The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team.
The Washington Commanders were one of the most active teams in free agency last offseason and found several gems that elevated their roster and turned them into a conference championship contender. Now it's time to do it again.
General manager Adam Peters joked during the NFL Scouting Combine that the amount of available cap space people see on the internet isn't always accurate, but most salary cap websites and analysts agree that the Commanders will once again have some of the most available money to spend this offseason. The amount provided to each team by the NFL hit another record high this year, moving from $255.4 million in 2024 to $279.2 million in 2025.
Last year, the Commanders upgraded their roster by signing immediate contributors on short-term deals. Players like Jeremy Chinn, Bobby Wagner, Dante Fowler Jr. and Zach Ertz became lynchpins for their respective sides of the ball and were pivotal to Washington finishing with their best record in decades.
The Commanders also have 28 pending free agents on their roster, including several players who contributed to their success. So, Peters said, the team will be active in free agency because "we have to" in order to put together a roster. That means much of Washington's capital will be dedicated to retaining its own talent.
Still, there are opportunities for the Commanders to improve their roster in 2025, so in anticipation of free agency opening on March 13 at 4 p.m., Commanders.com is going to look at some of the top players set to become available on each side of the ball. We're moving on to the offensive line.
-- T Ronnie Stanley: A first-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens, Stanley has spent his entire career with the team and been tasked with protecting Lamar Jackson. He's done a decent job of it, too, as he's only allowed 15 sacks in nine seasons. He's coming off a Pro Bowl campaign in 2024, giving up just four quarterback hits in 17 regular season games.
Editor's note: Ronnie Stanley has re-signed with the Ravens since the publication of this article.
-- G Will Fries: Fries suffered a broken tibia in Week 5 last season and was unavailable for the Colts after that. Although he's only started one full season in his career, Fries is solid in pass protection with just seven sacks allowed in four seasons.
-- T Cam Robinson: After spending seven seasons in Jacksonville, Florida, the Jaguars traded Robinson to the Minnesota Vikings for a conditional sixth-round pick last season. He's started all 108 games he's played in his career, and while there might be more talented tackles on the market, he's certainly one of the most experienced at his position.
-- G Mekhi Becton: Becton switched to guard for the Eagles last season and had perhaps the best season of his young career. There's a chance the Eagles re-sign him, but he's proven that he can still be an NFL starter.
-- T Tyron Smith: Age and injuries don't normally mix well, and a neck issue ended the 34-year-old's 2024 season after 10 games. Still, it's hard to find a player with Smith's pedigree (eight Pro Bowls and five All-Pro selections). So, if Smith still wants to play, some team will give him a job.
-- G Teven Jenkins: The Chicago Bears are trying to improve their protection for Caleb Williams, so maybe Jenkins elects to stay with the team that drafted him in 2021. He's been a starting guard for them for the past three seasons and been a reliable option for them in that span. There should be a few teams interested in him.
-- C Michael Deiter: Deiter stepped in for Tyler Biadasz at times during the Commanders' 2024 season and held his own against some quality interior pass-rushers. Washington has its starting center in Biadasz but could still benefit from some depth. Perhaps the team and Deiter will decide to run it back.
-- G Aaron Banks: Banks has been a starter since the 2022 season and only allowed two sacks in 1,471 pass-blocking plays. Those are strong numbers for a young player who is set to enter free agency for the first time in his career.
-- T Cornelius Lucas: Lucas was allowed to compete for a starting job with the Commanders and split reps with rookie Brandon Coleman in 2024. He had his best season as a pass protector in 2024 with just one sack allowed on Jayden Daniels. It could be another opportunity for Washington to retain their depth.
-- T Trent Scott: Scott stepped in for an injured Sam Cosmi in the playoffs and had a solid performance against the Detroit Lions. If he can provide more position versatility, it's possible the Commanders could bring him back.
