Grading the signing: Commanders add veteran insurance plan for struggling player and worst possible outcome of NFL Draft

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Josh Taylor | Last updated Mar 26, 2026 7:45 PM ET

The Washington Commanders revamped their roster during the first wave of free agency, but there were still plenty of moves left to make.

They added a ton of new faces on defense, which was the focal point of the offseason, but they weren't done. The Commanders signed CB Amik Robertson to help fix the secondary, but he's likely to be the nickel CB, and they still needed an outside option.

After the first wave of signing, the Commanders brought in CB Ahkello Witherspoon for a visit, and now he's signing with Washington.

Commanders sign CB Ahkello Witherspoon

The Commanders have been heavily linked to top CBs in the 2026 NFL Draft, including Mansoor Delane , so you know they want to keep adding to the position. In the meantime, Daronte Jones gets some veteran help to compete alongside a struggling Mike Sainristil, with Witherspoon signing with the Commanders. Witherspoon is also adding length, which is something else that's missing at 6-2, 195 pounds.

Sources: The #Commanders are signing veteran CB Ahkello Witherspoon.

He started 24 games over the last 3 years with the Rams and had 5 interceptions. pic.twitter.com/lgfnUjvOYL
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 26, 2026

Witherspoon is a 31-year-old veteran who has been on a slow decline, and he battled injuries last season. A to Z Sports beat writer AJ Schulte says he won't be who he used to be, but he can still be effective in the right role.

"Witherspoon was a strong contributor for the Rams in 2024, prompting them to bring him back ahead of 2025. However, he missed most of the year with an injury of his own and was never 100%. Witherspoon can still add a savvy veteran with some size and awareness, but he's lost a step athletically, limiting his scheme viability." – AJ Schulte, A to Z Sports

Grading the signing

It looks like the Commanders are signing Witherspoon at the worst possible time after he played just 174 snaps last season and dealt with a shoulder injury twice, including in the playoffs. We can only imagine that they wouldn't sign him if he was still dealing with his injury, but this signing still doesn't change anything with adding a premier CB in the NFL Draft.

Witherspoon will add depth, which the Commanders haven't had in a while, and he'll be an insurance plan for injuries that pop up. I'm not expecting him to have a huge role next season, but they can't fall apart like they did last season once Trey Amos went down for the season.