The Commanders' offseason to-do list has some clear priorities. Here are the biggest
SOURCE:The Athletic|BY:Nicki Jhabvala
Here are the biggest decisions and challenges that await the Commanders in the offseason after a disastrous 2025 campaign.
ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders are where they least expected to be just four months ago.
After preaching identity and play style, and after watching his team prep for its follow up to a 12-5 campaign, coach Dan Quinn said shortly before the season opener that he didn’t want to simply “replicate” Washington’s success in 2024.
“I want to build off it,” he said, “and I want this to be the start of it. And that’s why the identity piece is so important for me …”
But the Commanders lost their way and their identity over the past 17 weeks and now face a critical offseason in trying to restore them.
Unlike past rebuilds, when Washington tried to improve its roster without finding a long-term solution at quarterback, the team has its most important piece, Jayden Daniels. It also has a solid starting offensive line, with Laremy Tunsil on the left, Josh Conerly Jr. on the right and Tyler Biadasz and Sam Cosmi anchoring the interior.
But beyond that, the Commanders are a mostly blank canvas — with far more white space than they initially anticipated.
As Quinn and general manager Adam Peters attempt to rectify the roster, here are the biggest decisions and challenges that await them.
Give Jayden Daniels some help
And not necessarily in play style; Daniels showed improvement this season in getting down (mostly diving), and his three injuries — the knee, the hamstring and the elbow — weren’t the result of needless hits, at least not by his own doing.
He needs more offensive weapons — that much was evident as early as training camp and preseason — and more consistency on defense so he’s not always playing from behind.
That means more receivers, more speed, another reliable pass-catching tight end and a competent defense.
In 2024, Daniels played savior all too often, and it usually worked against lesser teams. But this season, with a tougher schedule and a year of tape on him, Daniels couldn’t be the fixer in the final minutes.
For the Commanders to go anywhere, they need to build around their quarterback.
Get a defensive coordinator
When Quinn was hired, he said he didn’t want to repeat any perceived mistakes from his first go-round as a head coach, in Atlanta from 2015-2020. He learned in those years that he was a better coach when he was fully attentive to all three phases and delegated to his staff. It’s largely why he didn’t assume play-calling duties here and instead tabbed Joe Whitt Jr. to run the defense.
But after a string of blowout losses, Quinn took over the responsibilities of defensive coordinator in Week 11. Whitt remained on staff with his same title, but helped with the weekly game plans, in-game strategy and coaching the secondary. Although the change seemed to have a positive effect initially, the bottom fell out again and Washington enters Week 18 ranked 31st in the league in both defensive total EPA (-132.05) and turnover margin (-12), with the second-most explosive plays allowed (130) and the highest rate of opponent down set conversions (78.6 percent), according to TruMedia.
The Commanders seem likely to part with Whitt after the season, according to multiple team sources, but Quinn has left open the possibility of calling defensive plays in 2026, saying he felt comfortable with the routine and share of duties throughout the week.
But he didn’t commit, and his run didn’t lead to significant change in the latter part of the season.
Should the Commanders seek another defensive play caller, the question is whether they select another first-timer, or turn to a proven (and available) coordinator. Among the names widely circulated for potential coordinator openings: Bears defensive backs coach and defensive pass game coordinator Al Harris, who was the Cowboys’ secondary coach when Quinn was their defensive coordinator, and Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, should he not re-up with Minnesota.
Figure out other staff changes
A new defensive coordinator would likely lead to at least some new defensive assistants. But even more changes could be in store for Washington.
Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has been mentioned as a potential head coaching candidate almost annually and, despite a down season in Washington, his name has already come up for possible openings.
Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn faces questions about the future of his staff, including offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. (Elsa / Getty Images)
When asked if he’d be open to a head coaching job, Kingsbury said Thursday that he’ll “cross that bridge when and if we get to it.” In the past, he’s acknowledged his interest in becoming a head coach again, but with the caveat that he wouldn’t leave for just any job. But that was after the Commanders went 12-5 and had the Offensive Rookie of the Year at quarterback. A possible 4-13 finish could change his level of openness to heading elsewhere.
Extend a pair of valuable veterans
Tunsil’s first year as Washington’s left tackle showed why he’s been a Pro Bowl selection five times.
“Yeah, he’s been phenomenal — more than I could have ever expected,” Kingsbury said last month. “I’d say just the type of person, the type of character, the way he works, the way he leads the young guys — it’s been phenomenal and the play speaks for itself. … It’d be hard to find one that’s played better at that position this season, so he’s going to get a lot of money.”
Keeping Tunsil won’t be cheap, but such is the price for an elite left tackle. And surely Washington didn’t give up four draft picks to keep him around for only two seasons.
The Commanders have invested heavily in the offensive line after relying on a rotating cast of middle-tier players for many years. Cosmi signed a four-year, $74 million extension before the 2024 season, and Conerly was drafted in the first round a month after the team acquired Tunsil.
Re-upping center Biadasz could be next. The 28-year-old has been one of Washington’s most reliable and consistent players since joining in ‘24. Keeping him for the long term would allow Washington to keep its front five intact for at least a couple more years, a necessity if it truly wants to build around Daniels.
Who should stay and who should go in free agency?
The Commanders will have close to two dozen players become free agents in March, and unlike last offseason, it’s plausible a good number of them won’t be back. That’s par for the course for a four-win team.
But which ones should, and could, be back?
Marcus Mariota again proved he’s arguably the best backup quarterback in the NFL, a position just as important as any starting role. Mariota re-signed last year on another one-year deal, citing the team culture under Quinn.
“Something was going to have to really knock my socks off to leave this place,” he said.
But that was before the team struggled, and before he started eight games, accounted for 11 total touchdowns and threw for nearly 1,700 yards. Mariota has said he’s wanted another shot at being a starter in the NFL, and he could get that opportunity with another team next season. But if he doesn’t, re-signing him as a backup should be a priority.
So, too, should be retaining punter Tress Way, a Pro Bowler and the Commanders’ most consistent player over the last decade. Since 2014, Way has held for almost as many kickers (13) as the team has had starting quarterbacks (16).
Washington Commanders punter Tress Way has been the team’s most consistent performer for a decade. (Denis Doyle / Getty Images)
Left guard Chris Paul, who proved himself as a viable starter after years as a forgotten reserve, and receiver Treylon Burks, who was among the few pleasant surprises to come out of the injuries this season, should also be high on the list of pending free agents to keep.
The toughest decisions will likely come down to linebacker Bobby Wagner, the 14-year veteran who struggled in coverage this season but whose leadership and tackling would be hard to replace, and Deebo Samuel, the Commanders’ leading and most available receiver amid the injuries. Both are older when the team needs to get younger, and both could have options elsewhere.
Weigh some necessary veteran cuts
Cornerback Marshon Lattimore struggled in his season-and-a-half as a Commander after the team essentially gave up two draft picks to acquire him. It was a bold move at a time when Washington appeared closer to becoming a contender than originally thought. But the experiment didn’t pan out.
There’s no recouping the lost picks, but cutting Lattimore would save $18.5 million in salary cap space (he has a $2 million roster bonus due in March, and a $16.5 million salary for 2026).
Nick Allegretti, who was benched after starting the first two games at right guard in place of Cosmi, has showed more of his value late in the season as a versatile interior player (he’ll likely start at center on Sunday in Philadelphia with Biadasz on injured reserve). But his play in 2024 and in the early going this season wasn’t to the level Washington needs even among its reserves. He also has an approximate $7.2 million cap hit in 2026. Washington would eat some of that if it decides to move on but would ultimately save about $3.6 million in cap room.
Defensive tackle Daron Payne, a former first-round pick who signed a four-year, $90 million contract in 2023 to stay in Washington, could be another player for whom the team has to consider its options. Payne’s production was minimal in 2024 and despite a solid start to 2025, he registered only two sacks.
He has a team-high $28.01 million cap hit in 2026. Moving on from him would save about $16.8 million for the Commanders, but it would also leave a big hole in a defense that already has a long list of needs.
And then there’s linebacker Frankie Luvu, who signed a three-year deal in 2024 and was clearly a part of the team’s longer-term plans. Luvu had a career-high eight sacks and seven pass deflections in 2024, but his production and play dipped this season, in part because he was thrust into a different role. Washington’s myriad injuries up front prompted Quinn to use Luvu more as an edge rusher than a hybrid linebacker, and he struggled to generate much pressure. He also missed more than a fifth of his attempted tackles and allowed a passer rating of 90.5 when he was targeted in coverage.
Still, it would be a surprise if the team moved on from him. His salary isn’t guaranteed, but his prorated bonuses would leave little in cap savings for 2026. And, as with Payne, the team has more pressing concerns across the roster. Luvu was effective when used in a way that plays to his strengths. Improving the pass rush and the back end of the defense should allow Luvu to be Luvu again.
Get more draft picks
Washington has only six 2026 picks after giving up its second- and fourth-round picks in the trade for Tunsil. The team won’t resolve all of its issues this offseason, but Peters has said he wants the team to build through the draft and supplement in free agency. It will be hard to make up much ground without more younger talent.
And for pete’s sake, get a kicker!
The team has cycled through eight kickers, including those brought in on a tryout basis in camp, since Joey Slye departed in early 2024.
