With free agency officially one week away, one ESPN analyst highlights the Washington Commanders priorities while noting one starter who could be in line for a payday.
With the legal tampering period set to officially begin one week from today with free agency officially open two days later, the Washington Commanders will begin to be able to start making moves to address the laundry list of roster needs on both sides of the ball. But what positions could end up materializing into the top priorities for the front office?
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN pointed to additional weapons for quarterback Jayden Daniels after noting "expect Washington to target offensive help, among a lot of other things" when taking a look around the league.
"When asking about the top tier of free agent running backs, tight ends and linebackers, the Commanders come up a lot," Fowler added.
Of course, Washington has just one running back current signed to next season's roster with an obvious need that the front office will look to add to the room, but the same could be said for the tight end room, who just announced that David Raih will coach the position as Ben Sinnott and John Bates remain under contract in 2026. But the need will be adding a pass catcher to the offense with others like Isaiah Likely, Chigoziem Okonkwo and David Njoku among the available free agents.
But who among the other 30 departing free agents are expected to return? While Deebo Samuel has dominated the mainstream headlines, Washington could have other starters walk to open up additional roster holes.
One departing Commander was highlighted by ESPN, however: offensive guard Chris Paul.
"He had 15 starts last season with a powerful style of play; starting guards with a pulse get paid," Fowler said of Paul.
Whether Paul would return to the organization was a question mark following the 2025 season after proving to be a bright spot. Paul, a former seventh round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, made a career-high 15 starts after appearing in every game in 2025 where he allowed 17 pressures, 13 hurries and a pair of sacks while grading as the team's second-best pass blocker, per Pro Football Focus.
Paul stepped in to replace Brandon Coleman as the starter at left guard ahead of the week three home win against the Las Vegas Raiders.
"It was definitely sort of like, this is a go-time moment and just sort of reminding myself that I'm built for this and I belong here," Paul said after becoming a starter.
Spotrac projects a two year, $9.4 million contract for Paul this offseason, which isn't a premium price for a starting-caliber interior lineman coming off a strong season. But it also marked his first season working through a bigger volume of snaps after starting in just eight games his first two seasons and appearing in 17 through his first season.
If Paul does not return as many has viewed, the Commanders will have a second starter to replace along the offensive line this offseason after moving on from Tyler Biadasz last week, though there are candidates in both the draft and free agency to fill his role.