The Washington Commanders made the pass rush a priority in free agency, but a pair of additions drew mixed grades from national outlets.
Which signing do you like more for the Washington Commanders?
The attention has steadily shifted away from free agency to the 2026 NFL Draft with a chance for the Washington Commanders to add another playmaker to the roster with the ongoing question about offense or defense. But a trio of Commanders - two new, one former - were also spotlighted this week in a review of the best and worst free agent signings across the NFL.
It wasn't all positive for Washington after edge rusher Odafe Oweh, who inked a $100 million contract to become a big part of the Commanders' pass rush solution, was tabbed as one of the worst value free agent signings this offseason. Gilberto Manzano of Sports Illustrated also noted that Oweh's divorce with Jesse Minter, the former Chargers defensive coordinator who has since been named the new head coach in Baltimore, will be its own question mark for Oweh to answer as he looks to put a consistent season together.
It's a valid question for Oweh, who registered 17.5 sacks in 29 games since the start of the 2024 season. But that also excludes the five games Oweh was held without a sack to open the 2025 season, a struggle that prompted the Ravens to pull the trigger on a trade to move on from their former first round pick. Oweh registered four multi-sack games through his career, including twice across his 12 appearances with the Chargers to end the 2025 season, while generating the sixth-highest pressure rate in the NFL during that span.
The good news is the Commanders won't have to *only* rely on Oweh as head coach Dan Quinn was transparent about his relief in addressing the pass rush. The Commanders signed a second former Chiefs defender in defensive lineman Charles Omenihu who could serve as an interior pass rusher, while the addition of former Patriots edge rusher K'Lavon Chaisson may be one of the more underrated additions of the offseason. And he also drew a bullish grade after ESPN graded his signing as a 'B+'.
Chaisson arrives in DC where he registered a career-best 7.5 sacks with ten starts and 16 appearances in his lone season with the Patriots, giving the Commanders a low risk option after signing a one year deal.
"They're making that bet at a reasonable price, as Chaisson got a smaller contract than I was expecting," Seth Walder of ESPN wrote. "In Washington, he'll join not only Oweh but also Dorance Armstrong, who tore his ACL last October, and Deatrich Wise Jr., who missed almost all of 2025 with a quadriceps injury."
Meanwhile, another familiar name was also highlighted among the best value signings this offseason in Tyler Biadasz.
Biadasz also found himself in the headlines earlier in the week after head coach Dan Quinn noted that Washington's front office did not explore a trade for the two year starting center, a statement that general manager Adam Peters declined to comment on. But Sports Illustrated noted that Biadasz, viewed as the second best free agent center behind arguably top overall free agent Tyler Linderbaum, signed "at a much lower rate than the three year, $81 million deal the Raiders handed to Linderbaum."
Of course, Washington's decision to move on from Biadasz has marked arguably the biggest question mark this offseason with little depth or proven talent to take over as center. Head coach Dan Quinn noted that both Julian Good-Love and Nick Allegretti could battle for the starting job while later leaving the door open for Brandon Coleman to become a wildcard to address a position of need. Though whether Washington turns to the draft to stockpile center depth is the biggest question mark.