Tomorrow marks the end of the 2025-2026 season as the year concludes with an epic Patriots-Seahawks Super Bowl. But as we know, the NFL never truly sleeps; coverage is a year-long cycle, and the "offseason" is already knocking at the door.

Free agency begins in roughly four weeks on March 11th, the date when NFL teams can officially add new players to their rosters. As we’ve seen in years past, the "official" start is often a formality. The NFL’s legal tampering period (starting March 9th) allows teams to negotiate "soft" deals before pens officially hit paper.

The Commanders head into next season with plenty of holes to fill and a lack of premium draft capital—at least if you consider the Top-100 picks where immediate impact players are found. Therefore, Adam Peters and Dan Quinn must be aggressive in free agency.

As a primer for spending season, I’ve highlighted five key free agents you should watch in the Big Game. If you want to build a champion, it only makes sense to pick from the best, right? Let’s get into it.

The Commanders head into the offseason with $66.4 million in Effective Cap Space according to Spotrac. "Effective Cap Space" is defined as the gross salary remaining after fielding a roster of 51 players and accounting for the incoming rookie draft class. During the offseason, the "Rule of 51" applies, meaning only the top 51 contracts are factored into the cap. However, by the start of the season, a team must comply with a 53-man roster plus injured reserve and practice squad salaries.

Washington is widely expected to expand their spending power by releasing cornerback Marshon Lattimore.  This move would free up roughly $18.5 million in cap space, expanding Washington’s total to nearly $85 million. This would rank the Commanders among the top five teams in available cap space, positioning them as major 'buyers' in this market.  

1. Tariq Woolen, CB (Seahawks) Age: 26 | Ht/Wt: 6'4", 210 lbs Projected Market Value (AAV): $18.5M  

Tariq Woolen offers a perfect match between want and need. At 6’4”, 210 lbs, Woolen is the kind of oversized cornerback Dan Quinn found success with as a defensive coordinator in Seattle. Woolen has had an up-and-down season and occasionally fell out of favor with coach Mike Macdonald as a potential non-fit in his scheme. He also had some untimely penalties this postseason that may have rubbed the front office the wrong way. Nonetheless, at age 26, the best of his career is still ahead of him. His size provides massive upside, and new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones needs every tool available to solidify the secondary. Although pricey, Woolen would provide a different physical profile to a room consisting of Mikey Sainristil and Trey Amos, creating a unit with various skill sets and sizes.

2. Boye Mafe, EDGE (Seahawks) Age: 27 | Ht/Wt: 6'4", 261 lbs Projected Market Value (AAV): $10M–$14M

There is no hiding the fact that Washington needs help at Edge. Sadly, this free agent class is not particularly deep, and acquiring high-production players like Maxx Crosby would likely take a major trade package. Therefore, the Commanders must be smart in how they layer this defense through free agency. Boye Mafe was a second-round selection (40th overall) in 2022. Through four seasons, he has totaled 20 sacks, with a high point of nine in 2023. This year, his production took a dip to only three sacks. Mafe was primarily used as an outside linebacker aligned outside the tackle box. He may not be the singular answer to the Commanders' edge issues, but he is a name to watch tomorrow. He could be a high-upside rotational piece or a bridge starter prior to the draft in April.

3. Rashid Shaheed, WR (Seahawks) Age: 27 | Ht/Wt: 6'0", 180 lbs Projected Market Value (AAV): $12.5M

The undrafted speedster from Weber State has always been a personal favorite of mine. Rashid Shaheed is the type of player who can take it to the house any time he touches the ball—whether on special teams, a short screen, or a deep shot. He would be the perfect complement to Terry McLaurin, stretching the field and preventing defenses from stacking the box against Washington’s run game. Furthermore, Jayden Daniels has one of the best deep balls in the league, and Shaheed provides offense in chunks. Truly, he is a dark horse to bet on for Super Bowl MVP if you like long odds. While he arrived in Seattle mid-season via trade to reunite with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, Washington would be wise to take a look if he hits the market. Shaheed provides an element of explosiveness this offense currently lacks.

4. K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE (Patriots) Age: 27 | Ht/Wt: 6'3", 255 lbs Projected Market Value (AAV): $5.5M

The former LSU Tiger was a first-round pick in 2020 but struggled with consistency in Jacksonville, tallying only five sacks over four years. After short stints with the Panthers and Raiders—where he matched his career total with five sacks in a single season—he signed a one-year, $5 million deal with New England. His career has seen a renaissance under the Patriots' coaching staff; K’Lavon Chaisson recorded a career-high 7.5 sacks this season and earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Leaving Jacksonville for the stability of New England was a breath of fresh air for him. While he may like his footing with the Patriots, if he is allowed to leave, Chaisson could provide Washington with a very viable depth piece.

5. Jaylinn Hawkins, S (Patriots) Age: 28 | Ht/Wt: 6'1", 208 lbs Projected Market Value (AAV): $2.2M

Jaylinn Hawkins may not be the most sought-after name on the market, but he offers high-IQ play as a rotational piece. In his second season in New England, the former Falcons fourth-round pick truly took the next step.

He ended the 2025-2026 season as the fifth-highest rated safety according to PFF. His 87.1 run-defense grade was the second-highest in the league for the position. While this may typecast Hawkins as a box safety, he offers more versatility than that: he logged 524 snaps at free safety, 201 in the box, and 93 as a slot defender.

He has been a vital component of the Patriots' eighth-ranked defense. Coming off a career-best four-interception season, Hawkins provides veteran stability to a unit that often looked confused or lost this year. Having thrived in New England’s disciplined environment, he could give Washington a hard-nosed depth piece to help solidify the back end of the defense.

Kenneth Walker III, RB (Seahawks) Age: 25 | Ht/Wt: 5'9", 211 lbs Projected Market Value: $8.4M AAV

If you’ve followed my work, you know I’m a huge Kenneth Walker III fan. He is a game-changer who runs with both power and wiggle. He would perfectly complement the explosive game of Jacory Croskey-Merritt and the power of Chris Rodriguez. Walker is already accustomed to a "committee" backfield alongside Zach Charbonnet, so he is comfortable coming in for specific series to provide a punch.  However, he has transitioned to an Honorable Mention because he has played too well during this 2026 playoff run. In just two postseason games, Walker has racked up 178 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns, totaling 256 yards from scrimmage. Additionally, Charbonnet suffered a torn ACL in the Divisional Round and will face a long road back. It’s hard to see Seattle letting Walker go under those circumstances, but if he does become available, he immediately jumps to the top of Washington's priority list.  

In addition to the natural drama of a Super Bowl, it’s always fun to watch potential free agents shine in big moments. Above are five players who could be logical fits here in D.C. Personally, Woolen, Walker, and Shaheed are the names I’m most interested in regardless of tomorrow’s outcome. The question is: will they be available, and will Washington pursue them?

All "Market Value" and "AAV" figures used in this article are provided by Spotrac. These projections are calculated using a system that identifies comparable players of similar age and production to determine a fair market contract in the current NFL salary cap environment.