Head coach Dan Quinn made clear that the door remains open for veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner to return to the Washington Commanders in 2026
Should the Commanders re-sign LB Bobby Wagner?
The Washington Commanders made several moves to upgrade its 2026 defense in free agency, most notably the addition of a trio of pass rushers in Odafe Oweh, K'Lavon Chaisson and Charles Omenihu. Washington's first and most recent free agent signing also came in the secondary with Amik Robertson and Ahkello Witherspoon, adding needed experience to a room that remains void of a true CB1. The addition of Nick Cross adds an extra layer of physicality to the backline where the former Maryland star has proven to be a plus defender against the run, but maybe the most intriguing free agent signing is former Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal.
And according to head coach Dan Quinn, Chenal is someone who adds confidence to the 2026 room.
"I loved what I saw when he was going forward, the aggressive nature, he was square, he's a strong, secure tackler," Quinn told John Keim of ESPN. "He's got size, he's strong and he can blitz."
Chenal joins the Commanders defense after four seasons in Kansas City where he posted at least 50 tackles in each of the last three seasons, adding youth and versatility to the front seven. But he also isn't the only one with Chenal joining Jordan Magee, who drew consistent praise from Quinn through the 2025 season. And midway through the offseason, Quinn pointed to Magee as someone he's "excited to see what he can do."
"I have seen the initial quickness to close and make plays and so he's put in the work," Quinn added.
Quinn also noted that both Magee and Chenal can play either middle or outside linebacker as versatile pieces in Daronte Jones' multiple base defense. "I think 3-4, 4-3, they're just numbers. Still seven man spacing," Jones said during his introductory press conference.
But maybe the bigger question is with Chenal now joining Magee to lead the 2026 room is whether that means Bobby Wagner's time with the Commanders is over. Quinn didn't shut the door on that.
"We would never shut the door on him," Quinn said. "We do feel like there's some players that are about to take off at [his] position."
Wagner etched his name in the record book after becoming the third player after Ray Lewis and London Fletcher to record 2,000 career tackles, but the focus for Washington has been to get younger on defense. And with a rotational role more likely than a starting role, whether Wagner would want to return for a third season would be a question mark. Then again, Wagner remains unsigned through the first month of free agency despite earlier buzz that a return back to the west coast, possibly even to Seattle, was viewed as the more likely route.
Washington has made clear that they're open to bringing several expiring contracts back on one-year deals with general manager Adam Peters addressing depth concerns. As for Wagner, he's made clear that he is looking to continue his playing career in 2026, just like Dan Quinn has made clear how impactful Wagner has been during his two seasons in Washington.
"He's like the most remarkable player and leader," Quinn said. "I wanted to make sure I said how important he was to me to come here together, like what standards could look like. And then yes, like what Adam said to him and some others, 'We're going to leave the door open, and we'll see what that looks like over the time ahead.'"