The Washington Commanders have locked down the left side of the offensive line with Chris Paul officially back in the fold.
In the end, the Washington Commanders will return another along the offensive line after agreeing to terms with another from draft pick.
Guard Chris Paul has agreed to a one year deal to return to the Commanders, getting another experienced piece back in the trenches.
Paul appeared in every game at left guard in 2025 and drew 15 starts after eight starts and 17 total appearances through his first three seasons with the organization. His re-signing also locks down the left side of the offensive line for the Commanders after left tackle Laremy Tunsil signed a two-year contract extension this offseason, bolstering the protection for quarterback Jayden Daniels.
He arrived in DC after being selected with the 230th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft where he has proven to be a dependable piece for the Commanders in the trenches. His first career start came in the regular season finale in 2022 against the Dallas Cowboys before getting being out by Saahdiq Charles at left guard ahead of the 2023 season. Paul would go on to start in seven games through the final stretch of the season after Charles was lost to season ending injury.
Paul then took over as the starter for Brandon Coleman at left guard in week three of the 2025 season where he'd go on to prove himself as a draft gem, becoming part of a strong offensive line.
Per Pro Football Reference, Paul has committed just four penalties across his four seasons with two being false starts.
Whether a return materialized was a true question mark ahead of free agency with the Cleveland Browns and both the New York Giants and Jets reportedly showing interest, while the expectation was Paul could see a market with a bigger price tag than initially perceived. But if a long-term deal with another club did not materialize as hoped, then a return to Washington on a one-year contract was a realistic possibility. In the end, Paul did exactly that.
He becomes the latest to be re-signed after the team opted to bring back quarterback Marcus Mariota, wide receiver Treylon Burks, defensive ends Deatrich Wise Jr and Drake Jackson, offensive linemen Andrew Wylie, Trent Scott and Nick Allegretti, interior defensive linemen Shy Tuttle and specialists Tress Way and Jake Moody.
Paul is also among the longest tenured Commanders on the early 2026 roster alongside Tress Way, Daron Payne and Terry McLaurin among others.