Commanders Secure the Trenches, Re-Signing Guard Chris Paul to $3M Deal

ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders refuse to gamble with Jayden Daniels’ protection. General Manager Adam Peters struck again this week, re-signing reliable left guard Chris Paul to a one-year, $3 million contract. Paul tested the free-agent waters but ultimately chose to return to the only professional franchise he has ever known. The move guarantees Washington returns all five primary offensive line starters from their 2025 campaign.

From Draft Day Afterthought to Concrete Starter

Paul did not just hold the line last season; he built a wall. The 2022 seventh-round pick seized the starting left guard spot early in the year and never let go. He suited up for all 17 games in 2025 and earned 15 starts. Pass rushers rarely found a way around his 6-foot-4, 324-pound frame. Paul allowed exactly one sack and committed only two penalties over the entire season. Expanding the lens, he has surrendered just four sacks across his 34-game career. That is elite pass-blocking efficiency for a player making backup money.

Watching from the sidelines late last season, the physical transformation in Paul’s game was obvious. The game slowed down for him. He processed defensive stunts instantly and anchored against bull rushes that would have overwhelmed him as a rookie. He fought his way from the 230th overall pick to a highly coveted free agent, and his return injects immediate grit into new offensive coordinator David Blough’s system.

“I’m just really excited and really honored to be back with my brothers. What I know about this organization is we are all about competition.”
— Chris Paul, Commanders Guard

Playoff Implications / What’s Next

This $3 million deal perfectly complements the massive two-year, $30 million extension Washington just handed to left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Tunsil and Paul spent the entire 2025 season building chemistry on the left side of the line. Tunsil actively mentored the younger guard, and retaining that continuity gives Daniels a pristine, trusted pocket on his blindside.

Paul still has room to grow. While Pro Football Focus handed him a stellar 78.2 pass-blocking grade, his run-blocking mark dragged behind at a brutal 38.2. If Paul refines his leverage in the ground game, Washington’s offense will physically dominate the NFC East. He enters the team’s offseason program knowing he must battle to keep his starting job, but the physical tools and the mindset are already in the building. Washington just bought themselves a high-upside trench warrior for pennies on the dollar.