With big names come BIG prices!

After Washington’s unprecedented run to the NFC Championship game, many fans are calling for general manager Adam Peters to go all-in during the 2025 NFL offseason. It seems the Commanders are being linked to almost every “potential” trade candidate and high-priced free agent out there… and for good reason!

There is a short window to maximize Jayden Daniels rookie contract before he likely becomes the highest paid player in the NFL. Getting good players surrounding him should be a priority, and many feel now is the time to begin acquiring these players. But at what cost?

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Trading for Myles Garrett

As you can see from NFL insider Adam Schefter, the price for Garrett would likely include two first round picks and probably another day two pick. To make matters worse, the acquiring team will have to sign him to a new contract extension upon trading for him. Myles has two years left on his current deal at $19.8M and $25M respectively, but both are non-guaranteed, and he’s rumored to be seeking a contract for four years and north of $138M, making him the highest paid non-quarterback in the league.

For Washington, this shouldn’t affect a new contract for Daniels too much, as it’s likely Myles’ new deal would be in its last year when Jayden’s is first kicking in, but it could affect what other players we would be able to acquire both via trade and free agency in the near future. The biggest impact here is the likely loss of three top 100 draft picks. Filling those holes with potentially lesser players could be troublesome for Washington both now and in the future.

For a team like the Commanders, with a general manager who believes in building through the draft, that is a steep price to pay in both draft capital and cap dollars.

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Trading for Trey Hendrickson

Trey Hendrickson led the NFL in sacks this past season with 17.5. This is the second season in a row with that same number. He’s hit double-digit sacks in four of the last five seasons and was voted first-team All-Pro in 2024. Although he is very good at what he does, he’s not considered elite like Myles Garret, but the former third round pick from Florida Atlantic is pretty close.

Unlike Garrett, Hendrickson has not come out and formally requested a trade, but he has stated his desire to get a new deal. He has one year left on his current contract and with the Bengals likely using the franchise tag on Tee Higgins and needing to pay Jamar Chase sooner than later, they simply may not have the money to give Hendrickson what he wants and deserves.

At 30 years old, Henderson is likely to command a new contract in the neighborhood of three years, $72-75M. That $25M AAY number may sound pricy, but that’s what you pay to get one of the better pass rushers in the NFL. The interesting question is what will it take to secure his services from Cincinnati? The rumors are a later first round pick or early second round pick would be the asking price, which is significantly lower that what it will take to acquire Garrett.

The money here for Washington would be doable and losing just one top 100 pick, opposed to three, would be much more palatable. Our salary cap team could probably tack on a void year to his deal to help spread out some of the guaranteed money he’s looking for without interfering too much with a Daniel’s extension or prohibiting the team from getting any higher-priced free agents either now or in the future.

For a team like the Commanders, with a general manager who believes in building through the draft, this is still a steep price to pay when you combine both draft capital and salary.

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Signing Charvarius Ward as a free agent

Charvarius Ward is a valued free agent that Adam Peters is familiar with from his time in San Francisco. Ward went undrafted in 2018 after two years in junior college and two more at Middle Tennessee State and signed with the Cowboys on April 30th. He was traded that same offseason to Kansas City where he spent the next four seasons. Ward signed as a free agent with San Francisco in 2022 and has played in, and started, 46 games with the 49ers – being named first-team All-Pro in 2023.

At 6’1” 196 pounds, Ward has the size that Dan Quinn likes in his corners. Taking into account his age (28), and need at the position, Washington makes a lot of sense here.

Ward will not come cheap though. Spotrac projects him to earn a three-year deal around $45M. $15M AAY may not sound like a huge number, but when you consider the Commanders are paying Marshon Lattimore $18M per year, having over $33M wrapped up in two corners is quite the hefty price tag.

For a team like the Commanders, with a general manager who believes in building through the draft, that is a steep price to pay in salary for two cornerbacks.

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Signing Osa Odighizuwa as a free agent

The Commanders run defense was one of the worst in the NFL in 2025. That deficiency was magnified in the NFC Championship game loss to Philly, where we looked as though we couldn’t stop a Pop Warner team.

Fans of the team know there is a need to shore up the front four, however most will point to EDGE as the area where we need an impact player or two. Some feel we need to upgrade the interior and point to a name head coach Dan Quinn is familiar with from his time in Dallas – Osa Odighizuwa.

Odighizuwa, just 26, is coming off his rookie contract and had his best season as a pro in 2024. He was top five among defensive tackles in quarterback hits, pressures and pass rush win rate. He’s expected to see a deal in the four-year range at, or over, $20M per year.

Odizhizuwa is a pass rush specialist from the defensive tackle position. He’s a bit undersized at 6’2” 280. he relies on quickness and a nice array of secondary moves to beat interior defenders, however he’s never been known as a great run defender. In his four seasons he’s never eclipsed 50 tackles in a season despite playing in 67 career games. He has just 28 total tackles for a loss and has forced just two career fumbles.

Washington currently has two undersized defensive tackles under contract – Jon Allen (6’3” 298) and Jer’Zhan Newton (6’2” 295). They also have over $50M tied up in Allen, Payne and Newton, although Allen could be a restructure candidate. Adding Osa to this team would probably not solve the run defense, and it would make the cap number spent on defensive tackles absolutely skyrocket.

For a team like the Commanders, with a general manager who believes in building through the draft, that is a steep price to pay along the defensive interior.

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Signing a free agent offensive tackle

Left tackles are at a premium in the NFL. Good ones don’t usually hit free agency and when they do, they tend to be a bit longer in the tooth and very high priced.

There are two intriguing names that could become free agents this March. Ronnie Stanley of the Baltimore Ravens and Alaric Jackson of the Los Angeles Rams. Stanley will turn 31 in March and the former first-team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler could command a hefty payday averaging around $22M per year.

Jackson is a bit younger (26) and not as accomplished as Stanley, but he’s coming off his best year as a pro and will want to be paid like one of the game’s best in his prime. The 6’7” 345 pound former Hawkeye will likely command a contract in the $15-20M range for multiple years, and that could get higher if a bidding war for his services ensues.

Washington has a huge need for a quality left tackle to protect Jayden Daniel’s blind side, but signing one of these two will make a small dent in the wallet. It, however, could be a price worth paying as there is not a number you can put on protecting the valuable asset we have under/behind center. The cap hit could be spread out so the front office wouldn’t feel the full brunt of a salary like this until a few years down the road – allowing for more players to be added to other areas of the team over the next two offseasons.

For a team like the Commanders, with a general manager who believes in building through the draft, that is a steep price to pay in salary, but probably one worth spending on.

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Playing the offseason general manger game is fun when it’s not your money. None of us know yet what Adam Peter’s plans for the future of this roster will be, but one thing is for sure, it’s going to take a lot of resources to shape this roster as quickly as most fans would like – and I guess we can say that’s a good problem to now be faced with.