2026-27 Washington Commanders Rantfest

[Anathema]

Hello folks. I promised 1srelluc back in August that I wouldn’t rant and rave about the Commanders 2025-26 season any more on the board until AFTER the Super Bowl; and I have honored that promise plus an extra month.

Here are my thoughts on the 25-26 season: I’m very glad I didn’t waste my time on that team. They were unworthy of wearing the burgundy and gold uniforms.

Now as the “Legal Tampering Period” begins in another hour and Free Agency on Wednesday afternoon let’s move on to my first thoughts on the 2025-26 Washington Commanders…

This team has dug itself hole I’m not sure they can climb out of even before the NFL year has begun. They’re 21-30 (.412) over the last three seasons. They drastically over-performed in 2024 and obscenely underperformed in 2025. There is no reasonable measure by which one can suggest they will return to being a winning team in 2026.

Head Coach Dan Quinn returns for his third (and likely last) season with two brand new, first time, unproven coordinators… David Blough on Offense and Davonte Jones on Defense.

The team is amongst the wealthiest, in terms of available Salaty Cap space at a little over $83 million on a $323 million salary cap. Unfortunately I’ve seen them listed as having as few as 27-28 contracts in place on a 53 man roster and the practice squad.

That's a lot of players they need to acquire. Especially when you realize they only have six picks in next month’s entry draft and four of those picks are in the fifth round or later. When you figure in rumors that more than a handful of veteran players don’t even want to listen to offers to play in Washington, and I think it’s fair to say this roster isn’t going to look like the 1991 team.

What are the team’s needs…. Everything. There isn’t a position on the roster that doesn’t need some level of reinforcement or more likely starting level talent infusion… including the Quarterback.

So let’s see what happens from here on out.,I’ll definitely be ranting and raving about it right here..

 

[1srelluc]

Huh, I thought you had died.

 

[Anathema]

Huh, I thought you had died.

I’m not that lucky and neither are you.

If it’s any consolation all of the sports teams I follow except the UCONN Women’s Basketball program are dog shit right now.

 

[Anathema]

We’re three hours into what is effectively the first day of NFL Free Agency (the Legal Tampering Period) and Washington has done nothing of significance. Over last week they resigned several of their own potential free agents;,the only one of real value being Punter Tress Way.

Today the team has signed second tier Free Agent CB Amin Robertson from Detroit to a two-year $16 million contract and extended LT Laremy Tunsil to a two year $60 million deal. Of the five players I’d seen the Commanders supposedly interested in leading up to today, four have already agreed to deals with other teams. Not a great batting average for GM Adam Peters.

If you’re wondering why this upsets me so much… back understood owner the first day of free agency was like Christmas Day for those kids whose father was a dead best but always showed up with the stuff on Christmas. We’d get disappointed all year but on that one day we got everything we wanted… all the bright shiny toys that would turn out to be broken or didn’t fit our system. But for that one day we were the Kings of the Offseason.

UPDATE: Re-signed veteran QB Marcus (can I collect Social Security yet) Marriota to a 1 year $7 million deal

 

[EMH]

My take...

 

[MarathonMike]

We’re three hours into what is effectively the first day of NFL Free Agency (the Legal Tampering Period) and Washington has done nothing of significance. Over last week they resigned several of their own potential free agents;,the only one of real value being Punter Tress Way.

Today the team has signed second tier Free Agent CB Amin Robertson from Detroit to a two-year $16 million contract and extended LT Laremy Tunsil to a two year $60 million deal. Of the five players I’d seen the Commanders supposedly interested in leading up to today, four have already agreed to deals with other teams. Not a great batting average for GM Adam Peters.

If you’re wondering why this upsets me so much… back understood owner the first day of free agency was like Christmas Day for those kids whose father was a dead best but always showed up with the stuff on Christmas. We’d get disappointed all year but on that one day we got everything we wanted… all the bright shiny toys that would turn out to be broken or didn’t fit our system. But for that one day we were the Kings of the Offseason.

UPDATE: Re-signed veteran QB Marcus (can I collect Social Security yet) Marriota to a 1 year $7 million deal

Daniels needs to become a selective runner in the mold of Mahomes imo. The team clearly succeeds or fails based on him and his health. Maybe the Redskins should go all out on the O line and a speed receiver.

 

[22lcidw]

Daniels needs to become a selective runner in the mold of Mahomes imo. The team clearly succeeds or fails based on him and his health. Maybe the Redskins should go all out on the O line and a speed receiver.

He was injured in college I believe. He is talented player with a thinner frame. So, running needs to be careful. There are quarterbacks who run who do not really want too also. It's open season on them.

 

[Anathema]

Daniels needs to become a selective runner in the mold of Mahomes imo. The team clearly succeeds or fails based on him and his health. Maybe the Redskins should go all out on the O line and a speed receiver.

You’re right he does need to be selective but that run threat needs to still be a significant part of his game. He doesn’t scare anyone when he’s in the pocket. His biggest problem last year was his inability to make that run or throw decision quickly and stick with it. If he’s going to run he needs to GO, not debate. There also still needs to be a RPO/designed run package for him.

 

[Anathema]

As we come down now to just over nine hours before the OFFICIAL start of free agency and the signing of all these deals nation the last two days, Washington has still done very little to improve their team…

Beyond resigning a number of their own (mostly second to third tier) players they have signed:

Tim Settle - DL: a 2018 Washington draft pick who they cut a couple years ago and is now coming off foot surgery.

Amik Robertson - CB: a second tier undersized defensive back whose main upside is “potential and versatility “.

Offseason Oweh - EDGE: second tier outside rusher with moderate talent.

Leo Chenal - OLB: not a bad player but has never been a 3 down starter. Very boom or bust potential with this one

Thsts it. They’ve struck out with every top tier free agent they’ve talked to. My guess is largely because of Adam Peters reluctance to hand out long-term deals; though that seems to have softened a little this year. Looks like we’re headed for another 5-6 win season.

 

[Anathema]

UPDATE - 03/11/2026 11:35:

I was looking at things and realized that now almost a full 48 hours into legal tampering and just over 4 hours before official signings can begin of the 27 Free Agents from the 2025 team who the Commanders have chosen NOT to re-sign so far, only ONE has gotten a contract from another team.

Center Tyler Biadisz is the ONLY free agent the Commanders have lost so far in this offseason. Yep. The 2025 roster was so pathetic that 32 other teams only want 1 of the 27 available free agents. DAMN that’s pretty screwed up

 

[Anathema]

We are now almost four full days into Free Agency and the Commanders have still not signed a single Top Level Free Agent Agent among the fifteen players they have signed.

There are still 22 open slots on the roster (by several reports I’ve seen). The team has only six (6) picks in April’s Entry Draft; and four of them are in the fifth round or later. How the **** does this team expect to compete in the SEC or Big10, never mind the NFC this fall.