The Washington Commanders were officially eliminated from playoff contention following a Week 14 loss to Minnesota, putting a capper on a wasted season both in terms of team success, and the timing of QB Jayden Daniels’ contract.
The Commanders were one of the most aggressive teams in the 2025 offseason, adding via free agency and trade channels in hopes of improving a roster ASAP. Injuries to Daniels spurned that notion for 2025, so what becomes of the franchise this time around?
Washington enters December boasting around $94M of 2026 cap space against 34 contracts (though Deebo Samuel’s is set to void in early March).
The Commanders currently hold 6 draft picks for next April, having traded away their 2nd and 4th round picks to Houston in exchange for OT Laremy Tunsil. Commanders Draft Picks
Early Offseason Questions
Can Jayden Daniels be a healthy, reliable franchise QB?
How many under contract weapons (RB, WR, TE) should be rolled over into 2026?
Can the front office establish a core unit to build upon, not just a young QB1?
Notable Free Agents
(Current Spotrac APY Valuation)
WR Deebo Samuel ($20M)
QB Marcus Mariota ($8.3M)
LB Bobby Wagner ($7.5M)
ED Von Miller ($6M)
CB Jonathan Jones ($5M)
G Chris Paul ($5M)
RB Jeremy McNichols ($2.9M)
ED Jake Martin ($2.7M)
TE Zach Ertz ($2.3M)
Extension Candidate
OT Laremy Tunsil
The 31-year–old was acquired from Houston this past March in exchange for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, & 7th round picks, and rewarded Washington with one of his most productive/consistent seasons to date. Tunsil carries a $24.95M cap hit in 2026, the final year of his current contract. He should be seeking a top of the market ($30M per year) extension in the coming months.
Bubble Candidates
CB Marshon Lattimore
Release Candidate
Washington gave up a bit of a haul (3rd, 4th, 6th) to acquire Lattimore from New Orleans in November of 2024, so he was always going to get the 2025 season to prove his worth. There’s no dead cap attached to the $18.5M salary for 2026, and a $2M March 15th roster bonus should make this a quick decision.
DL Daron Payne
Trade Candidate
The 28-year-old is entering a contract year in 2026, set to earn $22.4, with a team-high $28M cap hit attached to it. Payne’s production has flat-lined since a massive 2022 campaign, but his experience and reliability should draw interest. There’s $11.2M of dead cap associated with the contract this offseason, and a $5M March 15th roster bonus becomes an early deadline for this type of move.
G Nick Allegretti
Release Candidate
The 29-year-old is due $6M in 2026, with $3.6M of salary cap to be freed up if Washington opts to move on. While Allegretti was a full-time starter in 2024, he was reduced down to a part-time player for much of 2025.
Potential Cap Conversions
G Samuel Cosmi is guaranteed through 2026 and a fixture on the right side of the OL. A simple salary conversion frees up just under $12M of cap space. Extensions for OT Laremy Tunsil and possibly even C Tyler Biadasz should open up more room, while the Commanders should be flush with space after a few notable cap casualties.
RELATED LINKS
Commanders 2026 Salary Cap Table
2026 Commanders Free Agents
Spotrac Offseason Guides