Five Notable Free Agents Washington Passed on This Offseason

Free agency always comes with the same promise. Fix the obvious problems. Spend some money. Make the roster look better than it did a week ago. The Washington Commanders walked into the market with plenty of cap space and several holes that did not exactly require a detective to find. Edge rusher. Corner. Depth on offense. Running back. Adam Peters has made a few moves already, and some of them make sense. Still, when you look around the league and see where certain players landed, it is fair to wonder which opportunities the Commanders chose not to pursue. These are five notable free agents Washington passed on.

Five Notable Free Agents Washington Passed on This Offseason

Josh Sweat – EDGE

Josh Sweat was one of the top pass rushers to actually reach the market. Arizona made him a priority early in free agency and gave him a big deal to anchor their defensive front. He would have made sense for Washington because he already played in a Dan Quinn-style defense and has multiple seasons with strong pressure numbers.

Instead, Adam Peters chose to spend big on Odafe Oweh and seemingly overpaid for him. Oweh has been an average producer throughout his career except for a recent hot streak with the Chargers. That decision created the obvious debate. Why not pay Sweat, the proven guy? If you are going to spend the money anyway, why not give it to the guy who has earned it?  Peters decided to go with the guy who has more upside. Hopefully the gamble pays off.

Wan’Dale Robinson – WR

Wan’Dale Robinson is coming off a strong 2025 season and was one of the more productive slot receivers available on the market. Tennessee targeted him specifically to help their offense after he posted strong efficiency numbers as a route runner and possession target.

For Washington, this one stands out because the receiver room behind Terry McLaurin still lacks proven depth.

Kenneth Walker III – RB

Kenneth Walker III was one of the more intriguing running backs to reach the market this offseason. Known for his burst and ability to turn small creases into explosive runs, Walker produced multiple big-play seasons in Seattle and showed he could carry a heavy workload when healthy. For a team like Washington that still has questions in the backfield, he would have represented a clear upgrade and a way to take pressure off Jayden Daniels by adding a true home run threat to the run game.

Elgton Jenkins – OL

Elgton Jenkins ended up signing a two-year, $24 million deal with Cleveland. He is one of the most versatile linemen in football, capable of playing all five offensive line positions. Even though Washington extended Laremy Tunsil, depth on the offensive line remains a concern. Jenkins could have been a plug-and-play upgrade in multiple spots. Instead, the Commanders chose continuity. That same continuity allowed Jayden Daniels to get sacked 18 times in seven games.

Greg Newsome II – CB

Cornerback was another glaring need. Greg Newsome ended up signing a one-year deal with the Giants. He is a former first-round pick who still has upside and starting experience. Washington did add Amik Robertson, but that move feels more like a depth addition rather than a true starting corner solution.

The Reality Right Now

The Commanders have improved the defensive front with Oweh, but it does not change the fact that he was overpaid. Aside from that, the roster still has obvious holes.

Corner.
Receiver depth.
Offensive line depth.
Running back.

Hopefully, Adam Peters starts breaking out the checkbook. Filling all these holes with draft picks is not the best route to take.