Commanders release ex-Bills 2nd round defender

The Washington Commanders invested a good chunk of change in their defense, which seems quite rational given the injury and age-related questions surrounding the offense. They intend to be a more well-rounded football team than the one that gave up an NFL-worst 384.0 yards per game last season. Boogie Basham will not get the chance to help them complete that objective. Management is releasing the 28-year-old outside linebacker, per Ian Rapoport of ESPN and NFL Network.

Basham, a 2021 second-round draft pick who began his career with the Buffalo Bills, did not get much time to impress the Dan Quinn-led coaching staff. He was only on the Commanders for a few days before the organization made its decision.

Basham logged 36 snaps for the squad in Friday’s 41-3 preseason loss versus the Baltimore Ravens, per Pro Football Focus. He posted two stops and two missed tackles, a mixed outing that apparently did little to persuade Washington.

The former Wake Forest playmaker now finds himself at a crossroads. He spent two seasons each with Buffalo and the New York Giants and played three games for the Carolina Panthers in 2025. He owns four and a half sacks, 61 combined tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery in 43 NFL games. What does the future have in store for him?

Although Boogie Basham has not had the career that he hoped for after landing in Orchard Park, he undoubtedly lays claim to one of the coolest names around. Obviously, the Virginia native would love to see it plastered on another roster sheet. Stay tuned.