State of Washington Commanders Roster After Free Agency, Draft

The bulk of the 2026 roster is already in place for the Washington Commanders after free agency has thinned out and the 2026 NFL Draft officially in the rear view mirror. So what does the roster look like? We take a look at each position featuring the players returning, re-signed this offseason and joined as a UDFA.

QB: 4 (Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota, Athan Kaliakmanis, Sam Hartman)

No question on the top two in this group, with Daniels looking to bounce back after an injury-riddled 2025 and Mariota being a capable backup. After them, two questions emerge. One, will Washington carry three quarterbacks, and two, will it be Kaliamanis or Hartman? Hartman has bounced between the practice squad and active roster the past two years before being passed over for the final two games of the 2025 regular season, while Kaliakmanis was drafted in the seventh round after a solid last two years at Rutgers. If Daniels returns to his rookie form, the Commanders will have a top-10 signal-caller.

RB: 5 (Rachaad White, Jacory Croskey-Merrit, Kaytron Allen, Jeremy McNichols, Jerome Ford)

Washington had to reload their running back room with only Croskey-Merritt on contract at the start of the offseason. At the moment, he and White are the top guys after the former seventh-round pick rushed for over 800 yards in his rookie year. The team then resigned McNichols, signed White and Ford from the Bucs and Browns, respectively, and drafted Allen in the sixth round. Allen is the sleeper here after four stellar years at Penn State with back-to-back 1000-yard seasons in 2024-25. While Bill and White could anchor the room, Allen could be the one to watch where he could capitalize in the short yardage role with Washington unlikely to carry five RBs into the regular season.

The Commanders also brought in UTSA product Robert Henry Jr. as a UDFA where he offers intrigue after rushing for 177 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Texas A&M.

WR: 7 (Terry McLaurin, Luke McCaffrey, Antonio Williams, Treylon Burks, Dyami Brown, Jaylin Lane, Van Jefferson)

After McLaurin, the unit lacks star power. It's the position group that arguably still needs the most help with an obvious void at WR2. Third round pick Antonio Williams could be that guy where he could step into a likely starting role at the slot while GM Adam Peters noted he can play outside. McCaffrey and Burks return from last year, and both are looking to make a bigger impact. Brown and Jefferson are two veterans signed in free agency, looking to extend their careers. Lane, Brooks, and Jones are going into their second year in the league. Williams was the team’s third-round pick; they are hoping he will make a big impact in year one where he can step into.

Jaden Bradley, a local product who teamed up with Nick Cross at DeMatha, arrives as a UDFA after stints at Pitt then UNLV where he offers size as a towering receiver to offer a different body type than the current room.

TE: 4 (Chig Okonkwo, John Bates, Ben Sinnott, Colson Yankoff)

The need for a pass catcher was clear this offseason with Okonkwo filling Zach Ertz's role to play exactly that. Sinnott, Yankoff, Cager will be battling for 1-2 spots on the 53-man roster during training and preseason. Cager is one who HC Dan Quinn praised earlier this offseason as the Baltimore native offers intrigue heading into 2026. Head coach Dan Quinn also credited Lawrence Cager, a Baltimore native who was on the practice squad, as one he's intrigued with.

Washington product Quentin Moore could offer intrigue as a blocking tight end after signing as a UDFA.

Offensive Line

T: 5 (Larmey Tunsil, Josh Conerly Jr., Brandon Coleman, Trent Scott, Foster Sarell)

G: 4 (Chris Paul, Sam Cosmi, Timothy McKay, Andrew Wylie)

OC: 3 (Nick Allegretti, Matt Gulbin, Julian Good-Jones)

Washington will have a lot o familiarity in the trenches once again with the left side of the line officially back and solidified.

Tunsil is as good as they come at left tackle and has been since he was drafted back in 2016, following through on the much-anticipated extension. 2025 first-round pick Conerly started all 17 games in a year where everyone was getting hurt. Coleman is a former third-round pick in 2024, who is the top reserve at both tackle spots. Scott, Sarell, and Aumavar-Laulu could each be fighting for one spot. Barring injury. Commanders should have no worries at the tackle spots. 

Cosmi has played both tackle and guard for the Commanders, and the team is hoping the injuries from last year are in the rear-view mirror. Paul was resigned after starting 15 games in 2025. Wylie has been a starter for both the Commanders and Chiefs, while McKay spent last year on the practice squad. Tanoa Togiai arrived as a UDFA as a guard option where the Commanders have depth.

Following the release of former starter Tyler Biadasz, Allegretti moves over from guard to center in hopes of improved play there. Gulbin will likely be the backup with hopes of challenging Allegretti as the former interior lineman also offers college experience at guard.

DL: 10 (Javon Kinlaw, Tim Settle, Daron Payne, Charles Omenihu, DJ Davison, Jer'Zhan Newton, Deatrich Wise Jr., Shy Tuttle, Ricky Barber, Jeffery M’Ba)

Daron Payne will once again lead the defensive line, but he needs help from everyone else. Kinlaw did not have a great first season with the team, recording zero sacks. He needs to be better. Newton is looking to break out in his third year, while Settle, Omenihu, and Davidson were all signed in free agency. Wise is looking to bounce back from a quad injury that limited him to two games in 2025. There's a lot more depth for the Commanders, and for good reason. Washington could opt to turn to more three-down sets under new DC Daronte Jones with Settle and Payne stepping into big roles as versatile pieces along the interior defensive line. Could Jer'Zhan Newton be the one to capitalize on a big offseason and take the next step? He'll enter a pivotal season.

ILB: 7 (Leo Chenal, Sonny Styles, Frankie Luvu, Jordan Magee, Kain Medrano, Nick Bellore, Ale Kaho)

Bobby Wagner is gone and Styles will take over as the leader of the entire defense. How he performs as a rookie will be big for the play of the unit. Chenal was signed away from the Chiefs in free agency, and Luvu returns after starting every game for the last two years. Magee started eight games last year and should be in the rotation again. The question now is, will they hold onto another linebacker for the 53-man roster? Still, there's a lot of athleticism and potential in a unit that looks vastly upgraded compared to 2025.

OLB: 5 (Odafe Oweh, K’Lavon Chaisson, Dorance Armstrong, Joshua Josephs, Drake Jackson)

Oweh and Chaisson were signed to help a pass rush that finished in the bottom half of sacks in the league last year. The success or failure of that will depend on their performance throughout the season. Armstrong is the only other outside linebacker who has gotten extended play in the NFL as everyone else is unproven. Armstrong could be an experienced rotational pieces with Oweh and Chaisson likely anchoring the unit, while Josephs gives the unit a developmental piece looking to materialize into production as a rookie.

CB: 5 (Trey Amos, Mike Sainristil, Amik Robertson, Ahkello Witherspoon, Antonio Hamilton Sr.)

There's true question marks at the position. Amos and Sainristil both return while Robertson gives Washington a possible nickel corner, though head coach Dan Quinn previously noted Robertson is likely to stick outside. Witherspoon was signed from the Rams after only playing in six games last year, adding more veteran experience though coming off an injury-shortened 2025 season. The latest roster move materialized on Monday when the Commanders re-signed Hamilton, restocking the depth after shining late in the 2025 regular season. Does Washington make more moves at the position? It certainly feels possible, though wide receiver has been the lone position the front office has been actively linked to this offseason.

Whether UDFA signing Fred Davis II is able to crack the roster through the summer is worth watching while Chris Hilton Jr. is one who signed as a receiver but also drew evaluation as a defensive back prospect before going undrafted and signing with the Commanders, arriving as an intriguing addition.

Safety: 4 (Nick Cross, Will Harris, Jeremy Reaves, Quan Martin)

Reaves saw the most playing time on defense in his career last year because of all the injuries. The Pro Bowl special teamer started eight games after starting 11 his first seven. Harris was limited to nine games in his first season in Washington due to a fractured fibula. Cross recorded over 100 tackles with the Colts the last two seasons. Martin has been a starter for the team during the same time period.

Former Michigan State safety Malik Spencer is among the rookies to sign as an undrafted free agent after a productive college career.

Specialists

Way and Ott’s spots are safe in 2026. Way is one of the best punters in the league, making his third Pro Bowl last year, while Ott will enter his third year with the team. At kicker, Moody saved his career in six games with the Commanders last year, going 10-for-11 after being let go by the 49ers and Bears. Stevens could make it interesting, but this should be Moody’s job to lose.

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