March 8, 2026, 8:13 p.m. ET
The NFL’s legal negotiating period for free agency opens on Monday, and the action will be fast and furious. Free agents can begin negotiating with other teams and agree to contract terms, but must wait until the new league year begins on Wednesday, March 11, to sign.
The Washington Commanders are expected to be aggressive. Armed with over $80 million in cap space, the Commanders have numerous holes on both sides of the ball, especially on defense. One need for Washington is at center.
The Commanders surprisingly released Tyler Biadasz over a week ago. No one believed Biadasz was in danger of being released, even though his play in 2025 didn’t match that of 2024. One week later, the Los Chargers signed Biadasz to a three-year deal.
What is Washington’s plan at center in 2026? Some believe the Commanders could turn to Nick Allegretti, who recently signed a one-year extension. Allegretti was Biadasz’s backup in 2025.
However, NFL insider Jordan Schultz believes the Commanders could “heavily pursue” Baltimore center Tyler Linderbaum if the Ravens fail to reach a deal with him before the legal tampering period opens.
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Would Washington pay a top-of-the-market deal to Linderbaum with so many other needs? It seems doubtful. Linderbaum’s addition would immediately make the Commanders’ offensive line one of the best units in the NFL.
Washington could opt to go with Allegretti or another free agent. The Commanders could also look to the 2026 NFL Draft to find a young center in the middle to late rounds.