Three roster cut casualties around the NFL could fill needs for the Washington Commanders in free agency in 2026
The days ahead of the unofficial start to free agency materialized into the week of roster cuts across the NFL as teams prepare to make moves with the calendar already turned to 2026. The Washington Commanders were among the teams to make a move after electing to release Marshon Lattimore in what was the obvious decision of the offseason, but decisions around the league have added another layer of intrigue to the pool of players now available. Including a wide receiver now out of the NFC North.
WR Darnell Mooney
Mooney is coming off a 32 catch season where he posted a career-low 443 receiving yards and just one touchdown in a season filled with quarterback issues for the Atlanta Falcons. The concern? He did it while catching just 44.4% of his targets. In his first season with the team, Mooney finished eight yards shy of his second 1,000 yard receiving season with veteran Kirk Cousins at the helm.
Spotrac projects a two year, $15.1 million contract, and if the Commanders' plan is to sign another wide receiver if Brandon Aiyuk does materialize, then one can make a compelling argument that the trio outperforms the top of the 2025 room. With multiple departing receivers in Noah Brown and Deebo Samuel, Mooney has a chance to elevate the Commanders' wide receiver room as a third option with both tight end and running back still a focal point this offseason.
Edge rusher Jonathan Greenard
But so is the defense with a longer list of needs than answers at this stage. With pass rush among the top priorities, edge rusher Jonathan Greenard is another intriguing name, though he isn't available just yet.
News surfaced earlier this week that the Vikings are now open to track the former Pro Bowler with the front office working to manage the salary cap.
Greenard is coming off a 2025 season where he posted three sacks and 38 total tackles in 12 games after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. Prior to that, Greenard combined for 24.5 sacks over his previous two seasons after leaving the Houston Texans to sign a four year, $76 million deal with the Vikings ahead of the 2024 season. With the expectation that he's available for 2026, Greenard enters the rest of March with familiarity with current defensive coordinator Daronte Jones at a position of need as he remains an intriguing possibility.
Whether a trade actually materializes may be the bigger question with all eyes on if the Vikings pull the trigger on a release, though he's reportedly drawn significant interest from nearly half the NFL, per Corbin Smith of Emerald City Spectrum. In addition to free agency looming, Greenard is due $4 million on March 13, meaning a decision will be made in a matter of days.
Edge rusher Rashan Gary
After being the subject of trade talks over the offseason, there were conflicting reports on Gary's future with the Packers. News initially broke that Gary would play elsewhere after announcing his departure, only to delete the post less than an hour later with ESPN's Adam Schefter reporting the team has yet to make a decision on his future. Releasing Gary would save the Packers nearly $11 million in cap space, which could add an intriguing free agent pass rusher.
After combining for seven sacks and 55 tackles through his first two seasons, Gary has flashed as a disruptor for the Packers having posted at least 7.5 sacks in four of his last five seasons.
But that also masks Gary's quiet second half of the 2025 season after failing to register a sack or tackle for loss from week eight through the playoff appearance. The arrival of Micah Parsons helped make Gary expendable this offseason, while he ranked 39th in the league in pressure percentage through the second half of the season. Still, Gary proved to be an asset in run support even through his struggles and with a chance to reset his contract, the 28 year old could shape up to be a viable target in the Commanders' front seven.
Others:
Stefon Diggs would be an intriguing free agent target, but his ongoing legal battles could put a pause on his market this offseason despite the DMV native being arguably the best on-field fit alongside Terry McLaurin. Linebacker Bobby Okereke is another intriguing free agent with a chance to upgrade the middle linebacker room with veteran Bobby Wagner headed to free agency. Veteran tight end Jonnu Smith is another who loosely fits the profile, but with a need to add a dynamic receiving threat, whether the 31 year old can provide exactly that in 2026 is a question mark. Smith is coming off 38 catches - his fewest catches since 2022 - while setting a new career-low with just 222 receiving yards in his lone season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.