After 12 free agent signings and several re-signed for at least one more year, a pair of outlets dished out favorable grades for the Washington Commanders in free agency
After entering the offseason with a laundry list of needs, the Washington Commanders have addressed several with a revamped outlook on defense under new coordinator Daronte Jones in 2026. Two weeks and 12 free agent signings later, the Commanders drew one of the league's best grades by a pair of outlets.
Both CBS Sports and NFL Trade Rumors dished out a 'B+' grade for the Commanders moves in free agency.
The front seven signings drew the bulk of the attention with Odafe Oweh as head coach Dan Quinn looks to "unlock more consistency out of his elite athleticism" after posting 7.5 sacks in 12 games with the Los Angeles Chargers. CBS Sports noted Oweh's potential as a top pass rusher, but they also pointed to Chenal as an impact and necessary signing.
"Chenal's elite athleticism is exactly what is needed in the middle after the aging Bobby Wagner clearly lost a few steps last season."
NFL Trade Rumors noted the signings of Tim Settle, K'Lavon Chaisson and Charles Omenihu upgrade what proved to be a bare pass rush for the Commanders in 2025, while CBS Sports pointed to both safety Nick Cross and slot cornerback Amik Robertson as two "likely starters" with Cross tabbed as "one of the best run stopping safeties in the league."
Tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo is also expected to become a focal point of the passing attack where he adds athleticism and big play ability to a unit missing that with Zack Ertz a free agent, while the re-signing of Jeremy McNichols alongside the arrival of Rachaad White and Jerome Ford stabilize the running back room in 2026.
But like CBS Sports noted, Washington still has needs to address with wide receiver among the positions still left to address with the wide receiver two role still up for grabs opposite of veteran Terry McLaurin. Washington was on the shortlist for a pair of top free agent wideouts before finishing as the runner up for both Alec Pierce and Romeo Doubs, leaving general manager Adam Peters in holding pattern in what quickly became a thin market void of top-end talent. Carnell Tate out of Ohio State has been viewed as a realistic candidate for the Commanders with the seventh overall pick in next month's draft.
Meanwhile, Brandon Aiyuk has been the obvious offseason acquisition candidate all offseason, though a resolution may not materialize any time soon with San Francisco insistent on receiving a draft pick despite teams being reluctant to take on his contract with a $26 million salary in 2026.
With still some left to play out, it's been an encouraging first two weeks despite a deflating day one of the legal tampering window, though the Commanders enter the rest of the offseason with an early 7.5 projected win total in 2026.