2026 NFL Draft, Free Agency

[Farmer Ted]

Von Miller has 6 sacks???

[Fiji Skins Fan]

Von Miller has 6 sacks???

Redskins have allowed 31 sacks and have 30 defensively

NY giants have allowed 36 sacks and have 29 defensively

[VegasSkinsFan]

I saw this trade-back scenario on Riggo's Rag earlier, and i would definitely consider it albeit probably low chance of occurring :

- Washington trades #5 to Pittsburgh
- Washington receives #20, #51,#79 in 2026, plus Pittsburgh 2027 1st and 2nd round

[Farmer Ted]

For moving back 15 spots in the first round we would get an extra 2d and 3d rounder this year and a 1 and a 2 next year. That seems far-fetched.

[VegasSkinsFan]

For moving back 15 spots in the first round we would get an extra 2d and 3d rounder this year and a 1 and a 2 next year. That seems far-fetched.

Unfortunately that's what happens when using a computer model. At the time the trade was made, the Indiana QB was on the board so the Steelers made the offer. If that was offered in reality I would take the offer honestly.

[Farmer Ted]

Unfortunately that's what happens when using a computer model. At the time the trade was made, the Indiana QB was on the board so the Steelers made the offer. If that was offered in reality I would take the offer honestly.

In that event, I'd have to think about drafting the QB and trading JD to Pittsburgh for everything they had.

[Fiji Skins Fan]

I saw this trade-back scenario on Riggo's Rag earlier and i would definitely consider it albeit probably low chance of occurring :
- Washington trades #5 to Pittsburgh
- Washington receives #20, #51,#79 in 2026, plus Pittsburgh 2027 1st and 2nd round

I'm VERY hopeful that we can trade down
BUT
Riggo's Rag/Dean Jones who is a complete idiot has us having the #5 pick when the whole world knows we are at #6

[Fiji Skins Fan]

In that event, I'd have to think about drafting the QB and trading JD to Pittsburgh for everything they had.

LOL - thankfully, that's not happening

[Fiji Skins Fan]

Kyle Pitts or Isaiah Likely would be great additions

[Moe]

Pitts was fantastic last night and he's a real problem talent-wise but he's never lived up to his potential so he's a bit of a big swing with a potential big miss. Likely could be the biggest attraction but there's a decent crop of TE's that'll be out there so that position might get inflated money-wise.

[Fiji Skins Fan]

Pitts was fantastic last night and he's a real problem talent-wise but he's never lived up to his potential so he's a bit of a big swing with a potential big miss. Likely could be the biggest attraction but there's a decent crop of TE's that'll be out there so that position might get inflated money-wise.

"You cannot have enough good players". Adding or changing coaches & players is always a 'risk' Accepting the risk & trusting your judgement is a lot better than hoping the players & coaches you have will somehow get better
We all have seen how important it is to have a really good player at any position - we have the cap $ to be able to get the better players at a number of positions including DE; DB; LB & TE. PLUS We need more draft picks but they come with a lot more 'risk' than do the proven commodity.

Next season we need to be younger, faster & better tacklers

[lorimike]

a few trades down for late round picks:

6Commanders Logo
Carnell Tate
WR | Ohio State
A
68Commanders Logo
Joshua Josephs
EDGE | Tennessee
A+
147Commanders Logo
Bear Alexander
DL | Oregon
A+
186Commanders Logo
Keon Sabb
S | Alabama
A+
191Commanders Logo
Logan Jones
IOL | Iowa
A
253Commanders Logo
Jameson Geers
TE | Minnesota
A
255Commanders Logo
Earnest Greene
OT | Georgia
A+
257Commanders Logo
Raleek Brown
RB | Arizona State

[Fiji Skins Fan]

Just watched the Army/Navy game - really good to see good football on both offense and defense - very few penalties; great blocking AND great tackling

[Fiji Skins Fan]

Resting Daniels could be because they don't want to hurt his trade value ...

[Moe]

WaPo article on seven guys with the most to prove at the end of the season:

"WR Deebo Samuel Sr.
2025 stats: 65 catches, 604 yards, six total touchdowns (nine starts)
2026 contract status: Unrestricted free agent

Two months ago, re-signing Samuel probably would have been a no-brainer. It appears more complicated now. Though he has been a solid contributor and missed just one game to injury, Samuel hasn’t looked like the explosive Swiss Army knife Washington hoped he would be. He has had just one catch of more than 30 yards and turned in a few key drops, including on fourth down in the end zone at Minnesota. His average yards after the catch, once a hallmark of his game, is at a career low. And since Week 4, his contribution in the running game has been nearly nonexistent: six carries for three yards.

There are plenty of reasons the Commanders would want to retain Samuel. Injuries to Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown forced him into an outside receiver role, limited his carries and allowed defenses to focus on him. He’s still dangerous on kickoff returns. But he also is set to turn 30 next month, and he made $17.5 million this year. If Samuel hopes to sign a new deal in that ballpark, a few big plays or a breakout game down the stretch would significantly bolster his case.

DT Jer’Zhan Newton
2025 stats: 27 tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks, one forced fumble (no starts)
2026 contract status: Entering Year 3 of four-year rookie contract; $2.66 million salary cap hit

The Commanders’ defensive line appears due for an overhaul, and part of that process will be figuring out where Newton fits. The 23-year-old has been seen as a future starter because Washington used the 36th pick to draft him in 2024, but he hasn’t played up to those expectations. Even with all the injuries to the defensive line, he hasn’t played more than 23 snaps in any of the past four games. He racked up four tackles Sunday in a nice performance against the New York Giants, but he had just one total against Miami, Denver and Minnesota.

Quinn said last week that, in these final few games, he wants to continue to see Newton moving opposing guards and centers and creating havoc in the backfield. “That’s where I think he’s at his best, where he can penetrate and be aggressive,” Quinn said. “I thought he has developed certainly from where camp is to where he is today, and we will see that over these next [few games] as well.”

RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.
2025 stats: 81 carries, 372 yards, four rushing touchdowns (six starts)
2026 contract status: Restricted free agent

Rodriguez was a surprise inactive early in the year, and a groin injury kept him off the field Sunday. But in the weeks prior, he had seized the lead-back role and provided a nice spark, specifically with some churning runs between the tackles. He has averaged 4.8 yards per carry over his past three games.

The question isn’t whether the Commanders’ higher-ups view Rodriguez as a useful piece — they almost surely do — but instead whether, or how, he might factor into their 2026 plans. Jacory Croskey-Merritt has been less consistent than Rodriguez but is on an uber-cheap rookie deal, and pending free agent Jeremy McNichols has proved himself as a reliable third-down back, especially in pass protection. Given Rodriguez’s contract status, the next three games could be a critical audition: a chance to prove himself worthy of a role in Washington’s backfield next year — or a roster spot on another team.

K Jake Moody
2025 stats: 14 of 17 (82.4 percent) field goals made (six games with three teams)
2026 contract status: Exclusive rights free agent

Moody is effectively kicking for his job in the final few weeks. Signed last month as the replacement for Matt Gay, the former San Francisco 49ers kicker has made all five of his field goal attempts in three games with Washington — including kicks of 46, 39 and 42 yards on a windy afternoon at the Giants’ MetLife Stadium on Sunday. But he also doinked an extra point off the right upright, then hit the ensuing kickoff out of bounds.

The Commanders surely would love to get off the kicking carousel they have been on for the past two years. Cutting Gay, who had a guaranteed contract, to sign Moody was a show of faith. And it’s important to remember that General Manager Adam Peters was part of the front office that spent a top-100 draft pick on him in San Francisco. Still, Moody has to prove it — especially from 50-plus yards — and give Washington a reason not to go back to the kicker market.

TE Ben Sinnott
2025 stats: five catches, 77 yards, one touchdown (three starts)
2026 contract status: Entering Year 3 of four-year rookie contract; $1.97 million salary cap hit

The Commanders took Sinnott just 17 picks after they selected Newton in the 2024 draft. And he, like Newton, is viewed by fans through the lens of that second-round status. Sinnott largely has been buried on the depth chart, and he has gotten just 10 targets in 30 regular season games. But as tight ends coach David Raih noted last week, all 10 of those targets have been catches. “A lot of times, just because [young players] aren’t getting a ton of production as far as ball distribution, it’s not an indictment on the player,” Raih said.

Sinnott has shown improvement as a blocker, and Raih praised his consistency. But with Zach Ertz sidelined with a torn ACL, the final three games are a much-needed opportunity for Sinnott as a pass-catcher. This is his chance to prove he can be more than a block-first third tight end and perhaps stake his claim for a larger role in 2026.

DT Daron Payne
2025 stats: 37 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks, one forced fumble (13 starts)
2026 contract status: Entering final year of four-year extension; $26.2 million salary cap hit

No player on Washington’s roster had a larger cap hit this year than Payne, and as of now no player is owed more money than he is next season. He has made some massive plays this year, most notably the safety against Dallas, and has been arguably the most consistent player on the defensive line. But his production, at least on paper, hasn’t matched his salary. Among interior defensive linemen, he ranks 34th in tackles on designed run plays, 36th in tackles for loss and 75th in quarterback pressures, according to TruMedia.

Payne is just a few years removed from a Pro Bowl nod in 2022 and, at 28, he probably still has a few more seasons of prime production ahead. But given the salary considerations and the likelihood that Washington’s roster will be in flux, he is probably the team’s most logical trade chip. These final few games are a chance for Payne to reassert himself as a game-wrecking defensive tackle rather than merely a solid one.

CB Mike Sainristil
2025 stats: 69 tackles, four interceptions, nine passes defended (11 starts)
2026 contract status: Entering Year 3 of four-year rookie contract; $2.1 million salary cap hit

Sainristil is playing for his 2026 role rather than his spot on the team. With four interceptions on the year — more than every other player on the team combined — he already has emerged as the most prolific playmaker in the secondary. These last few games are more about proving himself as a viable starting outside cornerback, opposite a healthy Trey Amos, next season.

Late last month, Quinn acknowledged that Sainristil doesn’t have the size that he typically looks for in an outside cornerback — particularly playing press-man coverage, as the Commanders would like to do. But he said he will approach the rest of this season with “fresh eyes” for Sainristil as a possible long-term option there. “I think what I’ll do is afterward kind of take a two-year assessment to say, ‘All right, where’s the best thing moving forward?’” Quinn said.

[Moe]

My .02 on the above guys:
Deebo: you can't re-sign him. Happy he was here this year but he'll simply cost too much and won't bring the proper ROI. He has value in this league and can be a weapon on a team poised to win but this WR corps needs more speed, youth and the advantage of a lower price point.

Newton: I see no need to do anything at this point. Let him play it out. He hasn't lit the world on fire but he's not a bad player and there's no real reason to make a definitive decision with him at this point. The d-line needs some shuffling and maybe he's only a rotational player but this call can wait IMO.

Rodriguez: I think this comes down to a larger overall decision on the running game. McNichols can fill in the Ekeler role, Croskey-Merritt is going to get his touches so to me it's do they like what Rodriguez gives them or do they push towards a higher potential RB either high in the draft or through FA. I can see other teams being interested but likely in a similar rotational role that he has here so barring a crazy offer I don't see FA $$$'s pulling him elsewhere. With what he can do in this offense and with all of the needs that exist already, I'd be perfectly content with them bringing him back on a short-term deal with a reasonable pay bump. He's a sneaky effective player who fills a role and I think if they'd lean on him a little more it could open things up in play action and for the other RB's as well.

Moody: he's been good but he's a K and they're all weird. Give him a reasonable <cough> non-guaranteed <cough> deal and bring in a few young legs to push him and let it play out.

Sinnott: Much like Newton I think this just plays out how it plays out. It's reasonable that the younger TE's have been left with scraps behind Ertz but now they need to know what they have and possibly need. There will be some proven TE's in FA this year and they need a really reliable option, but there's no rush to hand him a new deal yet and he likely doesn't return much value as a trade piece so roll with it.

Payne: He's a solid player and I have no issue with his play but he likely should get shopped based on the combined timing of his age and contract. He has value to a lot of other teams and while he's been solid here the D needs an overhaul and using the resources they could free up likely gives them more options across the D. There are a handful of experienced DT's that'll be out there that could likely be added on short term deals to backfill.

Sainristil: it seems pretty clear to me that he's a better fit outside but there seems to be some conflict between how they want to play D and where they see him positioning in. A change in DC could likely impact that but I have to assume that Quinn's general philosophy will weigh in still. Again, no need to make an immediate move but he could be a guy that they choose to make an offer to sooner rather than later since he has made plays, has a decent general reputation and they could save money getting ahead of a deal in a contract year. I'd be fine with them extending him but I don't think it has to happen immediately.

[VegasSkinsFan]

^^ i tend to agree with you. I do think, and hope, that we can address at least 5 A+ additions this offseason between FA/draft. Ideally one at each "level" so to speak : ie WR, RB, DL/Edge, LB, DB. I'm good with our OL overall other than a depth add or 2, TE could use another piece as well. Spots like DE need more than 1 addition, but an A+ player needs to be one of those spots. And any/all upgrades are always welcome, no matter the position.

[Fiji Skins Fan]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our QB & hopefully many more in B&G

[Moe]

^^ i tend to agree with you. I do think, and hope, that we can address at least 5 A+ additions this offseason between FA/draft. Ideally one at each "level" so to speak : ie WR, RB, DL/Edge, LB, DB. I'm good with our OL overall other than a depth add or 2, TE could use another piece as well. Spots like DE need more than 1 addition, but an A+ player needs to be one of those spots. And any/all upgrades are always welcome, no matter the position.

Yeah I think the o-line is in pretty good shape but they do have to make a call on Paul who's a FA and will need a new deal, but Spotrac averages him out to @ $4.8 a year. I heard someone say that adding a RB is the final piece of the puzzle and I tend to agree, so keeping Rodriguez or slightly upgrading seems like a lower priority and an easier fix.
To me, WR needs attention but not sure the best path this off-season, hard to justify a high pick on one and FA's aren't great this year.
Defensively they need a lot of help. DE and LB certainly need upgrades, depth at DT and adding CB's is an annual requirement.
One possible angle that might pop up also is Mariota. He's a FA and there could be a lot of movement at QB around the league this year. He's said openly how much he enjoys it here, but someone could toss a significantly more attractive financial package him and entice him to get one more big pay out. Whether he's back or not, I hope the 2nd (or 3rd) QB doesn't get any time next season.

[Farmer Ted]

It seems crazy that Sinnott has only 10 targets through two seasons. Losing Ertz is the best thing to happen to Sinnott, but it would have been a lot better if the OC had just incorporated Sinnott into the pass offense.

And if Sainristil is too small for outside press-man coverage, then don't freaking use him that way. It's obvious he can be very good, but he can also be burnt toast. Use him so he's good and he doesn't suck. DUH!!!

[VegasSkinsFan]

It seems crazy that Sinnott has only 10 targets through two seasons. Losing Ertz is the best thing to happen to Sinnott, but it would have been a lot better if the OC had just incorporated Sinnott into the pass offense.

And if Sainristil is too small for outside press-man coverage, then don't freaking use him that way. It's obvious he can be very good, but he can also be burnt toast. Use him so he's good and he doesn't suck. DUH!!!

Over the past 15-20yrs, playing out guys out of position has been one of my biggest pet peeves. And it's been 3-4 coaching regimes that this issue has been present.
As far as TE: I really like Bates, and I think Sinnott has LOT more to offer than he's been given. If one of the 3 others on the roster grow to be a solid #3..great. If not, Pitts/Likely should be at least considered in FA. A couple in the draft look decent as well. Outside of the top 8 or so, i'm intrigued with both Delp from Georgia and Easter from UNC..from a matchup pov. Sadiq is the top choice but his blocking sucks. Flare from Ohio st is another with receiving skills and crap blocking.
WR: as Moe pointed out, fairly slim pickings. The only one I would pursue if he even makes it to FA would be Romeo Dobbs. Otherwise it will be a filler piece in FA with a no-later-than Round 3 draft pick...preferably higher if we can/do a trade back for more picks.
I will dig more into the FA/draft world once we get into Jan/Feb.

[Fiji Skins Fan]

It seems crazy that Sinnott has only 10 targets through two seasons. Losing Ertz is the best thing to happen to Sinnott, but it would have been a lot better if the OC had just incorporated Sinnott into the pass offense.
And if Sainristil is too small for outside press-man coverage, then don't freaking use him that way. It's obvious he can be very good, but he can also be burnt toast. Use him so he's good and he doesn't suck. DUH!!!

This should be a basic for any coach/coordinator - ALWAYS put your players in a position that suits their strengths
AND
ALWAYS find a way to call plays that suits the players you have

we have seen too many offensive and defensive plays that are beyond comprehension

[Fiji Skins Fan]

THANKS Vegas - looking forward to it

[skins7ny]

WR Brandon Aiyuk behaving even more like a complete deranged idiot. I would not touch this guy with a 10-yard marker. I dont care how good a friend he is w our QB. That might even be more reason not to sign him.

[skins7ny]

Also, we should keep our eye on matt eberfluss. I think he has history w Quinn (?) and has a good history as a DC until this year.

Our old friend Todd Bowles might also be looking for work next month. Bowles has a really good track record as a DC as well. Would allow quinn to focus on big picture and trust hos defense to someone else. I think they are philosophically compatible, but am not sure.

[Moe]

Eberfluss has a stink to him, even in Chicago his D's were not terribly strong, I'd prefer they look elsewhere personally.
Bowles getting fired would be a bit of surprise to me, but I'd have him as a DC in a heartbeat. He also has ties to Washington being a UDFA in '86 and made the roster in '87 as the stating FS on the team that beat Denver in the Super Bowl.

[VegasSkinsFan]

Some names for DC I would be interested in along with their respective strengths:

1. Anthony Weaver- Adaptability, his team is usually prepared based on the opposition
2. Al Harris- good job with secondaries
3. Kris Kocurek - he is more DL focused
4. Glenn Schumann - one of the few college DC's (Georgia) that I would be interested in. Georgia typically has a solid D.

[Fiji Skins Fan]

Thanks Vegas - Quinn has to get this defense playing better next season & not with him as DC

whoever is in charge needs to make the players aware that if you can't tackle you don't play

there are going to be a lot of new players on this roster next season & most will be defensive players

[Farmer Ted]

Eberfluss has a stink to him, even in Chicago his D's were not terribly strong, I'd prefer they look elsewhere personally.
Bowles getting fired would be a bit of surprise to me, but I'd have him as a DC in a heartbeat. He also has ties to Washington being a UDFA in '86 and made the roster in '87 as the stating FS on the team that beat Denver in the Super Bowl.

I am A-OK with never hiring another coach from the turds again. None of them have ever come up smelling like roses.

[Moe]

WaPo had some notes and then an article about Conerly.

-Mariota got stitches in his hand and it's still swollen so won't know about him until tomorrow. Johnson getting most of the reps but Driskell got in some work and said it all came back pretty quickly since terminology is similar.

-Looks like no suspensions coming from the frackas last week, just be a bunch of fines.

-Cosmi placed on IR with a concsusison, Wylie gets the start.
-Layne and Goldman also IR'd. Team signed WR Jamal Agnew and DT Shy Tuttle.
-Tunsil didn't practice but still could play. Coleman was back at practice and Yankoff could return as well.

On Conerly:

"When the Commanders selected Conerly in the first round this April, Tunsil was the first person to call him following General Manager Adam Peters and Coach Dan Quinn. Conerly missed the call — he was busy celebrating — but they connected a few days later.

“Literally from the first moment, whatever I needed — on the field or off the field, it didn’t matter what it was — I could go to him for it,” Conerly said this month.
As Conerly has navigated the ups and downs of his first year in the NFL, the guidance of Tunsil, whom he calls “OG,” has been invaluable. And, early on, Tunsil’s “lil’ bro” needed plenty of it. In his first three games, the right tackle faced some of the best pass rushers in the league: the New York Giants’ Brian Burns, Micah Parsons of the Green Bay Packers and the Las Vegas Raiders’ Maxx Crosby. The results weren’t pretty, but the experience helped him develop.

“It was tough. I mean, to keep it plain and simple, I did not play good,” Conerly said. “But I was like: ‘If that was the best the league had to offer, I have a starting point at least. I know how to adjust and how I can grow and get better from it.’ … Everyone’s kind of seeing that now. … I feel I’ve grown a lot and I’ve learned a lot and, at the end of the day, I feel myself getting better.”

In the first eight games, Conerly was performing like one of the league’s worst offensive linemen. He surrendered six sacks (most in the NFL), 28 pressures (third most) and a pressure rate of 10 percent (eighth highest).

“He just had that murderer’s row early where it can be a little bit overwhelming,” offensive line coach Bobby Johnson said. “I’ve seen veteran guys get crushed by that. He just kept going to work. … And now you’re starting to see the benefits of it. All of a sudden, he’s probably developing faster than people think.”

In the past seven games, Conerly has allowed just one sack, 13 pressures and a pressure rate of 5.6 percent. That’s despite facing top pass rushers such as the Detroit Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson, Nik Bonitto of the Denver Broncos and Burns, as well as the challenging defensive fronts of the Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles.

Although Washington (4-11) has had a down year, Conerly, who turned 22 in November, has shown promise. And he is grateful the team stuck with him through the struggles.

“They could’ve easily sat me down and been like, ‘F---, this guy isn’t it,’ after the second or third week, like some people may have wanted,” Conerly said. “These people trust and believe in me. The guys in this room have full belief in me, and I have a lot of belief in myself.”

There was plenty to like about Conerly coming out of Oregon. He was athletic, flexible and rangy but also physical. The Commanders viewed him as a high-floor, high-ceiling prospect. As enticing as his physical traits were, the intangibles were what sold the coaching staff on drafting him with the 29th pick.

“He’s a great kid,” Johnson said. “He’s grounded. He’s about the right things. He’s very intelligent. He can articulate his thoughts, but what really impressed me is he can articulate the questions he had. And that’s really uncommon with guys in this generation: They may have questions, but they don’t know how to ask you. … The more I studied him, I was like, ‘What don’t I like?’”

Tunsil skipped organized team activities, so mandatory minicamp was his first time seeing the rookie work. In part to make up for missed time, Tunsil invited Conerly to train with him, his personal coach and other linemen for a week in Auburn, Alabama, during the summer.

“I saw Josh’s ability. I’m like, ‘Man, he’s going to be a dog,’” Tunsil said. “It’s starting to showcase right now.”

Seeing how Tunsil worked taught Conerly how to carry himself, including how to eat properly, lift, train and recover. And through working on their craft together, they connected on a personal level.

Conerly has a mental library now. As he faced more defensive players and schemes, he retained their tendencies. Assistant offensive line coach Darnell Stapleton urged him to be diligent in his note-taking, and offensive quality control coach Shane Toub created detailed scouting report videos of every pass rusher he would face. That helped him go from merely reacting to going into each snap with a plan.

“Seeing the game within the game — understanding defensive tells before the play even starts so you already know what’s going to happen,” Conerly said. “Once I picked up that, that’s where I really started playing a lot faster.”

Beyond the mental strides, Conerly has sharpened his hand placement, footwork and communication skills. His progression has been steady.

Conerly knows he’s still early in his development. His goal is to have “no weaknesses,” but getting there will take time.

Johnson thinks the next step for Conerly is getting stronger. That may sound strange to say about someone who is 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, but there are levels in this league.

“You can see a very stark difference between Laremy’s strength and Josh’s strength,” Johnson said. “These guys are on a whole other level as far as grown man’s strength. You can watch and you can see Laremy grab a guy and watch another grown man try to get him off and they can’t move. … He just needs to get physically stronger. His body’s still maturing.

“When he gets that element to him, you’re going to see a drastically different player.”