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Commanders Free Agent Fits: Interior Defensive Line
Good Value: Sebastian Joseph-Day, Titans, 30
Joseph-Day is defensive lineman with a link to the Commanders coaching staff. New defensive line coach Eric Henderson coached Joseph-Day for three years with the Rams from 2019-2021. Joseph-Day is an interesting profile as he’s so versatile. He’s listed at 6-foot-4, 310 pounds and can play up and down the line, including on the edge.
Why is it important he can play on the edge? In the projected switch to the 3-4, Jones will have those defensive ends typically lined up in 4i techniques, which is the inside shoulder of the offensive tackle. But when he doesn’t want to blitz, or if he wants to shift the front, that defender will then need to adapt and shift to the edge, working outside of the tackle, as we saw on this play. I expect this is something that Daron Payne, Javon Kinlaw and Johnny Newton will all get looks at doing, but Joseph-Day is very comfortable doing that already, having done it for both the Titans and the Rams under Henderson.
Riggo’s Rag
Odafe Oweh should be available for the Commanders in free agency if they want him
The New York Jets gave themselves some breathing space with running back Breece Hall. Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones got the transition tag. The Dallas Cowboys tagged wide receiver George Pickens, and the Atlanta Falcons did the same with stud tight end Kyle Pitts Sr.
But it was those who didn’t get tagged who would pique the Commanders’ interest.
All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson was one of them, and he promptly said goodbye to the Cincinnati Bengals on social media. That could be tempting, but there is another who offers a better long-term promise: someone who could finally provide Jones and head coach Dan Quinn with the dynamism they are looking for.
Despite the Los Angeles Chargers having enough salary cap space, they decided not to franchise-tag Odafe Oweh. This was mildly surprising, especially considering they traded for the player in-season after striking a deal with the Baltimore Ravens. But they could work out a long-term commitment if another club doesn’t get in there first.
That’s where the Commanders come in.
They could offer Oweh a cornerstone role on Jones’ defense. They also have enough cash to make the player an offer he cannot refuse. And even though Washington struggled to reach expectations last season, this remains an ambitious project and an attractive destination.
The Commanders are not the only ones who could target Oweh to take their defensive front up a notch. A bidding war is only going to drive up the price, so there is a good chance he could get $20 million or more on his next deal.
Asking Oweh to be a focal point rather than a rotational option — he played 50 percent of defensive snaps over 12 games for the Chargers — is a lot. But the Commanders did the same with Dorance Armstrong Jr., who was in the midst of a breakout campaign before a knee injury brought an abrupt halt to his momentum.
Oweh recently turned 27. His prime is just beginning, so the Commanders may see this as a more viable option than Hendrickson, who has the most accomplished production but is a little older. And if Jones is planning on switching the Commanders to a 3-4 base scheme, the Penn State product has the athleticism needed to flourish.
Commanders Roundtable
Four free agent or college cornerbacks Washington Commanders could target in 2026
Jamel Dean, Tampa Bay
For the first time in his career, Dean is set to hit free agency.
He’s coming off a strong 2025 season where he graded as PFF’s third-best cornerback across the league, registering a career-high three interceptions to pair with nine pass deflections. While the Commanders new defensive scheme under Daronte Jones may not be as complex as Vikings coordinator Brian Flores, Dean did well in Todd Bowles’ complex defensive scheme to provide credence of the fit in Washington.
Dean allowed completions on just 49.2% of his targets while allowing a 63.1 passer rating when targeted. Dean has also battled injuries during his career as he has yet to play a full season in seven years in the NFL, but after agreeing to a restructured contract and less money ahead of 2025, he could get paid in 2026. ESPN ranks Dean as the 50th-best player available in free agency as Spotrac projects a three year, $37.4 million contract.
Commanders.com
2026 free agency preview | OL and TEs
The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team.
Offensive line
Cade Mays, Carolina Panthers
- There’s a noticeable gap between Linderbaum and the next available center, and Mays seems to be in that second group. The 2022 sixth-round pick has carved out a nice career for himself, though, with 27 starts in 52 games. He emerged as a more consistent starter last season and allowed just 11 pressures with zero sacks.
Zion Johnson, Los Angeles Chargers
- Johnson has played exclusively at left guard for the past three seasons, and the move seems to have done him some good. While he still has work to do as both a pass- and run-blocker, he did have a career-high efficiency rating of 97.7 last season with a career-low in pressures allowed.
Tight ends
Charlie Kolar, Baltimore Ravens
- Although Kolar has caught 73.2% of his targets, he’s not considered a premier pass-catching tight end. He’s known more for his abilities as a run-blocker, and he’s played an important role in establishing the Ravens’ ground attack. It’s hard to imagine the Ravens losing both Kolar and Likely in the same offseason, but it seems like they’re at least willing to let them test the market.
Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
- If the 2025 season was Goedert’s last in Philadelphia, it was certainly a memorable way to leave. He scored a career-high 11 touchdowns — more than he did in the last three seasons combined — and broke the record for the most touchdowns by a tight end in franchise history. He’s one of the best tight ends to ever play for the Eagles, so it would be difficult to imagine him leaving, but hey, Zach Ertz did it.
Heavy.com
Commanders suddenly become top landing spot for Jonthan Greenard
In terms of draft compensation, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported that the Vikings would be seeking a Day two pick in exchange for Greenard. But given the Vikings’ cap issues, it wouldn’t be surprising if they end up accepting a day three selection.
Adding Greenard would provide the team flexibility with the seventh overall pick.
The secondary is one area the Commanders could address instead. They just released cornerback Marshon Lattimore after they posted the third-worst coverage grade as a team in 2025, according to PFF. In this case, LSU defensive back Mansoor Delane could be the optimal choice for them. The Commanders could also be looking for a new weapon for Jayden Daniels, and receivers like Ohio State’s Carnell Tate or Arizona State’s Jordan Tyson are popular names who could fit.
While Greenard perhaps doesn’t offer the long-term upside of a young-draft prospect, he is still an effective player who could bring a steady edge presence for a couple of seasons.
After posting 24.5 total sacks across the 2023 and 2024 seasons, Greenard’s three-sack 2025 campaign looks disappointing. However, he did miss five games, and despite that, he still tied for the Vikings’ lead in pressures with 24 and ranked 17th league-wide in quarterback hurries. He was 31st in total pressures, which suggests that he wasn’t inefficient as a pass-rusher last year; he just didn’t collect the sack stat. Vikings fans reportedly joked all year that he was the king of “almost sacks.”
While not the best nickname to have, it does suggest that Greenard hasn’t lost a step as a player and was perhaps more unlucky than anything. Then you add in the fact that he wasn’t fully healthy. Greenard was also battling a shoulder injury that ultimately ended his season earlier. Combining all these factors makes it clear that 2025 may have more of an outlier than anything.
NFL.com
Von Miller not planning to retire: ‘They’re still falling for the same tricks’
Joining The Rich Eisen Show, Miller said he’s still got gas left in the tank for a 15th season.
“I’m definitely not at the beginning, but they’re still falling for the same tricks,” Miller said when asked if he was nearing the end. “I can’t leave. They’re still falling for this stuff. I gotta roll the dice again. I had nine sacks last year, and I only played 35, 37 percent, so they’re still falling for it. They’re still falling for the same tricks I’ve been doing my whole career. I’m going to keep rolling the dice until they figure it out.”
Far from his perennial All-Pro days, the soon-to-be 37-year-old proved to be a valuable piece in Washington last season, leading the Commanders with nine sacks and earning 15 QB hits, 26 tackles and six tackles for loss in 17 games – his first time playing a full slate since 2018.
Last offseason, Miller chose the Commander over the Seahawks, a decision he said he’d do “10 times out of 10.” He noted that the presence of Jayden Daniels and Washington’s previous run to the NFC Championship in 2024 was the reason he chose Washington over the eventual Super Bowl champs. It’s hard to fault Miller for the choice at the time, but, in his mind, it underscores the need to make the right decision this time around.
“I’m a loyal guy. I would love to stay with the Washington Commanders,” he said. “I fell in love with my teammates there. I love the way they run the organization. (General manager) Adam Peters is great. Coach (Dan) Quinn is great. I would love to be a Washington Commander. If something were to happen and I’m not a Washington Commander, then I would love to go to the Denver Broncos. I didn’t get that chance — I got traded whenever I was there — I didn’t get that chance to have closure. I didn’t get to walk into the stadium and be like, ‘OK, this is my last game’ or ‘I’m gonna do this with the fans.’ I didn’t get that closure. So, I would love to have closure with the Denver Broncos. And if, hey, the Commanders don’t want me, the Broncos don’t want me, there’s a team out there that’s gonna pick me up that would love to have my tricks on their roster. I just play it by ear. This is my second time doing it. I kind of know what to expect. Just got to make the best out of whatever decision I get.”
Miller isn’t likely to be among the first wave of free agency, and could be a player who waits until after the draft to peg the best situation moving forward.
Podcasts & videos
Second Thoughts Going into Free Agency | John Keim Report
NFC East links
Pro Football Talk
Report: Giants to release LB Bobby Okereke
The Giants have informed linebacker Bobby Okereke that they are releasing him at the start of the league year on March 11, according to Jordan Schultz of The Schultz Report.
Okereke was entering the final year of a four-year, $40 million contract, and his release will save them $9 million this season.
He started all 17 games in 2025, totaling 143 tackles, a sack, two interceptions and six passes defensed.
In his three seasons with the Giants, Okereke recorded 385 tackles, 5.5 sacks, four interceptions, seven forced fumbles and 19 pass breakups.
Okereke, who turns 30 on July 29, played four seasons in Indianapolis after the Colts made him a third-round pick in 2019.
Franchise Tag updates
The Athletic (paywall)
NFL franchise tag winners and losers: Cowboys’ decision promises offseason drama ahead
Cowboys drama enthusiasts
Remember last offseason when the Cowboys had a long-term contract extension looming with a key player in Micah Parsons, and Jerry Jones said at the height of the negotiation period that he didn’t even know the name of Parsons’ agent? The agent’s name was David Mulugheta and he’s one of the most well-respected agents throughout the NFL. He also happens to be the agent for Pickens, who the Cowboys just franchise tagged, even though the wide receiver is looking for a long-term contract.
Pickens has been in Dallas for less than a year, and that’s included a smooth fit in the offense with fellow high-priced stars Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. It also had brief periods of question marks on the field, and a one-series benching last season for missing curfew when the team played in Las Vegas against the Raiders. Both sides may be sound in their reasoning for their emotions about the franchise tag, which only adds to the theatrics. And nobody will love it more than Jones himself.
Losers
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts aren’t major losers because they did get Jones on the transition tag, which is about $5 million less than what the non-exclusive tag would have been. But they are in a dicey situation, as they chose to go all in on a quarterback who has a lengthy history of mediocrity after only a small sample size of promise. In doing so, they also exposed one of their promising wide receiver talents, Alec Pierce, to the open market.
Cincinnati Bengals
It feels like the Trey Hendrickson saga has gone on for centuries in Cincinnati. It’s been no secret that Hendrickson has been unhappy with his contract situation and the Bengals chose to deal with that last season by extending him for just one more year. The 2025 season ended up being a lost one for the Bengals. After injuries cut Hendrickson’s 2025 season short and limited his trade possibilities during the season, the Bengals will just let him walk instead of trying to get back a haul when his value was high.
ESPN
Colts place rarely used transition tag on QB Daniel Jones; no tag on WR Alec Pierce
The Indianapolis Colts have taken the first step in ensuring that impending free agent quarterback Daniel Jones sticks around, placing the seldom-used transition tag on the veteran.
The tag guarantees the Colts the right of first refusal for Jones, preserving the right to match any competing offer sheet he might sign with an interested club. The news comes ahead of Tuesday’s deadline to assess franchise or transition tags on players who are scheduled to hit free agency next week.
No quarterback has been tagged with the transition tag since ESPN Research began tracking such moves in 2000. Only 20 players have been given the transition tag since then (though several were rescinded), with safety Kyle Dugger in 2024 being the most recent.
If Jones does not sign a competing offer sheet, he would earn a one-year guaranteed salary of $37.833 million.
[A] hairline fibula fracture in his left leg negatively impacted [Jones’] performance [after Week 10 of the ‘25 season], with Jones sustaining a season-ending ruptured Achilles in his right leg in Week 14.
That injury has perhaps complicated negotiations with Jones, who has several months of rehabilitation remaining before he is cleared to return to the field.
Meanwhile, the decision to tag Jones has a direct impact on [WR Alec] Pierce, who now is on pace to reach unrestricted free agency as arguably the top available wide receiver if he is not re-signed before March 11. Pierce’s representatives and those of other impending free agents can begin negotiating with other clubs Monday.
The NFL’s leader in yards per catch in each of the past two seasons, Pierce eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in 2025 despite ranking fourth among Colts players in targets.
NFL league links
Articles
ESPN
Sources: Cardinals tell Kyler Murray he’ll be released next week
After months of speculation about Murray’s future with the team, Arizona informed the 2019 No. 1 draft pick that it plans to release him next Wednesday, when the new league year begins, barring a trade, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.
Murray was already guaranteed $36.8 million for 2026 and would have been guaranteed another $19.5 million for 2027 if he was still on the roster March 16, which is the fifth day of the 2026 league year.
Murray’s seven seasons in Arizona were full of highlights, but his tenure ended with only one playoff appearance, a wild-card loss to the Los Angeles Rams in 2021.
Murray was a two-time Pro Bowler.
After playing in all 16 games in 2019 and 2020, Murray sat out three in 2021 and six in 2022 after tearing his right ACL that December. He returned for the last eight games of 2023, played every game in 2024 and then played in only the first five games last season before suffering a right foot injury that caused him to sit out the rest of the season.
Murray has thrown for 121 touchdowns and 60 interceptions in seven seasons. He also has 32 rushing touchdowns.
Front Office Sports
The NFL is about to get a lot more money for its domestic media rights; new analysis details how much the league may still be underpriced
Guggenheim pointed to the NBA, which elevated its cost-per-viewer-hour basis to $3.55 in its new set of domestic media rights with Amazon, ESPN, and NBC—collectively worth $77 billion over 11 years. Comparatively, NFL games in 2025 commanded a cost per viewer hour of just $1.20 in its current deals, with the disparity from the NBA only growing starker as the NFL posted its best regular-season viewership since 1989.
“The higher cost of the NBA rights on a per-viewer-hour basis is informative but not definitive in the context of increased value potential for NFL rights,” Guggenheim said. “Either the NBA partners overpaid significantly relative to performance or the NFL should drive significantly more long-term value to partners than is implied at current rates.”
That, along with the NFL’s continued status as by far the most-watched programming in U.S. television, will drive “significant cost increases” in the next set of rights deals, Guggenheim said.
The NFL has a contractual opt-out with most of its rights holders after the 2029 season, but given the size and complexity of the contracts, talks are expected to begin in earnest this year. Before Super Bowl LX last month, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the league will be looking to maximize both reach and revenue in new pacts.
“What we focus on is ‘How do we reach the broadest number of people, on every broadcast? How do we make an event out of that?’” Goodell said in response to a Front Office Sports question. “We select our partners in part for that reason. Economics are obviously part of that, the value that’s created. But at the end of the day, we want partners who are going to broaden our audience.”
“The NFL is not looking to kill television,” Guggenheim said. “The league is looking to maximize value and grow global popularity, while maintaining a strong connection with its existing fan base by providing consumer choice. … A strong renewal with longstanding Sunday afternoon partners would set a foundation for league revenue growth well into the next decade and provide an early look at the incremental value potential.”
Discussion topics
The Athletic (paywall)
QB predictions for every NFL team
[There are] eight teams Open for Business: Browns, Cardinals, Colts, Dolphins, Jets, Raiders, Steelers and Vikings.
The predictions
Browns: Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson, Dillon Gabriel and Justin Fields
Cardinals: Malik Willis and Jacoby Brissett
Colts: Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor
Dolphins: Mac Jones
Falcons: Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa
Jets: Kyler Murray, Andy Dalton and Drew Allar
Raiders: Fernando Mendoza and Geno Smith
Steelers: Aaron Rodgers and Garrett Nussmeier
Vikings: JJ McCarthy, Joe Flacco and Anthony Richardson
Someone among the top candidates has to be the odd man out, and in this exercise that was Cousins. If he doesn’t land in Minnesota, I’m not really sure where the best path to a starting job would be for him unless the Dolphins like him as a stopgap. Cleveland doesn’t make sense, and the Jets aren’t interested. Maybe he waits it out to see when some team’s quarterback gets injured and desperation sets in.
As for Ty Simpson, the consensus No. 2 quarterback in this class: I’m predicting that he lands with the Rams as Matthew Stafford’s eventual replacement.
The Chiefs might need a backup to start for them early in the season. My early bet would be Marcus Mariota or Flacco, though maybe Cousins is an option here.