Adam Peters knew what had to be done this offseason. Complacency crept into the Washington Commanders in 2025 after their memorable run to the NFC Championship game the year before. The general manager was not happy, and he promised to increase urgency across the board.
Mission accomplished.
The Commanders now have competition for places everywhere you look after an aggressive offseason. Peters brought in more than a dozen new signings in free agency. Several established veterans were re-signed, and Washington's moves during the 2026 NFL Draft have received widespread plaudits from the media. And with a plethora of undrafted free agents also looking to make their mark, the heat is on.
There is still a lot of hard work ahead. Peters has cash to spend on even more arrivals if he thinks it will help get things back on track. For the coaching staff, it'll be meshing this unit into a cohesive squad within new offensive and defensive schematic concepts.
Everyone will get their chance to impress. Anyone who doesn't meet the raised standards won't be around much longer. The time for half-measures is over with jobs on the line next season.
With this in mind, here are seven Commanders veteran players who may not survive the team's 2026 rookie invasion.
Washington Commanders veterans who may not survive the 2026 rookie invasion
Shy Tuttle - Commanders DL
The Commanders did not draft an interior defensive lineman with any of their six selections. However, a notable undrafted arrival brings significant intrigue.
Though Jeffrey M'Ba is an older rookie, he's got the size, strength, and aggression to potentially force his way onto the 53-man roster. The Commanders have Daron Payne, Javon Kinlaw, Tim Settle Jr., and Johnny Newton as roster locks, but all bets are off aside from that.
Shy Tuttle will be aiming to keep M'Ba off the team. The veteran arrived late last season after he was released by the Tennessee Titans. While most fans thought this would only be a short-term stop in Washington, he did enough for another one-year deal.
That gives Tuttle a chance, but nothing is guaranteed. He's been on a worrying career trend ever since joining the Carolina Panthers in 2024. He's been cut from his last two clubs, so the situation was precarious even before M'Ba joined the fold.
A massive effort is needed from Tuttle this offseason. He's got experience on his side, but Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn won't hesitate to go with the undrafted M'Ba if he impresses enough over the summer.
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