How the Commanders Blew It (Again) in 2026 Free Agency

Another offseason, another head-scratching performance by the Washington Commanders. The 2025 season, a dismal 4-13 showing, clearly signaled a need for drastic change. Yet, here we are in March 2026, and the moves made by GM Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn feel more like shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic than a real rebuild. Let's break down the early damage.

The Quarterback Conundrum

The big splash was re-signing quarterback Jayden Daniels to a five-year, $250 million extension with $160 million guaranteed. Daniels showed flashes in 2025, throwing for 3,427 yards and 21 touchdowns. But he also tossed 18 interceptions and completed just 61.2% of his passes. That's a lot of money for a guy who still looks like he's learning on the job. The commitment to Daniels is understandable; you don't give up on a No. 2 overall pick after two seasons. But the price tag feels like a panic move, especially when the offensive line in front of him was a sieve, allowing 63 sacks last year. They also brought in veteran Sam Howell on a one-year, $3.5 million deal to be the backup. Howell’s last start for Washington was a 27-10 loss to the Cowboys in Week 18 of 2024. Talk about a full-circle moment.

Defensive Dollars, Questionable Returns

Washington’s defense ranked 29th in points allowed and 31st in total yards given up in 2025. Clearly, that needed fixing. They went big in the secondary, signing former Eagles cornerback Darius Slay to a two-year, $22 million deal. Slay, now 35, isn't the "Big Play Slay" who made Pro Bowls. He had two interceptions and 10 pass breakups last season, a noticeable drop from his peak. Is he an upgrade? Marginally, maybe. But at that price, you're hoping for a miracle. Then there’s the curious case of linebacker Frankie Luvu, signed for three years, $36 million. Luvu is a solid player, no doubt. He had 101 tackles and 5.5 sacks for the Panthers in 2025. But he’s a run-and-hit guy, not a coverage specialist, and Washington desperately needed help against the pass in the middle of the field. They let safety Jeremy Chinn walk for nothing, a guy who actually showed some versatility in his limited snaps last year. It just doesn't add up.

Off-Ball Linebacker Bloat and Missed Opportunities

Here's my hot take: Washington overpaid for linebackers when their biggest needs were pass rush and a legitimate No. 1 receiver. Beyond Luvu, they also shelled out $18 million over two years for former Titans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who had 115 tackles in 2025. That’s a lot of money tied up in two guys who essentially do the same thing, while their edge rushers combined for a measly 12 sacks last season. They also signed journeyman wideout KJ Hamler to a one-year, $1.5 million deal. Hamler hasn't played a full season since 2021 and has 45 career catches. This team needed a true complement to Terry McLaurin, not another project. The Commanders had over $70 million in cap space heading into the offseason. They spent it, sure. But they spent it like a kid in a candy store without a shopping list, grabbing whatever looked shiny instead of what they actually needed. This team finished 2025 with the second-worst record in the NFC. These moves don't scream "playoff contender."

I'm telling you, this team won't win more than six games in 2026.