The Washington Commanders have a busy offseason ahead of them. After they finished just 5-12 last season, the Commanders will spend the next few months building up the roster and preparing to turn things around in 2026.
Expect to see dramatic changes on both sides of the ball.
On offense, David Blough has been promoted to OC, and early reports indicate that he’ll be implementing a more balanced offense that features a steady dose of under-center looks. Deebo Samuel is set to hit free agency, so we could also see a different group of weapons alongside Jayden Daniels.
On the defensive side, expect to see a complete overhaul. Washington’s defense ranked 27th in scoring last year, so this unit will certainly be heavily addressed in both free agency and the NFL Draft.
But one of the overlooked holes on this roster is the backup quarterback spot. Marcus Mariota is no longer under contract, and there’s no guarantee that he returns.
If Mariota isn’t in the picture next year, Justin Fields becomes a very intriguing option.
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Justin Fields to the Washington Commanders: NFL Offseason Idea
Fields is currently under contract with the New York Jets, but he’s been pegged as an obvious cut candidate; he was benched rather quickly last season, and his $23 million cap hit in 2026 is enormous relative to his true value.
With a post-June 1 designation, the Jets can save $10 million against the cap next season, and this seems like a no-brainer. In my eyes, it’s a matter of when, not if, that Fields is released.
When that day comes, the Commanders should be picking up the phone very quickly.
As we’ve discussed, Washington will be weighing its backup quarterback options this offseason. Of the three quarterbacks who made starts last season, Daniels is the only one with a deal that extends into next year.
We’ve also seen that the backup quarterback role is crucial in Washington; backups accounted for 10 starts in 2025. I’m not one to declare a player “injury-prone” two years into their career, but given Daniels’ play style and frame, there’s no doubt that he’s more susceptible to injuries than other quarterbacks.
But why is Fields a strong target?
While his processing skills and accuracy remain concerns, he’s shown the ability to be a legitimate game-changer on the field. What he can do with his legs alone should allow him to get an opportunity as a second-stringer.
There’s also some credence to the idea that the second-string quarterback should be the same archetype of QB as the starter. The Commanders are going to build their offense around a dynamic, dual-threat signal caller in Daniels, and if he goes down, Fields would provide them some level of consistency, at least from a schematic and playcalling perspective.
At the end of the day, it will all come down to price. Washington isn’t going to get into a bidding war to add a backup quarterback, but if Fields isn’t generating much interest on the open market, the Commanders should swoop in and pick him up.
Justin Fields Stats
Fields had a tough season in 2025. He showed real promise in Week 1, but it quickly went downhill.
2025 Stats:
9 starts
2-7 record
204 passing attempts
126 completions
62.7% completion rate
1,259 passing yards
6.2 yards per attempt
7 touchdowns
1 interception
71 carries
383 rushing yards
4 rushing touchdowns
Justin Fields Contract
In 2025, Fields signed a two-year, $40 million contract with the Jets. The deal featured $30 million in total guarantees and keeps him under contract through the 2026 season.
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