The dust has barely settled on a frustrating 6-11 campaign, but for Adam Peters and the Commanders front office, the 2026 offseason started the moment the clock hit zero in Week 18 against the Cowboys. They finished dead last in the NFC East for the third straight year, a record that simply can’t stand. Peters has been aggressive, and this summer feels like his biggest test yet in reshaping a roster that frankly needs an overhaul.
Washington entered the offseason with a respectable $68 million in cap space, giving them flexibility. The first order of business was retaining their own. Safety Darrick Forrest, a consistent if not spectacular presence, inked a three-year, $21 million extension on March 4th. Forrest recorded 88 tackles and two interceptions in 2025, proving his worth as a reliable backend defender. They also managed to keep veteran guard Sam Cosmi in the fold, signing him to a two-year, $16 million deal on March 7th. Cosmi’s versatility, playing both guard spots, makes him valuable, even if he did allow five sacks last season.
Here's the thing: those were the easy ones. The big question marks walked. Edge rusher Dorance Armstrong, after a career-high 9.5 sacks in 2025, priced himself out of Washington, signing a four-year, $60 million deal with the Falcons. Losing Armstrong stings, especially after he stepped up big when Chase Young was traded in 2023. Also gone is starting linebacker Frankie Luvu, who took a three-year, $27 million deal with the Texans. Luvu’s 115 tackles in 2025 will be hard to replace. This team needs playmakers, and they let two walk. That's a problem.
Peters knew he couldn’t stand pat. The biggest splash came on March 12th, when the Commanders landed Pro Bowl wide receiver Tee Higgins from the Bengals on a four-year, $92 million contract. Higgins, who put up 1,020 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 2025, immediately upgrades a receiving corps that sorely lacked a consistent threat opposite Terry McLaurin. Imagine the defensive headaches those two will cause. This is the kind of move that signals a real shift in philosophy.
They didn’t stop there. On March 15th, Washington fortified the defensive line by signing defensive tackle Grover Stewart to a two-year, $18 million deal. Stewart, formerly of the Colts, brings a run-stuffing presence that was sorely missed, especially after the team gave up 145 rushing yards per game last season, ranking 28th in the league. They also added veteran cornerback Chidobe Awuzie on a one-year, $6 million contract, a reliable if unspectacular option to bolster a secondary that gave up too many big plays in 2025. My hot take? The Higgins signing, while flashy, won't be enough to overcome the holes still present at quarterback and offensive line. They've improved, sure, but not enough to truly compete.
The draft looms large. With the number four overall pick, all eyes are on Peters. Do they target a franchise quarterback, or do they build up the trenches? They still need a true left tackle and another edge rusher to complement Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. The moves so far show a clear intent to improve, but the 2026 Commanders are still a work in progress.
I predict Washington finishes 8-9 next season, narrowly missing the playoffs but showing significant improvement thanks to the Higgins addition and a more disciplined defensive front.