Jalyn Holmes and 4 underrated Commanders who must be re-signed in 2025

Adam Peters has a big offseason ahead. He's currently attending the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine to assess potential draft targets. Before attention turns to recruitment, the Washington Commanders must figure out what to do with their 29 free agents.

The Commanders have enough salary-cap space to extend whoever they want. This is an exciting project to be part of, so players would jump at the chance of a prolonged stay. That's not going to be the case with everyone.

Big changes are coming to the playing personnel once again. The Commanders reached the NFC Championship game against all odds, but that won't stop Peters from making widespread alterations in pursuit of overtaking the division-rival, Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the not-too-distant future.

There will be a few surprises along the way. Peters has a price in mind for almost everyone and is unlikely to waver from his stance. Some will get extended with little fuss. Others could decide to take their chances elsewhere despite the franchise's newfound momentum.

With this in mind, here are five underrated free agents the Commanders must re-sign this offseason. We'll start with defensive lineman Jalyn Holmes.

Underrated Commanders played who must be re-signed in 2025

Jalyn Holmes - Commanders DL

The Washington Commanders need more in the trenches on either side of the football. Watching both fronts get demolished by the Philadelphia Eagles with the Super Bowl in sight should be the reality check Adam Peters needs to rectify these issues.

That said, it might be worth keeping Jalyn Holmes around. The defensive lineman came into the fold during the campaign following his departure from the New York Jets. He got up to speed quickly and flashed when called upon on the starting rotation for good measure.

Holmes isn't a world-beater by any stretch. However, he's a solid pro who could benefit greatly from a full offseason in the scheme. That wouldn't come with any guarantees, but it won't cost the Commanders much to find out one way or another.

Attention centers on Jonathan Allen's future with the organization with one year and no guaranteed money remaining on his deal. Tying down Holmes to another one-year deal gives the former fourth-round selection a legitimate chance to prove himself seems like a viable option. If it doesn't work out, the Commanders can move off him with little fanfare attached.

While upgrading the defensive front with a genuine difference-maker is almost guaranteed, there's a lot of merit to keeping a depth guy like Holmes around too.

Jamison Crowder - Commanders WR/KR

The Washington Commanders have some tough decisions to make with their wide receivers this offseason. Only Terry McLaurin and Luke McCaffrey are under contract in 2025. What Adam Peters needs to figure out is which players should stay and how many new arrivals are needed.

Jamison Crowder's future could go either way. The veteran wide receiver will be 32 years old next season and missed a lot of time with injury, but his experience and special teams prowess might be enough for another short-term deal.

Crowder was one of the very few holdovers from the previous regime to get extended by the Commanders. He's a savvy route runner with assured hands. While his problems staying healthy represented a frustrating element of the equation, keeping him on the books on a vet minimum deal with the chance to compete for a roster spot is something Peters will consider.

It could easily go the other way. McCaffrey flashed in the return game last season and should benefit from another offseason to develop. The Commanders are well positioned to go after upgrades to the options around McLaurin for quarterback Jayden Daniels. Crowder's future could depend on how many new additions come into the fold.

His close association with the team and leadership qualities improve Crowder's chances. What comes after that is down to the player.

Noah Igbinoghene - Commanders CB

The Commanders' cornerback room also needs a few tweaks this offseason. Extending Noah Igbinoghene in some capacity would ease this potential complication slightly.

Igbinoghene reunited with Dan Quinn in Washington. They spent time together on the Dallas Cowboys and the head coach believed he had something to offer. A notable position switch during the campaign lit a fire under the former first-round pick.

When Emmanuel Forbes Jr. and Benjamin St-Juste struggled early in the season, the Commanders had to change gears. They moved rookie second-rounder Mike Sainristil to the boundary and Igbinoghene into the slot. There were deficiencies against the run, but the Auburn product coped well with his new responsibilities overall.

This represents a crash course in nickel duties. Igbinoghene held his own in coverage and came up with some big plays in key moments. It wasn't perfect by any stretch. Even so, it represented the most consistent production of his professional career so far.

It strengthens Igbinoghene's position regarding an extension. He knows the coaching staff's demands. He's familiar with the schematics and should have gained a lot of confidence from his efforts in 2024. This wouldn't be anything more than another short-term agreement, but it's worth doing from Adam Peters' perspective.

Cornelius Lucas - Commanders OT

As mentioned previously, the Washington Commanders need to find solutions in the trenches. Adam Peters needs to bolster the offensive line and ensure quarterback Jayden Daniels has the protection needed to excel. Nothing else will do.

The offensive tackle spots could be addressed in some capacity. Speculation remains about whether Brandon Coleman would be better suited to the interior and right tackle Andrew Wylie is a potential salary-cap casualty. It's a fine line for Peters, but one he must get right.

Cornelius Lucas enters free agency this spring. The dependable veteran performed extremely well when called upon in 2024. He split blindside reps with Coleman over the early stages of the campaign. An unfortunate injury thrust the rookie into the limelight, leaving him as Washington's key swing tackle.

Lucas gave up one sack and three penalties from 464 offensive snaps. His 79.8 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus ranked 25th among 141 qualifying offensive tackles. He manned the right or left tackle positions positively. Every team needs a player like that.

Regardless of whether the Commanders acquire additional reinforcements or not, they need to extend Lucas on another short-term deal. He's a dependable professional who never lets the team down. This should be rewarded accordingly by the front office.

Marcus Mariota - Commanders QB

Jayden Daniels took center stage during a rookie campaign for the ages. The quarterback propelled himself to superstardom quicker than anyone envisaged en route to one of the greatest rookie seasons in league history. Washington is in safe hands, but this doesn't happen without a strong support system in place.

The Commanders worked hard to put the right structure around Daniels. Kliff Kingsbury, David Blough, Tavita Pritchard, and Brian Johnson formed the core coaches. Washington also added a productive veteran to mentor the Heisman Trophy winner in the form of Marcus Mariota.

Nobody expected Mariota to feature much in the starting lineup. The former Oregon standout accepted his role and embraced it, becoming a pillar for Daniels to lean on through the good times and bad. This was the biggest positive imaginable during his sensational transition.

Mariota also played well when opportunities arose. He led the Commanders to a resounding victory over the Carolina Panthers when Daniels got hurt on the first drive. Looking at the free-agent class and the quarterback group emerging from the college ranks, this might be enough for an opportunity to compete for a starting job elsewhere.

That would be a hard proposition to turn down at this stage of his career. The Commanders cannot offer Mariota that, but they must try to re-sign the signal-caller.

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