With the league’s oldest roster and a massive overhaul ahead, Adam Peters faces a complex puzzle. Before the Commanders chase external stars, they must decide which veterans are foundational pillars and which were simply part of a forgettable four-win season. Here is the 2026 stay-or-go list.
Should Washington Bring Back Deebo Samuel Next Season?
As the Commanders head into the offseason and close the books on a nightmarish four-win season, the team is at a crossroads. General Manager Adam Peters will head into the offseason with a lot of work to do and the task of reshaping the league’s oldest roster. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have a lot of draft capital to work with.
The Commanders head into the offseason with only six draft selections and just two selections within the top 100 choices. This means impact players will be hard to come by within the rookie class, and the team must supplement elsewhere.
Therefore, prior to April’s 2026 draft, the team must wisely reflect on their own free agents and make the most of their shopping opportunities with the league’s upcoming free agent class. We’ll hit on the Commanders’ own free agents for this article and prioritize who the "must-signs" are and who I would be okay with letting go.
The Landscape
To begin this exercise, it’s important to understand the current landscape of the team. According to OverTheCap.com, the Commanders currently have 34 players signed to the active roster for next season. Their “raw” space is projected at $81 million; however, this is somewhat misleading.
Credit: https://overthecap.com/salary-cap/washington-commandersOver the Cap has an "Effective Cap Space" metric that is more accurate. This projects the Commanders to have closer to $60 million in free spending for next season.
What accounts for that $21 million gap? Over the Cap factors in two 'hidden' costs. First, it sets aside money for the incoming rookie class. Second, it accounts for the 'Rule of 51.' During the offseason, the NFL only counts the 51 most expensive players toward the cap. Since Washington currently has only 34 players signed, OTC fills those 17 empty spots with minimum-salary contracts to show a more realistic budget. In reality, Washington will likely sign more expensive veterans, meaning that $60 million is the most they’ll have to play with.
Finally, to conclude our discussion on the roster landscape, it has been heavily documented that the team’s average age is the oldest in the league at 28.1. To compare, the Green Bay Packers are the league’s youngest team at 25.2 years old.
Now, let’s get back to reflecting on Washington’s current free agents.
High-Priority
Marcus Mariota (Quarterback / 33 years old): The 33-year-old quarterback filled in admirably when called upon this season. The former Oregon Duck unexpectedly started eight games and appeared in 11 total. Under his leadership, the team fell to a 2-9 record, but that was largely due to the overall deficit of the roster.
Mariota navigated Kliff Kingsbury’s offense well, finishing the season with a respectable QB rating of 86.1, 11 total touchdowns, 1,695 passing yards, and 297 rushing yards. The critique with Mariota is his tendency to turn the ball over, with seven interceptions and three lost fumbles this year. He serves as a solid veteran to sub in in a pinch, but I would also hope to add a young signal-caller in the draft to groom behind him.
Chris Paul (Offensive Guard / 27 years old): The fourth-year veteran has developed nicely in Ashburn since being selected in the 7th round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He has grown from a training camp project to a key reserve, and finally a full-blown starter in 2025. This year, Paul played 857 offensive snaps and surrendered only two sacks. According to PFF, he allowed only 16 pressures and 2 hits, earning a pass-blocking grade of 77.0—ranking 6th in the league out of 79 eligible guards. Paul will be 28 next season and would be a welcome return as the team aims for continuity.
Tress Way (Punter / 35 years old): I know it’s odd to include a 35-year-old punter as a priority for a 4-win team, but Way has been a steady presence in his 12-year stay in Washington. The three-time Pro Bowler is a model of consistency who very rarely makes mistakes. Whether it is holding kicks or pinning opponents inside the five, Way has proven to be still one of the best. I’m going with the adage, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Treylon Burks (Wide Receiver / 25 years old): It may seem odd to put Burks on the high-priority list after he was acquired midway through the season, but the former first-round pick has shown flashes in his limited time in DC. At 6’2” and 225 lbs, he offers a size component the other receivers lack. At 25 years old, he is a worthy "dart throw" to invest in for next season.
Also, who can forget this catch?
Medium Priority
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (Running Back / 25 years old): The former Kentucky Wildcat and Ron Rivera pick served admirably in his spot starts, appearing in 12 games. He accumulated 435 yards and five touchdowns, but what’s more impressive is his 4.5 yards per attempt and his tendency to fall forward on every run. What gives me pause is that he’s largely one-dimensional. Over his 120 snaps, he was targeted as a receiver only three times. In a landscape where backs are found everywhere, the team might look for more high-upside talent.
Deebo Samuel (Wide Receiver / 30 years old): The seven-year veteran performed valiantly in his first year in DC, producing 70 catches for 707 yards and five touchdowns. He rose to the occasion when injuries forced him into a WR1 role when he should truly be a WR3. The argument comes down to cost. Is he worth the price tag, or can the team find a more refined route-runner to compliment Terry McLaurin? Paying two 30-year-old WRs big money is usually bad business.
Bobby Wagner (Linebacker / 35 years old): Wagner became a polarizing topic this year, going from hero to villain. While he is a clear locker-room leader, his pass coverage took a step back, leading to several lapses that killed the team. However, he is still a high-quality run defender, contributing 106 solo tackles and five sacks. Re-signing him to a reserve role would be an interesting way to transition new blood into the MLB position, though the 10-time Pro Bowler may be opposed to the idea.
Low Priority
Von Miller (Edge / 37 years old): The 14-year vet quietly had 8 sacks this season. In a depth role, he could be serviceable for next season. But again, he is getting up there in age and will take up a roster spot and a significant portion of the salary cap. It may be wise to save that roster spot, and salary cap space, for another position.
Noah Igbinoghene (Cornerback / 26 years old): The former Dallas Cowboy has been serviceable the last two seasons in Washington, and the team needs CB depth. But it may be best to have a fresh start altogether next season. The DB group was a mess all season.
Jacob Martin (Edge / 31 years old): The NFL journeyman contributed 5.5 sacks in his 13 starts in Washington. To be fair, he showed production and a few splash plays. But the team needs to shoot for higher upside next season, and Martin is more suited for a reserve role. If the team elects to bring him back next season, I wouldn’t be upset. But I also wouldn’t mind fresh legs and a raw project to develop for the future.
Moving On
Zach Ertz and Austin Ekeler Both of these veterans contributed heavily to the Commanders' turnaround last season and had clutch plays for the team. But now, with both players having suffered significant, possibly career-ending injuries this season—a torn ACL for Ertz and a torn Achilles for Ekeler—I wouldn’t expect them to return. In fact, I’d imagine they both spinoff into the content creator/media side of the NFL.