The Washington Commanders have signed a second free agent cornerback after hosting him on a visit on Thursday.
One day after news broke of a visit set for today, the Washington Commanders are pulling the trigger on another free agent signing in the secondary.
Veteran cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon is signing with the Commanders, per multiple reports, to become the second free agent addition at the position. General manager Adam Peters opened free agency by addressing the secondary with former Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson becoming the first signing of the offseason, while the safety unit was also addressed after signing Maryland native Nick Cross to a two-year deal.
While this marks his first stint in Washington, Witherspoon arrives with a bit of familiarity.
Witherspoon began his career with the San Francisco 49ers after being drafted with the 66th overall pick in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, the first year that Adam Peters was with the organization as the new vice president of player personnel. He spent his first four seasons with the 49ers where he materialized into a starter as a rookie before being paired opposite side of Richard Sherman the next two seasons.
He then stayed within the division and signed a one year deal with the Seattle Seahawks after his contract expired in 2021, but that proved to be a short-lived marriage after being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a fifth round pick less than six months later.
After being released following his lone season in Pittsburgh, Witherspoon initially signed a one year deal with the Rams where he opened on the practice squad before materializing into a key piece of the secondary over the next three seasons, including the game-sealing interception to cement the Rams' division title in 2024.
2023 marked the lone season that Witherspoon played all 17 games as injuries limited him to just two starts and six appearances in 2025. He has also notched at least one interception in nine of his ten seasons in the NFL including three interceptions both in 2021 with the Steelers and 2023 with the Rams.
Witherspoon now joins cornerback coach William Gay as part of the solution after 2025 proved to be a troubling season at the position. Washington also moved on from veteran cornerback Marshon Lattimore this offseason, a move that added $18.5 million in cap space, with a pair of veterans now joining Mike Sainristil and Trey Amos in 2026. Whether it proves to be the final move to address the position is now the biggest question.