John Keim: The Commanders will be “way more aggressive [in free agency] than the last couple years”
March 7, 2026
John Keim: The Commanders will be “way more aggressive [in free agency] than the last couple years”
17 comments
They’re going to be way more aggressive the last couple years; that’s what I’m hearing. [Of course,] guys have to be available.
Like, last year, I think there would have been some guys like the Ronnie Stanleys of the world that they probably would have gone after had they been available, but they weren’t.
So now, if these some of these guys are available — and I do think they will be — then those are the guys [they will go after].
There are three positions that that I’ve heard consistently that maybe they would spend more at, which [are] defensive end, receiver, and corner. And those are all premium positions where it’s costly.
But again, what I’m hearing this year is different than what I heard the last two years. I know they [will] be active. And, again, aggressive. – John Keim
Any FA overpays that people wouldn’t like here?
Why is it considered “unrealistic” if someone suggests that AP is going to make a bunch of big signings? EVERYONE is saying they’re going to be aggressive.. look at what the Patriots did last offseason, for an idea of why it isn’t unrealistic at all..
Patriots 2025 offseason signings:
*3 year deals:
Stephon Diggs – 23m APY
Harold Landry – 14.5m APY
Carlton Davis – 20m APY
Robert Spillane – 12.3m APY
Morgan Moses – 8m APY
Milton Williams – 26m APY, over 4 years
6 signings of guys who are known names, to the average fan.. between 4-5m APY…
*Washington will do something similar this offseason.. the salary cap has gone up, so contracts will be slightly inflated compared to last offseason.. the names might not be spot on but I could AP doing something along these lines: add a few difference makers, while also raising the ‘floor’ of the depth
3 year deals –
ED, Oweh: 19m-22m APY… Phillips might be around this number as well.. Ossai / Mafe probably a little less 13m-16m APY..
LB, Devin Lloyd: 18-20m APY
CB, Watson: 15-16m APY
TE, Okonkwo: 8-12m APY
RB, Etienne: 7-10m APY
S, Coby Bryant: 12-14m APY
4 year deal for WR, Alec Pierce:
26m-28m APY… if Pierce gets ‘too expensive’ then Doubs @ 20-24m APY
_ 2 year deals, for 4-5m APY:
ED, Jacob Martin
LB, Eric Wilson
DE, Logan Hall
CB, Avonte Maddox or Jeff Okuda
1 year deals:
WR, Brandon Aiyuk (5-12m).. don’t know where an actual base salary will land
S, Jason Pinnock (3-4m APY.. can play S or CB)
DL, DJ Davidson (2-3m APY)
* could bring in someone who can play G or C for around 6-8m APY..
Fuck it, Chig Okonkwo AND Isiah Likely
Although I still have Post Trauma (by) Snyder Disorder, I do like the idea of Washington “setting the market” again, just a little bit.
This is why you draft DE, WR, and CB
Unfortunately, we seem to be stuck in the George Allen mode of building a team. It would take a consistent effort over several years to put us in a position where we have significant numbers of draft picks in the top 100.
No the fuck they won’t. Peters doesn’t operate with any urgency. They will miss out on their “targets” and settle for the same rotational pieces they did last year.
If we get Isiah likely I’ll believe them other than that I call BS
We better fucking be or AP needs to be fired
Can we sign Tunsil already.
They say this every year and nothing changes
I’ll believe when I see it.
I heard this podcast today he said as opposed to the old days they’d look to get good fits this time around, players that fit the system. Be willing to pay more too.
Why can’t we build a team through the draft the way others do? We don’t need to overspend on free agents. Some of course, but this has Snyder vibes 🤢
Hopefully it’s young guys.. it’s position dependent but being aggressive on making the roster 30+ would be a decision.
Sometimes that’s all that’s left and I know we need to fill the roster.. but looking forward to some solid players even if they aren’t “names”
They have no choice. With more holes than draft picks they have to piece together a better roster somehow
![John Keim: The Commanders will be “way more aggressive [in free agency] than the last couple years”](https://www.rawchili.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/e1egpdngcnng1-1284x1024.jpeg)
17 comments
They’re going to be way more aggressive the last couple years; that’s what I’m hearing. [Of course,] guys have to be available.
Like, last year, I think there would have been some guys like the Ronnie Stanleys of the world that they probably would have gone after had they been available, but they weren’t.
So now, if these some of these guys are available — and I do think they will be — then those are the guys [they will go after].
There are three positions that that I’ve heard consistently that maybe they would spend more at, which [are] defensive end, receiver, and corner. And those are all premium positions where it’s costly.
But again, what I’m hearing this year is different than what I heard the last two years. I know they [will] be active. And, again, aggressive. – John Keim
Any FA overpays that people wouldn’t like here?
Why is it considered “unrealistic” if someone suggests that AP is going to make a bunch of big signings? EVERYONE is saying they’re going to be aggressive.. look at what the Patriots did last offseason, for an idea of why it isn’t unrealistic at all..
Patriots 2025 offseason signings:
*3 year deals:
Stephon Diggs – 23m APY
Harold Landry – 14.5m APY
Carlton Davis – 20m APY
Robert Spillane – 12.3m APY
Morgan Moses – 8m APY
Milton Williams – 26m APY, over 4 years
6 signings of guys who are known names, to the average fan.. between 4-5m APY…
*Washington will do something similar this offseason.. the salary cap has gone up, so contracts will be slightly inflated compared to last offseason.. the names might not be spot on but I could AP doing something along these lines: add a few difference makers, while also raising the ‘floor’ of the depth
3 year deals –
ED, Oweh: 19m-22m APY… Phillips might be around this number as well.. Ossai / Mafe probably a little less 13m-16m APY..
LB, Devin Lloyd: 18-20m APY
CB, Watson: 15-16m APY
TE, Okonkwo: 8-12m APY
RB, Etienne: 7-10m APY
S, Coby Bryant: 12-14m APY
4 year deal for WR, Alec Pierce:
26m-28m APY… if Pierce gets ‘too expensive’ then Doubs @ 20-24m APY
_ 2 year deals, for 4-5m APY:
ED, Jacob Martin
LB, Eric Wilson
DE, Logan Hall
CB, Avonte Maddox or Jeff Okuda
1 year deals:
WR, Brandon Aiyuk (5-12m).. don’t know where an actual base salary will land
S, Jason Pinnock (3-4m APY.. can play S or CB)
DL, DJ Davidson (2-3m APY)
* could bring in someone who can play G or C for around 6-8m APY..
Fuck it, Chig Okonkwo AND Isiah Likely
Although I still have Post Trauma (by) Snyder Disorder, I do like the idea of Washington “setting the market” again, just a little bit.
This is why you draft DE, WR, and CB
Unfortunately, we seem to be stuck in the George Allen mode of building a team. It would take a consistent effort over several years to put us in a position where we have significant numbers of draft picks in the top 100.
No the fuck they won’t. Peters doesn’t operate with any urgency. They will miss out on their “targets” and settle for the same rotational pieces they did last year.
If we get Isiah likely I’ll believe them other than that I call BS
We better fucking be or AP needs to be fired
Can we sign Tunsil already.
They say this every year and nothing changes
I’ll believe when I see it.
I heard this podcast today he said as opposed to the old days they’d look to get good fits this time around, players that fit the system. Be willing to pay more too.
Why can’t we build a team through the draft the way others do? We don’t need to overspend on free agents. Some of course, but this has Snyder vibes 🤢
Hopefully it’s young guys.. it’s position dependent but being aggressive on making the roster 30+ would be a decision.
Sometimes that’s all that’s left and I know we need to fill the roster.. but looking forward to some solid players even if they aren’t “names”
They have no choice. With more holes than draft picks they have to piece together a better roster somehow