Deatrich Wise Jr. and Noah Fant (86)
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The Washington Commanders made a double move along the defensive line before 2026 NFL free agency, including deciding a Super Bowl winner's future.
Free agency isn’t even underway, but the Washington Commanders are already making moves, signing two defensive linemen to new deals, including a Super Bowl winner whose immediate future will now involve being a potential asset in the schemes of new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones.
Versatile defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. “reached agreement today on a one-year extension that will prevent him from entering free agency, per his agent Drew Rosenhaus,” according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, reporting on Wednesday, March 4.
Re-signing Wise, who lifted the Lombardi Trophy with the 2018 New England Patriots, makes sense, despite the 31-year-old losing almost all of the 2025 NFL season to a torn quad. The injury robbed the Commanders of a trench warrior who was supposed to fortify a soft run defense, a role Wise will still be expected to perform once he’s healthy this year.
Beef and depth up front will be keys to the Commanders getting tougher against the run, so it’s hardly surprising the team also secured an extension with defensive tackle Shy Tuttle. Schefter reported former Tennessee Titans D-tackle Tuttle “reached agreement today on a one-year extension that will prevent him from hitting the free agent market next week, per his agents Drew Rosenhaus and Kyle Lincoln.”
Tuttle and Wise inking fresh terms are the first moves toward a necessary overhaul of Washington’s defensive front this offseason. A process that must bring in some elite talent for the position group, particularly at the edges.
This article will be updated…