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Commanders Free Agent Fits: Wide Receiver
Taking a look at some wide receivers that the Washington Commanders could potentially target in free agency
After trading for Deebo Samuel, you might think the Washington Commanders won’t be prioritizing wide receivers in free agency next week. However, Samuel joins as just the third receiver under contract alongside Terry McLaurin and Luke McCaffrey. The Commanders still need more receivers to fill out the room. They will likely try to bring back a few of their own free agents, including the likes of Noah Brown, Dyami Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus, but in a weak free agent class, anyone that hits the open market could end up getting a bigger contract than expected.
There’s speculation after the NFL Combine that Dyami Brown could garner more interest than expected despite his lack of production after a couple of strong playoff performances. That could leave the Commanders needing to dip into the free agent market themselves to fill out their receiver room. If they are to do that, who might fit? Let’s take a closer look.
The Athletic (paywall)
Commanders mock draft 2.0: Attacking the trenches, adding cornerback help
Round 1, No. 29: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
Now that Washington has only six selections, trading out of the first round is tempting. It takes a partner to get such a deal done. That won’t be an issue if a third quarterback (Jaxson Dart?) finds himself in the late first-round conversation and another team wants the passer and the fifth-year option. Let’s consider that more seriously following free agency.
Brandon Coleman showed promise at left tackle last season with his blend of power and athleticism. The 2024 third-round pick also allowed 10 sacks and didn’t quiet those who felt his long-term position would be at right tackle or guard. That neither Peters nor coach Dan Quinn at the NFL Scouting Combine answered affirmatively about Coleman maintaining left tackle duties kept the idea of a move open.
Even with the status quo, Washington can justify going tackle because right tackle Andrew Wylie is entering the final year of his contract. Last season’s two backups, Cornelius Lucas and Trent Scott, are free agents. If they re-sign Lucas, the Commanders can allow a newbie to learn or, in the case of the 6-foot-5, 317-pound Simmons, recover from an injury before being thrust into action.
Commanders.com
2025 free agency preview | Offensive skill players
The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team.
The Commanders...have 28 pending free agents on their roster, including several players who contributed to their success. So, Peters said, the team will be active in free agency because “we have to” in order to put together a roster. That means much of Washington’s capital will be dedicated to retaining its own talent.
Still, there are opportunities for the Commanders to improve their roster in 2025, so in anticipation of free agency opening on March 13 at 4 p.m., Commanders.com is going to look at some of the top players set to become available on each side of the ball. We’ll start by looking at offensive skill players.
— WR Brandin Cooks: Cooks was sidelined for seven games with an injury and is in the later stages of his career at 31 years old, but he has a history of being productive throughout his 11 NFL seasons. In 2023, he scored eight receiving touchdowns — his highest total since 2016.
— RB Cam Akers: The Commanders aren’t in serious need at running back with Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler under contract, although they could address the bottom of the depth chart at some point. Akers, who last played for the Vikings, had a promising finish to the season with six rushes for 65 yards.
Riggo’s Rag
5 Washington Commanders free agent targets to reach another level in 2025
The Commanders went close in 2024, but they must keep their foot on the throttle.
Commanders could sign Dayo Odeyingbo
Dayo Odeyingbo gained just three sacks for the Indianapolis Colts in 2024. That doesn’t exactly scream major improvement, but further examination of the edge rusher highlights how impactful he could be for the Commanders in 2025.
There is more to football than stuffing the stat sheet. That helps, of course, but Odeyingbo’s best work came in different ways.
He’s a stout force to move off the block against the run. Odeyingbo sets the edge impressively and has the hand placement needed to shed blocks when required. This is an area the Commanders lacked last season, especially versus the better ground attacks across the league.
Odeyingbo can also cause havoc in opposing backfields. The sack numbers weren’t there this season, but the former second-round selection managed 42 total pressures and 25 quarterback hurries. Linking up with two outstanding defensive minds — head coach Dan Quinn and coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. — will help take his game to new heights.
Although Odeyingbo is going overlooked compared to other high-profile edge rushers, there’s growing speculation that significant interest will emerge in free agency if the Colts let him test the market as expected. That could also include the Commanders, who desperately need better edge options next time around.
And who knows, perhaps being in a stable franchise with big aspirations could light a fire under Odeyingbo we haven’t yet seen.
Podcasts & videos
Episode 1,022 - Guest: @DanPizzuta.
- the market inefficiency Washington is exploiting w/ the Deebo Samuel trade
- why Deebo is a great fit in Kliff Kingsbury's offense
- Kliff's impressive adaptation & evolving w/ his offense
- Jayden Daniels analysis https://t.co/662b3y5ZBl
— Al Galdi (@AlGaldi) March 6, 2025
️Talking free agency and the Deebo trade with @greggrosenthal. Pick your adventure at DE (Khalil Mack?), WR (Davante Adams?) and safety (re-sign Jeremy Chinn?). Jonathan Allen and Bobby Wagner. Plus, a spin around the NFC East. https://t.co/MvSgcgzrTQ
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) March 5, 2025
Five things I think: on free agency; more on Deebo Samuel; why the Commanders need Ertz back and more. @ESPNRichmond https://t.co/GiKtYOCLdj
— John Keim (@john_keim) March 6, 2025
Talking with @gregcosell: Davante Adams released, NFL Combine reaction, & more https://t.co/UmtbJ5A7hn
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) March 5, 2025
THE DEEBO SAMUEL DOCUMENTARY
NFC East links
Blogging the Boys
Cowboys restructure Dak Prescott deal and create massive salary cap space
This news comes just one day after the Cowboys flicked their wand over CeeDee Lamb’s deal and created $20M in salary cap space. As Todd Archer did the math on, that is $56.5M created in a 24 hour period (approximating here). Again, that easy.
To be clear here, these are moves that were very predictable. They were not predictable as of late, they were predictable the moment that the deals were negotiated late last year. This is all by design and is a common occurrence in the NFL.
Restructures are mechanisms that the team employ and have nothing to do with the players in terms of decisions. No money is lost from the players, this is all about the accounting of things relative to the salary cap as noted.
OverTheCap now has the Cowboys with the eighth-most salary cap space (actual and effective) in the NFL. That is more than enough to be active next week.
NFL league links
Articles
Washington Post (paywall)
Raiders’ Maxx Crosby becomes the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback
The 27-year-old defensive end and pass rushing specialist agreed to a three-year, $106.5 million contract extension with Las Vegas on Wednesday.
After agreeing with the Las Vegas Raiders on a three-year, $106.5 million contract extension, Maxx Crosby is now the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback.
The $35.5 million average annual value of the pact, which includes $91.5 million guaranteed, places the veteran defensive end ahead of Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who inked a four-year contract extension last year that has an average annual value of $35 million.
The Raiders haven’t officially announced the parameters of Crosby’s extension. A person familiar with the contract terms confirmed to The Washington Post numbers that had been reported by multiple outlets earlier on Wednesday.
ESPN
2025 NFL free agency: Underrated players who could be steals
G Will Fries
2024 team: Indianapolis Colts | Age entering 2025 season: 27
I’ll give every non-Colts fan reading this $5 if they can tell me what school Fries was drafted from, and in which round. (I’m not going to actually do that; I don’t have that much money.) A relative unknown in the larger NFL scope, Fries — a 2021 seventh-rounder out of Penn State — won the starting right guard job in just his second season. He is not the most physically imposing blocker the league has ever seen, but he’s quick, technically sound and still has enough power to uproot smaller defensive tackles. From Week 10 in 2022 (when he won the job) to Week 5 in 2024 (when he fractured his fibula), Fries was clearly one of the best young guards in football.
Fries’ market is a fascinating one relative to that of a Mekhi Becton, who is the exact opposite: often unbalanced or unsound technically, but an absolute mauler and a keystone player of a supersized rushing attack. Becton’s background as a first-round pick, his splashy plays on tape and a little Jeff Stoutland shine from his season in Philadelphia probably will get him paid in this cycle — and for some teams, Becton is a better fit than Fries. But Fries is the better player, especially on gotta-have-it downs in pass protection.
The guard market has been robust in recent years, so finding a good deal for Fries is tricky — if a team wants to land him, it will almost certainly have to overpay. Jon Runyan got $30 million over three years from the Giants last year at a similar age to Fries. Two years ago, 29-year-old Shaq Mason got $36 million over three years from the Texans. Fries has comfortably played better than both for multiple seasons.
Fries probably will shoot to beat the deals that Ben Powers (four years, $51.5 million) and Damien Lewis (four years, $53 million) got when they changed teams last offseason, and could even get into Kevin Dotson range (three years, $48 million) if the market for guards is as strong as it was a year ago. The Chargers are a strong possibility, as are the Patriots, who can move Mike Onwenu along the line. One other team to watch? The Cowboys, who for the first time in a decade, have a hole at right guard to fill after the retirement of Zack Martin.
The deep cuts
Everyone I identified above could very well sign a solid contract on Day 1 of free agency. Everyone below ... probably will not. But even if they don’t get big contracts and clear starting roles, I like all of them to provide value in the right schemes. These are good but imperfect players who are a critical part of any successful team. Coaches get paid to turn these guys into contributors.
Commanders CB Noah Igbinoghene: The former Dolphins first-round pick looked like a bust before Dan Quinn moved him to the slot in Washington. Igbinoghene received starting reps only after injuries and poor play above him shuffled the depth chart, but he played solid ball in the nickel and should be given another starting shot at a CB3 spot, in Washington or elsewhere.
All aTwitter