Adam Peters had a clear strategy in mind before entering his second offseason as the Washington Commanders' general manager. He wanted to be more aggressive, but the front office leader also placed a lot of faith in veteran pieces on short-term deals.
This is a method that proved so successful during the previous campaign. The Commanders had more purpose and urgency with a plethora of players fighting for an extended stay. Peters is hoping the same trend continues in 2025.
It's a risky strategy. The Commanders have no fewer than 48 restricted, unrestricted, or early rights free agents next year. That should become one less once Washington works out a contract extension with wide receiver Terry McLaurin, but it's clear for all to see that big changes to the playing personnel could be coming again.
Peters knows what he's doing. He's more than capable of handling this proverbial power keg effectively when it arrives. Some will earn new deals. Others will be moved on. It could go either way for a select few.
With this in mind, here are five Commanders players battling for their futures when the 2025 season commences.
Commanders players battling for their future as contract drama explodes
Noah Igbinoghene - Commanders CB
The Washington Commanders' cornerback room could become an area of real strength in 2025 if everyone stays healthy and performs as anticipated. Adam Peters added to the unit this offseason with second-round pick Trey Amos and two-time Super Bowl winner Jonathan Jones. There is also confidence around Marshon Lattimore bouncing back to his Pro Bowl-caliber form after finally shaking off a hamstring issue.
Considering the concerns around Washington's defensive front, this will help enormously. This makes it more difficult for Noah Igbinoghene to build on some encouraging strides, but the Commanders gave him another one-year deal this spring to see if it could become the start of something more.
Igbinoghene started 10 regular-season games for the Commanders and was a prominent feature during their remarkable playoff run. He was solid in coverage but displayed vulnerability against the run. Considering how bleak things looked for the former first-round pick out of Auburn once upon a time, it was a step in the right direction regardless.
Building on this is crucial. Igbinoghene isn't guaranteed anything. He looks like the fifth-best cornerback on the Commanders right now, so improving his consistency and showcasing value as a special-teams asset is only going to help his cause.