Washington Commanders Free Agency Recap – Breaking Down All Signings

Washington Commanders Free Agency Recap – Breaking Down All Signings. Mike Fanelli takes a look at every free agent addition the Washington Commanders have made this offseason.

The Washington Commanders have been the most active team in free agency. First-year general manager Adam Peters has been aggressive in turning over a terrible roster built by Ron Rivera. The Commanders have signed 16 free agents from other teams this offseason, including several on the first day of free agency.

Washington has added five new players on offense, nine on defense, and a pair of special teams guys. The team also re-signed some of their own free agents, agreeing to new deals with Jamison Crowder, Efe Obada, and Jeremy Reaves. However, the Commanders let many of their free agents leave this offseason.

Jacoby Brissett, Antonio Gibson, Curtis Samuel, Kendall Fuller, Kamren Curl, and Joey Slye played meaningful roles for Washington last year. Yet, they will all play for a new team in 2024. The Commanders also traded Sam Howell to the Seattle Seahawks, which is no surprise with the team expected to draft a quarterback with the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft. Let’s dive into their free-agent additions.

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Marcus Mariota

The Commanders traded away Sam Howell after adding Mariota from the Philadelphia Eagles. While the veteran is currently the top quarterback on the depth chart, everyone believes the rookie pick will be the Week 1 starter. Mariota’s job as the backup is to give the rookie a veteran in the locker room he can lean on. Furthermore, Mariota can relate to the rookie quarterback, being a former No. 2 pick himself.

The Washington Commanders Current QB Room:

- Marcus Mariota
- Jake Fromm pic.twitter.com/t7FUWW3Au7

— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) March 15, 2024

Austin Ekeler

Many considered the Commanders a contender to sign Ekeler in free agency after hiring Anthony Lynn as their running backs coach. The veteran running back struggled last season despite playing through a high-ankle sprain. While his days as a superstar No. 1 running back are over, Ekeler should form a dangerous 1-2 punch in the backfield with Brian Robinson Jr.

Zach Ertz

Washington signed Ertz before the start of free agency. Because the veteran tight end finished the 2023 season on the Detroit Lions practice squad, he didn’t have to wait to sign a new contract like most players. Ertz isn’t the superstar he once was. Yet, the veteran knows Kliff Kingsbury’s offense from their time together with the Arizona Cardinals. Ertz will replace Logan Thomas as the team’s starting tight end.

Nick Allegretti

While most people haven’t heard of Allegretti, the veteran guard has played a meaningful role in the Kansas City Chiefs winning back-to-back Super Bowls. He was a seventh-round pick by the Chiefs in the 2019 NFL Draft. Despite spending most of his career as a backup, Allegretti will compete for a starting role in Washington. Allegretti played every snap in last year’s Super Bowl despite tearing the UCL in his elbow.

Tyler Biadasz

Biadasz is one of several former Dallas Cowboys to follow head coach Dan Quinn to Washington. The veteran center was the Cowboys’ starter for the past three years, missing only two games during that time. Biadasz will replace last offseason free agent signing Nick Gates at center.

Dan Quinn is bringing in a familiar face: Sources say the #Commanders are expected to sign former #Cowboys C Tyler Biadasz.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2024

Dorance Armstrong Jr.

Unfortunately, Armstrong never got to display his full potential with the Dallas Cowboys. Yet, the talented edge rusher had at least 7.5 sacks in back-to-back seasons despite playing under 48% of the snaps in both years. Many will question Washington handing Armstrong the three-year deal he got this offseason. Yet, adding edge rushers was the team’s top need heading into free agency.

Dante Fowler Jr.

When the Commanders hired Dan Quinn, many expected him to bring over multiple former Dallas Cowboy players with him to Washington. Fowler is a former top-three pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2015 NFL Draft. However, he has spent the past two years with Quinn in Dallas, totaling 10 sacks as a part-time player. The veteran should have a similar role with the Commanders.

Clelin Ferrell

Washington had to add multiple edge rushers in free agency. The team lacked proven players after trading away Montez Sweat and Chase Young at the trade deadline. Ferrell is a former top-five pick bust. However, he had 3.5 sacks last season with the San Francisco 49ers, the second-most of his career. The veteran will provide Dan Quinn with depth on the defensive line.

Bobby Wagner

No one should be surprised Wagner signed a one-year deal worth up to $8.5 million with the Commanders in free agency. The future Hall of Famer wasn’t going to re-sign with the Seattle Seahawks after Pete Carroll retired. However, the veteran has always wanted to play for his former defensive coordinator again. Dan Quinn got his first head coaching opportunity after helping the Seahawks build an elite defense with Wagner leading the unit.

The Commanders are signing former Seahawks LB Bobby Wagner to a 1-year deal worth a max value of $8.5M, per multiple reports. pic.twitter.com/UpyfUA6nXr

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) March 13, 2024

Frankie Luvu

Luvu is a lesser-known player to most common NFL fans. However, the former Carolina Panthers linebacker has ranked among the league’s top tacklers over the past few years. He had over 110 tackles in 2022 and 2023, including a career-high 125 last season. Luvu is also a capable pass rusher, totaling 12.5 sacks over the past two years.

Anthony Pittman

With the Commanders signing multiple linebackers in free agency, Pittman should have a limited role on defense. The veteran has spent his entire four-year career with the Detroit Lions, totaling 28 tackles. He played only 151 snaps on defense during those four years. Yet, Pittman was a core special teams player for the Lions, playing 79% of the special teams snaps in three consecutive seasons.

Michael Davis

Last year, the Commanders had one of the worst cornerback units in the NFL. Hopefully, the young players improve under new defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. However, after losing Kendall Fuller to the Miami Dolphins, the team needed to add a veteran to the cornerback unit. Davis has had an up-and-down career with the Los Angeles Chargers. Yet, he provides the team with veteran depth.

Noah Igbinoghene

Igbinoghene is the fourth and final former Dallas Cowboys player to join the Commanders in free agency. The former first-round pick got traded to the Cowboys last offseason after spending the first three years of his career with the Miami Dolphins. Igbinoghene signed a one-year deal with Washington. He will have to earn his way on the final 53-man roster.

Jeremy Chinn

The Commanders lost Kamren Curl to the Los Angeles Rams in free agency, leaving many fans unhappy. However, the team reportedly never offered Curl a new contract. Instead, they signed Chinn to a one-year deal, believing Chinn was a better fit for Dan Quinn’s system than Curl. The veteran will lineup all over the field on defense, including linebacker and safety.

More from @mike_e_kaye on new Commanders LB/S Jeremy Chinn: "A guy that's a tweener safety/linebacker...A seek and destroy player that should be close to the line...Not an interchangeable safety, he should be in the box...Sometimes versatility can be the enemy of progress."

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) March 13, 2024

Brandon McManus

Ironically, McManus played for the Jacksonville Jaguars last season, the same team Joey Slye signed with in free agency. Washington won that kicker swap, as McManus made more of his field goal attempts than Slye in 2023. The veteran kicker has been productive in his 10-year career, converting over 81% of his field goal attempts.

Tyler Ott

Rarely do fans hear about their team signing a long snapper in free agency. However, the Commanders signed Ott away from the Baltimore Ravens. The veteran long snapper has spent most of his eight-year career with the Seattle Seahawks, playing for the franchise from 2016 through 2021.

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