"The Washington Commanders' offseason reconstruction project is already underway, with David Blough and Daronte Jones replacing Kliff Kingsbury and Joe Whitt Jr. as the team's offensive and defensive coordinators. Soon, it will be time to begin overhauling the roster as well. Free agency officially opens on March 11. The Commanders should be one of the busiest teams in the league, with 30 pending free agents and $63.41 million in cap space. There will be countless new faces on the roster that Adam Peters ends up piecing together for Washington in 2026. There will also be no shortage of departures. Some of them will be easier to take than others."
"Bobby Wagner. Zach Ertz. Austin Ekeler. Possibly Daron Payne. All of them played pivotal roles in helping the Commanders reach the NFC Championship game during the 2024 season. Yet no one would be surprised to see them packing their bags this summer. The first three are all but guaranteed to be gone. Ertz and Ekeler probably won't ever play in the NFL again after suffering season-ending ACL and Achilles injuries, respectively. Wagner could very well decide to hang up his cleats."
"They were the core nucleus of Peters' 2024 free agency class, brought to Washington to change the culture. Their mission was served. Payne is the longest-tenured player on the Commanders' defense, drafted in the first round in 2018. He's been a Pro Bowler and, at times, the most impactful player on Washington's front lines. But he's now had three consecutive underwhelming seasons and costs a fortune to keep. It's time to move on, though reports indicate he could play out his deal in 2026."
The Commanders have begun an offseason reconstruction, replacing offensive and defensive coordinators and preparing for free agency on March 11. The team enters free agency with about $63.41 million in cap space and 30 pending free agents, signaling a likely busy period and substantial roster turnover. Several veterans who helped reach the 2024 NFC Championship, including Bobby Wagner, Zach Ertz, Austin Ekeler and possibly Daron Payne, face likely departures due to injuries, age, or cost. Adam Peters will be tasked with rebuilding the roster for 2026, adding numerous new faces while moving on from underperforming or expensive veterans.
Read at Riggo's Rag
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