A pair of marquee names are now hitting free agency in Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb, but do they make sense for the Washington Commanders?
Should the Commanders sign Bradley Chubb or Tyreek Hill?
The needs for the Washington Commanders drew two intriguing new names ahead of free agency following news on Monday morning that a pair of marquee names would now hit the open market this offseason.
The week opened with news that the Miami Dolphins are cutting both wide receiver Tyreek Hill and edge rusher Bradley Chubb, marking a fresh start for new head coach Jeff Hafley, who left after serving as the defensive coordinator in Green Bay.
Why does it matter? It's two marquee names at two primary position of needs for the Commanders. But do they make sense?
WR Tyreek Hill
For the first time in his career, the six-time All Pro and 2010 All Decade Team selection will be available in free agency. But how he ends his Dolphins tenure is a far different picture than how it started.
Six career 1,000 yard seasons including 1,799 in 2023, Tyreek Hill should figure to be a major addition to a thin free agent class of experienced starters.
Hill now enters free agency after undergoing season-ending surgery to repair a dislocated knee and multiple torn ligaments, including an ACL. Agent Drew Rosenhaus noted that Hill's surgery went well and avoided a second surgery, making him available to play at some point in 2026. Set to turn 32 next month, how Hill bounces back is a question mark.
But is he a fit for Washington? On the field, pre-injury Hill could make a valid argument of doing so. Now, especially after new offensive coordinator David Blough noted he wants to get Terry McLaurin ten targets per game, whether the Commanders can get Hill the ball enough to make him happy is a valid question. But as for the fit, Hill and McLaurin offer a complementary blend of a deep threat to a possible Commanders fit with quarterback Jayden Daniels an upgrade from Tua Tagovailoa, who could be the next cut casualty for Miami.
Pittsburgh has been viewed as a potential team to watch in the race, but many others have pointed to the more obvious team.
All the early buzz has pointed to one clear team to watch with the Kansas City Chiefs rebuilding its staff that helped lift them to the start of dominance en route to their Super Bowl runs. With Eric Bienemy now back as the Chiefs offensive coordinator, whether Hill follows to familiar territory to give Patrick Mahomes a weapon he needs is worth tracking ahead of free agency.
Some have noted that Hill could have provisions in his new contract given his age and recent injury.
EDGE Bradley Chubb
This one may be the more logical of the two given the lack of off-field baggage around Chubb compared to Hill, making him a better locker room fit in a pivotal season.
The former first round pick arrived in Miami after being traded from Denver in exchange for Chase Edmonds and a pair of draft picks, including a 2023 first rounder. He'd end his Dolphins career with 22 sacks and 20 TFLs over 40 starts and 41 appearances, though he was sidelined for the entire 2024 season after suffering a torn ACL in the season finale loss against Baltimore in 2023.
Cincinnati, Dallas, Buffalo, San Francisco have all been mentioned as other possible target for the 29 year old edge rush, but for a Commander defense in dire need of addressing the position this offseason. Head coach Dan Quinn noted that pass rush was an area of focus after previous reports pointed to it being likely that a front seven specialist is added to the staff, but this could be contingent on the front office's focus in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Will pass rush be available for Washington at seven? Yes. Will it be David Bailey out of Texas Tech? That appears to be increasingly unlikely with mock drafts now pointing to him as a potential top five pick, which would leave the Commanders with other prospects like Keldric Faulk and Rueben Bain Jr. - who may project better as an interior defensive lineman. If Washington opts to take an edge rusher, would they also spend top dollar to address the position in free agency, like Chubb would command? That remains to be seen, but with free agency ahead of the draft and cap space to spark "fireworks" this offseason, Chubb better fits the profile of addressing a need with a possible splash addition.
Chubb arrived in Miami on a three year deal just shy of $54.5 million after agreeing to a restructured contract last March, joining a trio that also proved to be injured after watching Jaelen Phillips suffer a torn ACL in week four.