The Washington Commanders are 8-5, doubling their win total from one year ago, and currently hold the seventh and final NFC playoff spot. It’s a remarkable turnaround for the Commanders and first-year head coach Dan Quinn.
After taking over in January, new general manager Adam Peters turned over more than half of Washington’s roster. Since the start of training camp, Peters has gotten rid of the Commanders’ last three first-round picks, who are not named Jayden Daniels. Peters traded wide receiver Jahan Dotson in training camp, released linebacker Jamin Davis in October, and cornerback Emmanuel Forbes last week.
Most of Peters’ offseason signings have worked. Washington signed several players to one-year deals and some to multi-year contracts. With so many players on one-year contracts, the Commanders will have a large class of free agents in 2025. Also, the remaining members of the 2021 NFL draft class will also be free agents, except guard Sam Cosmi, who signed a four-year extension in the summer.
With Washington on a bye this week, let’s take an early look at which players will be free agents in 2025.
LB Bobby Wagner
Bobby Wagner is 34 and still playing at a high level. He has finally ended Washington’s search for a true leader and mike linebacker. On the field and off, Wagner has meant so much to the Commanders this year. He currently has 104 tackles, the 13th consecutive season of 100 or more, behind only London Fletcher.
QB Marcus Mariota
Mariota has only appeared in two games, and he’s played well. Mariota’s role has been as a mentor to Jayden Daniels. The star rookie passer has praised Mariota several times for helping him adjust to the NFL.
S Jeremy Chinn
Chinn started slow for the Commanders but has become one of their best defensive players. Chinn and Washington agreed to a one-year prove-it deal, and it worked well for both sides. Chinn is second on the team with 86 tackles.
TE Zach Ertz
Like Wagner, Ertz isn’t the same player he was in his prime, but the 12-year veteran has been a terrific addition to the Commanders. Ertz is second on the team with 54 receptions and four receiving touchdowns. He, too, has been valuable off the field.
P Tress Way
Can you imagine Washington’s longtime punter in another uniform? Way is having another strong season at 34 years old, averaging 46.5 yards per punt, with 43% of those punts landing inside the 20-yard line.
EDGE Clelin Ferrell
Ferrell got off to a hot start for the Commanders with two sacks in his first two games. However, he’s been plagued by a knee injury for most of the season, missing three games.
EDGE Dante Fowler Jr.
Talk about bang for your buck? Fowler signed a one-year deal, $3.25 million contract in the offseason, has a team-leading 8.5 sacks, and remains on pace to set a new career-high.
CB Michael Davis
Davis signed a one-year deal for the veteran minimum to provide cornerback depth. He’s appeared in all 13 games.
CB Noah Igbinoghene
Igbinoghene has been another excellent value signing, appearing in every game, starting nine. He has 44 tackles and six passes defensed.
OT Cornelius Lucas
There’s a reason the Commanders keep bringing Lucas. He’s reliable. You can play him at left or right tackle, and he delivers. Ideally, Washington would love to keep him as the swing tackle, but he’s started six of the 11 games he has played.
OL Trent Scott
Washington’s fourth tackle has had to play more than expected this season. Scott has played in every game, mostly on special teams, and has had one start at right tackle.
G/C Michael Deiter
Deiter was signed to provide depth at all three interior positions. The Commanders have remained mostly healthy at center and guard, with Deiter playing only 4% of the offensive snaps.
WR Olamide Zaccheaus
Zaccheaus has been a reliable target for Daniels when he’s played on offense. He’s also served as Washington’s primary punt returner.
WR Dyami Brown
The fourth-year wide receiver seems to have found a role in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. Known as a deep threat, Brown has shown there is more to his game in 2024. He’s excellent on those screen plays with the ball in his hands.
WR Noah Brown
The Commanders signed Brown just before the regular season after the Texans surprisingly released him. He’s been Washington’s defacto No. 2 wide receiver. Brown is third on the Commanders with 56 targets.
WR Jamison Crowder
Jamison Crowder was initially expected to serve as the Commanders’ primary punt returner for a second straight season but has missed 11 games with an injury.
RB Jeremy McNichols
Remember when some questioned why the Commanders kept the veteran McNichols? McNichols has stepped up every time his number has been called this year—another good, valuable pickup for the Commanders.
RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. (ERFA)
Multiple times, Rodriguez has been back and forth between the practice squad, the 53-man roster, and waivers. The Commanders are fortunate another team hasn’t claimed him. He will continue to have a valuable role down the stretch.
CB Benjamin St-Juste
St-Juste has started most of his four-year career, but when the Commanders traded for Marshon Lattimore and drafted Mike Sainristil, it brought St-Juste’s future into question. St-Juste is a physical corner, but he does not make plays on the ball, which is something Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. demand.
K Austin Seibert
The Commanders may have found a gem in Seibert. He signed in Week 2, immediately helped Washington defeat the Giants, and became a consistent force until injuring his hip ahead of Week 10. He missed two games, returned in Week 12, missed two extra points and a field goal, and was placed on IR. Seibert clearly wasn’t healthy when he returned.
K Zane Gonzalez
Gonzalez kicked in place of Seibert for two games and was perfect. However, he missed two field goals in his first game after Seibert went on IR.
DT Sheldon Day
Sheldon Day was signed to bring experienced depth in the middle of Washington’s defense line. The nine-year veteran signed with the practice squad ahead of Week 1 and was promoted to the 53-man roster after Jonathan Allen’s injury. Day has played significant snaps since signing with Washington.
DL Jalyn Holmes
Holmes is another in-season veteran addition. He has been effective in his role, appearing in all seven games since signing with Washington.
LB Nick Bellore
The Pro Bowl special-teams player has been an excellent addition to Washington’s special teams. Outside of the loss to Dallas, the Commanders have been excellent in coverage. Bellore is a critical part of that unit.
LB Mykal Walker
Walker has been an integral part of Washington’s special teams units.
S Darrick Forrest
The former fifth-round pick was excellent in his first few years when he was on the field. He’s been healthy this season but has been inactive for much of the year. He has played more recently.
TE John Bates
Bates has earned the praise of head coach Dan Quinn more than once. A blocking-first tight end, Bates has been an integral part of Washington’s offense, specifically in the running game.
QB Jeff Driskel
Jeff Driskel won the No. 3 quarterback job with a strong training camp and preseason. Fortunately for Washington, Daniels has remained healthy.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders have 28 players currently slated to become free agents in 2025
