We’re now in March, so free agency is right around the corner.
It’ll be interesting to watch what the Washington Commanders do. The team had a disappointing 2025 season and has plenty of holes to patch this offseason. Luckily, the team has a top-10 pick in the draft, and several quality free agents should interest them.
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Recently, Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports revealed his predictions for free agency. For the Commanders, Sullivan predicted that the team would sign edge rusher Jaelan Phillips away from the division rival Philadelphia Eagles.
Regarding Phillips and the Commanders, Sullivan offered the following:
The franchise saw firsthand what Phillips is capable of as he helped spearhead the Eagles into a top unit after he was acquired at the deadline last season. The 26-year-old had the fourth-highest pressure rate (18.8%) in the NFL last season, so this is an impact player when he’s healthy. There are injury concerns, but this is a strong opportunity for Washington to get younger on defense while also increasing their ceiling.
As Sullivan mentioned, the Commanders saw first-hand how dominant Phillips can be. The defender collected 53 tackles, five sacks, and seven tackles for loss last season. Two of those five sacks came after Phillips was traded to the Eagles midseason.
Since entering the league, Phillips has had at least 42 tackles and five sacks in all but one season. Pro Football Focus gave Phillips a solid 74 grade for his 2025 performance, which ranked 34th out of 115 qualified edge rushers.
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If the Commanders sign Phillips, they’ll not only get a solid edge rusher, but they’ll also be taking one away from a divisional rival. Pairing Phillips with Dorance Armstrong could give the Commanders one of the better pass-rushing duos in the NFC.
Spotrac projects Phillips to land a three-year deal worth over $17 million annually. That’s a big investment, but the Commanders should be willing to pay if they’re serious about getting younger and faster on defense.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders predicted to steal Jaelan Phillips from Eagles