after his departure.
Much will also depend on Jones. The new defensive coordinator is being given the reins to run the unit as he sees fit. Diggs has the size and length that might be useful, but the consistency issues could be problematic without a full buy-in from the player.
Maybe the Commanders have someone else in mind. Maybe they'll wait until after the 2026 NFL Draft if they miss out on prospects of interest. There is just no telling for sure, but Diggs's connection to Quinn could lead Washington down this path at some stage.
In this scenario, what comes next would be down to the player.