Commanders Sign DT Byron Cowart

Cowart is a veteran of 51 NFL games, although he missed all of last season due to an ankle injury. The 30-year-old has totaled 21 starts in his career, including 14 with the Patriots in 2020 and seven with the Bears in 2025. A rotational role will be of course sought out in Washington, given the timing of this deal.

In June, Cowart was among the veterans who worked out with the Falcons. That effort did not result in a contract and extended his time on the open market. The Maryland product will nevertheless return to a familiar setting for the remainder of training camp and the preseason. Cowart will join a defensive line group featuring the likes of Daron Payne, Javon Kinlaw and Jer’Zhan Newton atop the depth chart. If he can manage to earn a roster spot, Cowart will offer considerable experience as a backup.

In other Commanders roster moves, the team announced that guard Sala Aumavae-Laulu and safety Robert McDaniel have each been cut. Both players will now hit the waiver wire, and a claim should not be expected in either case. Washington entered Tuesday with over $43MM in cap space; this Cowart deal will not notably reduce that figure. The Commanders will therefore have the flexibility to make several other roster tweaks over the coming weeks if needed.