Adam Peters could spend big to fix Commanders' painfully obvious problem

"The Washington Commanders' defense has been nothing short of abysmal in 2025. It's been a significant reason they've failed to reach the heights of their shockingly impressive 2024 NFC Championship game run. Addressing that side of the ball must be at the top of general manager Adam Peters' to-do list this offseason. Washington has a glaring need and is armed with the sixth-most projected cap space in 2026. With that in mind, why not pony up for one of the NFL's premier pass rushers, Trey Hendrickson, if/when he becomes available?"

"Hendrickson and the Cincinnati Bengals ended a well-chronicled months-long contractual stalemate this past offseason with a revised pact. However, no future years were added, so he remains slated for unrestricted free agency after this season - and an ideal target for the Commanders. Only T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett - the 2021 and 2023 NFL Defensive Players of the Year - have recorded more sacks than Hendrickson (74.5) since 2020."

"Not often do we see a high-end edge defender of Hendrickson's caliber hit the open market, as Jeremy Fowler of ESPN highlighted. Nevertheless, his relationship with the Bengals may be broken beyond repair, especially given the current state of affairs in Cincinnati. This allows a squad with the means and purpose, like Washington, to swoop in and acquire the four-time Pro Bowler."

Washington's defense collapsed in 2025, undermining the team's momentum from a surprise 2024 NFC Championship run. The team projects to hold the sixth-most cap space in 2026, creating room for significant free-agent moves. Trey Hendrickson remains slated for unrestricted free agency after signing a short revised pact with Cincinnati, making him a rare elite edge rusher on the market. Hendrickson has 74.5 sacks since 2020, trailing only T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett, and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season. Cincinnati could franchise-tag or trade him, enabling Washington to acquire immediate pass-rush impact.

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