5 Commanders battling for their future as contract drama explodes

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.

Percy Butler - Commanders S

Most thought Percy Butler would be a salary-cap cut candidate this offseason if the necessary upgrades were found. That's not the case anymore.

Butler came in for significant praise during the Washington Commanders' offseason workout program. Head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. commended the safety for making strides on the field and as a leader. If the same trend continues over camp, he'll likely have a similar role entering the final year of his deal.

The Commanders replaced Jeremy Chinn with Will Harris, but that was about it regarding safety enhancements. That could change before Week 1 against the New York Giants arrives, so it'll be interesting to see if the likes of Butler can convince the coaching staff to run it back.

There are higher stakes attached to Butler's performance levels than most. He's a dependable special-teams contributor but has struggled on the defensive rotation when opportunities came his way. Unless the Commanders are suitably impressed by his progress when he gets a chance, the former fourth-round pick might not get another new deal from the franchise.

Butler is fighting back after being deemed a lost cause. But make no mistake, the next few months will ultimately determine whether he gets another commitment.

Noah Brown - Commanders WR

Noah Brown is a tremendous asset for the Commanders' passing game to call upon when fit and firing on all cylinders. But unless the wide receiver can stay healthy, this could be his final year in Washington.

Brown slotted in extremely well after arriving late last summer. The Commanders scooped up the veteran pass-catcher after he failed to make the Houston Texans' squad. After getting a couple of weeks to adjust, he became a useful deep threat thanks to his shrewd route-running and ability to create defensive pass interference penalties.

The Commanders kept faith with Brown despite suffering an internal issue that required kidney surgery. That was the right call, but seeing the former Ohio State standout get carted off during Washington's mandatory minicamp highlighted how precarious his situation is.

One would have thought that Brown's injury prognosis would have been revealed by now if it were anything serious. That bodes well for his chances of hitting the ground running in 2025, but his future beyond the upcoming campaign remains under a cloud.

Washington has plenty of competition in the receiver room, which is only going to assist quarterback sensation Jayden Daniels. Brown is a lock to make the team, but he'll need to stay ahead of players like Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane to get another deal.

Brian Robinson Jr. - Commanders RB

The running back dynamic didn't get the massive shake-up most Washington Commanders fans were expecting this offseason. Adam Peters focused his attention on the offensive line, believing that the ground attack would improve if the offensive trenches received the correct investment.

The Commanders drafted Jacory Croskey-Merritt in the seventh round. Asking him to accumulate starting reps is unfair so early into his development. That places the onus squarely on Brian Robinson Jr. to lead from the front and potentially get a new deal along the way.

Robinson started last season well before tailing off. The punishment took a heavy toll, and the former third-round pick out of Alabama has never eclipsed more than 800 rushing yards throughout his three-year career to date. Anything less than a 1,000-yard rushing campaign this time around could see the Commanders go in a different direction.

This hasn't gone unnoticed by Robinson. Kliff Kingsbury lauded the player's raised urgency and approach throughout Washington's offseason program. He's heard the criticism and knows it's the last chance to cement himself as a potential franchise cornerstone. The tempo has increased accordingly, but this remains an uncertain predicament for the fourth-year pro.

Paying running backs is becoming a popular trend again around the league. If Robinson shows enough, the Commanders could follow suit.

Deebo Samuel Sr. - Commanders WR

The Commanders needed to boost Jayden Daniels' supporting cast this offseason. Adam Peters kicked this off by stunning the NFL world with a bold trade to acquire Deebo Samuel Sr. from the San Francisco 49ers.

Samuel is coming off a down year with questions about his conditioning and attitude. They seem pretty far from the wide receiver who's come to Washington. His impression was emphatic and immediate over early workouts. He's also been working exceptionally hard away from the team to silence some increasing doubters.

This represents a low-risk gamble for the Commanders. It'll be a one-year rental if Samuel doesn't reach his billing. There's also a good chance he'll get extended if the former second-round pick out of South Carolina bounces back to anything like his All-Pro form.

Keeping him healthy and focused is key. He seems highly motivated to make those who've doubted him eat their words. This looks like an outstanding scheme fit for Kliff Kingsbury's offense and should make Daniels' life a lot easier over the short-to-intermediate areas of the field. And Samuel's versatility is his superpower.

Samuel needs a huge campaign to get anything like the money he's on right now. But don't be surprised if the accomplished performer bounces back.

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