7 tantalizing free agents Commanders could steal from NFC East rivals in 2025

The Washington Commanders defied expectations to reach the NFC Championship game in year one under head coach Dan Quinn. What's important now is building on this positivity surge for a sustainable future.

Losing to the Philadelphia Eagles was disappointing, if not entirely unexpected. The Commanders were no match in the trenches and their costly individual errors were punished by the eventual Super Bowl champions en route to shipping 55 points.

It was a harsh lesson for this new squad. It also gave Adam Peters plenty to ponder heading into his second recruitment period.

Peters got way more than he bargained for after gutting the roster last year. He's well-positioned to strengthen the ranks with cap space and draft picks in 2025. Fans are expecting big changes again, but this time with supreme trust attached.

Washington is an attractive destination after years of languishing in the football wilderness. Players are actively seeking out the Commanders rather than turning away at the first sign of interest. Peters can be selective to a certain extent, so striking with conviction is key.

Nothing should be off the table, including examining players within the division who might assist moving forward. With this in mind, here are seven free agents the Commanders could steal from their NFC East rivals in 2025.

Free agents the Commanders could steal from NFC East rivals in 2025

Commanders could sign Josh Sweat

The Washington Commanders need to fortify the trenches to stand any chance of dethroning the Philadelphia Eagles. If they can weaken their primary divisional danger along the way, the better their chances will be.

Generating more pressure would be a good place to start. The Commanders need a genuine pass-rushing threat to go alongside Dorance Armstrong Jr. on the defensive front. Acquiring someone with proven production who can assist immediately won't be cheap, but it's a risk worth taking.

Speculation continues to rise about the Commanders going all in for Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett. While that will get them a lot closer, the compensation would be eye-watering. If Adam Peters decides to go down the free agency route, Josh Sweat's name will come up pretty quickly.

Sweat earned himself a ton of money this season and throughout Philadelphia's playoff run. He caused havoc in the Super Bowl, highlighting his ability to come through in the biggest moments. Although positive for the Eagles, they don't possess the financial resources to keep everyone happy this offseason.

If the Eagles decide to let Sweat test free agency, he'll have a robust market. The Commanders could decide to make him an enticing offer and see if they can lure the Florida State product to D.C.

Commanders could sign Jourdan Lewis

Dan Quinn surrounded himself with people he trusted to smooth his transition. The Washington Commanders benefitted greatly from this approach, so expect a similar trend to continue (albeit less dramatic) in the coming weeks.

Quinn is widely respected around the league. One only has to look at the way his former players talk about him to see that. There also happen to be a couple of notable Dallas Cowboys stars entering free agency who'd likely consider reuniting with the coach in a different environment.

Jourdan Lewis is going under the radar compared to most free agents around the league. He's a solid cornerback capable of assisting in all phases. Nobody will know more about how best to utilize his skill set than Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr., so it'll be fascinating to see if Washington throws its hat in the ring.

Adding Lewis to a cornerback room consisting of Mike Sainristil, Marshon Lattimore, and potentially Noah Igbinoghene represents a productive foursome with position flexibility across the line of scrimmage. Having these options should also give the defensive front seven more time to generate pressure, which is only going to assist Washington's cause.

The Cowboys will make an effort to keep Lewis around. But if Quinn gives him a glowing recommendation, the Commanders should be at the front of the queue if he tests the market.

Commanders could sign Isaiah Simmons

Not every signing in free agency is going to be a marquee name. That's not how Adam Peters works.

The general manager looks for athletic ability and how specific individuals fit within the schematic concepts. This comes through one year, prove it deals with the promise of more if everything goes well. It was a recipe for success in year one of Peters' tenure. Going away from this entirely would be foolish.

Taking some calculated risks on players a little down on their luck was another successful method from Peters' perspective. The likes of Jeremy Chinn, Noah Igbinoghene, and Dante Fowler Jr. thrived with extra responsibilities and another opportunity elsewhere. If the same approach is adopted this time around, examining Isaiah Simmons' potential in greater detail wouldn't be the worst idea in the world.

Simmons was a highly-touted college recruit coming out of Clemson en route to becoming the No. 8 overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. Things didn't quite work out with the Arizona Cardinals, who traded him to the New York Giants. Aside from a few flashes, his stint at MetLife Stadium was largely underwhelming.

This would be cost-effective. Simmons has the size, explosiveness, and athleticism to be impactful within Dan Quinn's defensive system. Nothing would be guaranteed to the player in this scenario — he'd have to earn his spot like everyone else.

Commanders could sign Osa Odighizuwa

As previously mentioned, the Washington Commanders could turn to more former Dan Quinn associates if the right opportunities present themselves this offseason. And there is one name coming up more than most.

The Commanders have some issues to solve on their defensive front. This bears more significance on the interior despite some substantial investments over recent years.

Daron Payne and 2024 second-round pick Johnny Newton will be back. Jonathan Allen's future is less certain with one more year and no guaranteed money remaining on his deal. Trading or releasing the two-time Pro Bowler saves over $16 million on the salary cap, but the Commanders would be losing an inspirational leader within the locker room.

Quinn is reportedly high on Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa. The UCLA product is coming off an outstanding year and developed encouragingly under the coach's guidance during his early seasons. There are some slight worries against the run, but he's one of the league's most productive pass-rushers from the interior.

Odighizuwa is projected to get around $20 million per season on his next deal. If Allen and Payne stay with the team, that's a huge figure to allocate to one position group. It's a tricky conundrum Peters must solve effectively.

Commanders could sign Azeez Ojulari

The Commanders need to find more productive pass-rushers this offseason. They cannot settle with what got them this far. That's not the way Washington is going to become a perennial powerhouse.

Going down the draft route is plausible. This is a deep draft class for defensive linemen and edge rushers. It provides Adam Peters with cheaper alternatives with a longer-term upside attached. At the same time, the general manager can also find players like that in free agency if he looks hard enough.

Azeez Ojulari ticks those boxes. The edge threat is embarking on free agency with his future with the New York Giants unclear. They've already got Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, so the former Georgia standout won't get a better chance to branch out.

Ojulari was the subject of trade speculation before the deadline. Nothing came to fruition, but he's got enough outstanding athletic attributes to generate interest on the free-agent market.

Much will depend on the money involved, but this represents a decent option for the Commanders. If Dante Fowler Jr. departs for a better offer in free agency, this looks like a ready-made replacement with a better outlook for the future.

With a projected market value of $7.6 million per season, it's manageable from the Commanders' standpoint.

Commanders could sign Adoree' Jackson

The Washington Commanders have high hopes surrounding their cornerback tandem of Mike Sainristil and Marshon Lattimore in 2025. With a full offseason together, this has the makings of a productive partnership providing the veteran addition via trade can get back to the form of old.

Aside from that, it's an uncertain position group. Expect general manager Adam Peters to fortify the ranks during the offseason at some stage. Whether that's in free agency or with one of the team's seven draft selections remains to be seen.

Adoree' Jackson saw his snaps plummet with the New York Giants in 2024, which was surprising. The veteran fell out of favor as another campaign spiraled into irrelevancy for Brian Daboll's squad. Even so, this represents a decent rotational piece that would relish the opportunity to challenge himself on a contender.

Jackson is decent in coverage. He might not be the dominant presence of years past, but the Commanders would be getting a veteran leader (for cheap) who excels in run support.

The Commanders could be thinking bigger. However, Peters is going to be methodical and aggressive. Finding solid pros with the right characteristics to be an asset in the locker room is just as important.

Commanders could sign Milton Williams

Arguably nobody did more to boost their bank balance in the playoffs than Milton Williams. The Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman was a one-man wrecking crew on the interior. Couple this with the dominance of Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis on Vic Fangio's 3-4 front, it became an unstoppable trio nobody counteracted effectively.

Williams is going to be a hot commodity on the free-agent market if the Eagles let things get that far. He's gained momentum at the right time with his best football ahead. Producing the goods without Carter and Davis clogging up space will be more difficult, but the former third-round pick out of Louisiana Tech has the talent to make things happen.

The Commanders could decide to pursue Williams. That's dependent on the future of Jonathan Allen or going after someone like Osa Odighizuwa, but nothing should be ruled out entirely right now.

Whether it's with the Eagles, Commanders, or someone else, Williams is going to get paid this offseason. Projections have him in the $20 million per season range. That's money well spent if there's any additional progress as an undisputed alpha elsewhere.

Weakening a division rival just makes this more enticing from Washington's point of view.

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