While the Washington Commanders dished out a $100 million contract, they also missed the mark and failed to deliver the "fireworks" on day one of free agency.
The legal tampering window is approaching one day old with the Washington Commanders active - though the level of success is up for debate.
With a litany of roster needs, the Commanders were able to kick the day off by marking the end of the Laremy Tunsil question after securing an extension. Washington also brought back a familiar piece back with quarterback Marcus Mariota in the fold, providing familiarity and experience as he reunites with his former assistant quarterbacks coach-turned-coordinator, David Blough, and backs up Jayden Daniels now in year three.
The first free agent signing came in the secondary with former Detroit Lions Cornerback Amik Robertson looking to put a shaky 2025 season behind him in hopes of addressing the nickel, which is expected to bump Mike Sainristil outside. He's the first of what is expected to be other additions in the room, though the move of the day materialized in the front seven.
Odafe Oweh now heads to Washington as a big part of the pass rush solution, though whether he's able to do so consistently is the question. After an up-and-down tenure with Baltimore, Oweh followed it up with a breakout 12 game performance with the Chargers, adding optimism to the fit for the blazing 6-foot-5 edge rusher. The day ended with Washington bringing back a familiar name with Tim Settle, a former fourth round pick in the 2018 Draft, now back and able to step in as a versatile piece in the multiple base defense under defensive coordinator Daronte Jones.
But the day also featured plenty of misses. Washington was expected to be a player for former Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum, but he took an offer with the Las Vegas Raiders that reset the center market, before becoming teammates with linebackers Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean. Kenneth Walker became the latest weapon in the Chiefs' offense. Alec Pierce opted against more money - including from Washington - to stay with the Colts, a move that also shipped Michael Pittman to Pittsburgh due to cap constraints. Jaylen Watson reunited with former Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie with the Los Angeles Rams, while Jaelan Phillips reportedly turned down offers from both Washington and Philadelphia to sign with the Carolina Panthers. Boye Mafe landed with the Cincinnati Bengals, Isaiah Likely reunited with John Harbaugh on the New York Giants, while both Rico Dowdle and Jamel Dean landed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Among the last bit of news was Rashid Shaheed sticking with Seattle on a new three-year deal.
And after moving on from Tyler Biadasz - who since signed with the Los Angeles Chargers - Washington also saw Cade Mays and Connor McGovern come off the board, thinning out a market and posing another question. The caveat is Washington does enter the rest of the offseason with an in-house option after re-signing Nick Allegretti.
But Washington needed playmakers. And after entering free agency among the cap space in the league and leading the NFC, Washington should have been a bigger player.
The Raiders were able to capitalize on that cap space by adding Kwity Paye and Eric Stokes in addition to Linderbaum, Dean and Walker - all three filling the same needs as Washington. One could also make the argument that despite a first-year staff now trying to jumpstart the Raiders, the Commanders entered the offseason in a more favorable position. The most recent NFLPA report card agrees with that statement, too.
Sure, there are plenty of other quality free agents still left on the board. Former Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen, who is viewed as an ideal fit for Washington, remains arguably the top unsigned defensive player heading into Tuesday. Former Colts safety Nick Cross, also a DMV native and both DeMatha and Maryland grad, is also available, as are Jauan Jennings and Romeo Dobbs, who could see a hefty price tag with several teams still in the market for a starting-caliber receiver. While Bobby Wagner remains a re-sign candidate as the offseason progresses, former Chiefs Linebacker Leo Chenal also remains available. Tight end Chig Okonkwo, who could be the top available tight end after day one, remains an unsigned target to address a position of need.
Could the outlook change depending on the status of the mentioned unsigned free agents? No doubt. But Washington not only had the ability to make a statement on day one with several impact players available, the front office had the resources and flexibility to do so. Patience helps evaluate the big picture, and the day will come for general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn to draw exactly that over the course of the offseason. But on day one, Washington saw several other teams move the needle in an offseason that drew buzz as one that could draw "fireworks."