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How Trent Williams impacts the Commanders and Laremy Tunsil
There are two possible outcomes for Williams and the 49ers, and both impact Washington differently. Williams will either receive a contract extension with the 49ers that comes at a hefty price or be released and sign a major contract with the highest bidder who wants a top left tackle in the league. Either way, Williams will get paid, even as he turns 38 before the season.
Tunsil represents himself, so there’s no rush for him this offseason. He surely has a number in his mind, which should
be around $29 to $30 million per year. Those numbers would reset the market and give him the highest AAY for all tackles in the NFL, and he deserves that after a stellar 2025 season.
He could also just play the waiting game, let Williams make $30 million or more per year this offseason, and then try to beat that with a slightly higher number. Peters said multiple times that he wants to get a deal done sooner rather than later, but Tunsil could just wait it out until Williams figures out his own dispute, and possibly resets the market first.
ESPN
Source: Commanders release starting center Tyler Biadasz
Washington saves $2.885 million in salary cap space — the Commanders have the fifth-most cap space available but now have only 52 players signed for 2026. The Commanders will save $8.3 million this season if they designate his release to a post-June 1 cut and the savings would not go into effect until that time.
Biadasz started 31 games the past two seasons for Washington but this move leaves Washington without a clear starter at the position. The Commanders do have Nick Allegretti still on the roster as a backup guard/center. They could pursue one in free agency.
From The Athletic:
Biadasz gave up the second-most sacks (three) and pressures (21) on the team in 16 games last season. He was placed on injured reserve before the season finale because of foot and ankle injuries he suffered in Week 17 against the Dallas Cowboys.
Going into this offseason, Washington’s line was believed to be one of its more complete positional groups, save for left guard, where Chris Paul started the majority of the season. He will be a free agent in March. But the Commanders parted with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, fired offensive line coach Bobby Johnson, promoted Darnell Stapleton to lead the O-line and now are moving on from Biadasz. The starting center position now joins a long list of roster spots to fill as the Commanders remake their offense under first-time coordinator David Blough.
Washington still has right guard Sam Cosmi, who agreed to a four-year, $74 million contract in 2024, as well as second-year tackle Josh Conerly Jr. and veteran left tackle Laremy Tunsil under contract for 2026. The team also agreed to a new two-year deal with lineman Andrew Wylie, who has started games at both tackle and guard for the Commanders.
At the NFL combine in Indianapolis this week, general manager Adam Peters said talks are ongoing with Tunsil about a new deal, one that would presumably make him one of the highest-paid tackles in the NFL.
From Over the Cap:
Biadasz signed a three year, $30 million contract with the Commanders in free agency back in 2024 with $20.7 million in guarantees. His play had declined last year, but I would have thought that the Commanders, with over $70 million in cap room and the 6th lowest payroll in the NFL, would have retained him even if it meant trying to come to terms on a pay cut. This case is another one where it makes it hard to value centers as teams are sometimes hesitant to pay ones and very quick to cut some of those they do pay.
Riggo’s Rag
Deebo Samuel quietly hints at soft deadline as Commanders’ decision looms
Speaking on the Downs 2 Business — hosted by Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs and his brother, projected top 10 pick Caleb Downs — Samuel revealed there had been nothing really going on between his representatives and the club. And the clock is ticking.
It’s a new experience for him, so there is also a sense of trepidation about heading into the unknown. Samuel also stated that March 6 is the date he believes things will become clearer regarding a potential stay in Washington.
The former South Carolina standout is a laid-back character. He’ll let his agents handle the business side. Samuel will probably have a couple of preferences in mind, but the versatile weapon also knows that this is the final chance to get another big-time deal.
As for the Commanders? They will have a price in mind for Samuel. Peters also made his feelings clear about paying wide receivers over 30 last summer.
Peters held out until the bitter end with Terry McLaurin, and he’s a franchise cornerstone who was coming off a second-team All-Pro campaign. If the front office leader follows suit this time around, all signs point to a parting of the ways.
Samuel will have a market. He was productive last season, despite quarterback Jayden Daniels and his running mate McLaurin missing considerable time. A team looking for one piece to get over the hump might see him as a useful option if the price is right.
Bullock’s Film Room (this article is free to read for everyone)
Potential cap casualties that the Commanders could be interested in
[H]ere are some options to keep an eye on over the next week or so leading into free agency.
Minnesota Vikings: $43 million over the cap
Edge Jonathan Greenard – $12.25m cap saving, $9.9m dead cap
DT Javon Hargrave – $10.9m cap saving, $10.5m dead cap
TE T.J. Hockenson – $8.8m cap saving, $12.4m dead cap
RB Aaron Jones – $7.75m cap saving, $6.8m dead cap
LB Blake Cashman – $4.5m cap saving, $4.65m dead cap
CB Isaiah Rodgers $4.5m cap saving, $4.4m dead cap
Analysis: This is the most obvious team to look at for potential cap casualties. The Commanders have a ton of holes on defense and they just hired Daronte Jones from the Vikings to be their new defensive coordinator. It would make sense that Jones would like to bring a few pieces with him if they become available.
The Vikings are way over the cap at the time of writing and they have plenty of candidates that could help save them significant chunks of cap space, which they may need if they opt to get into the veteran quarterback market this offseason. I’d be surprised if the Vikings cut Jonathan Greenard, they’d be more likely to trade him than cut him if anything, but I think he will ultimately remain in Minnesota. But he would provide the most cap saving of anyone on this list and given the Commanders need for an edge rusher, he would be a perfect fit for Washington to pursue if available.
Chicago Bears: $4 million over the cap
LB Tremaine Edmunds – $15m cap saving, $2.4 dead cap
TE Cole Kmet – $8.4m cap saving, $3.2m dead cap
RB D’Andre Swift – $7.5m cap saving, $1.3m dead cap
Analysis: The Bears had a very similar 2025 season to the Commanders 2024 season, but their cap situation isn’t quite as nice. They’re only slightly over the cap and should be able to get under it easily with a few moves, but it’s always nice to create extra space to give yourself some room to go after a few free agents.
Commanders.com
Combine notebook | David Bailey stands out in on-field drills
[O]n-field workouts, which generate the most excitement, officially kicked off with the defensive linemen and linebackers going through drills. Here are some of the highlights from Thursday.
— The defensive tackles were the first group up for the 40-yard dash, and there were several who had sub-five second times. Penn State’s Zane Durant, who recorded 25 tackles with four sacks, paced the first heat with a 4.76. Durant put up strong testing numbers overall, finishing in the top five in the vertical jump (33.5 inches) and broad jump (9-foot-4).
— After days of speculation, we finally received confirmation on Rueben Bain’s arm length. It came in at 30 7/8 inches, which is not the shortest length for his position but is third-shortest among defensive tackles. Bain is considered one of the top pass rushers in this year’s draft class and could be a top 10 pick. There were several questions from media members about his arm length, but Bain said that teams haven’t been as concerned, choosing instead to judge him on the numbers he put up at Miami.
— It shouldn’t come as a surprise that there was a large crowd surrounding Caleb Downs, who some consider to be the best player in this year’s draft. Downs, who is a popular projected pick for the Commanders, said his confidence level is at its highest when he’s on the field because of how he can break down the game. Downs has been praised for his versatility, as he can play both deep safety and closer to the line of scrimmage.
— One more thing on Downs: while he is considered a top-tier talent, there are questions about whether the position he plays will push his value down. There have only been three safeties taken with a pick higher than seventh since 2000: Eric Berry, Sean Taylor and Jamal Adams. Downs dismissed those concerns, saying “at the end of the day, it’s ‘Who’s the best defender?’ It’s not about positional value. It’s about who affects the game.”
— Although Bailey was the star of the night in drills, Penn State EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton put together a strong showing and tested near the top in the 40, broad jump and vertical. He ran a 4.63, which ranked fifth among defensive ends; he had the fourth-best vertical at 39.5 inches; and he led the position with a 10-foot-11 broad jump. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein currently has him as a good backup who could develop into a starter, but he could rise up draft boards by the end of the week.
Commanders.com
Logan Paulsen’s top 3 DT prospects in 2026 draft
The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team.
- Peter Woods
One thing: “I watched the LSU game for Peter Woods and I thought, ‘Man, this dude’s an absolute stud.’ There’s no way that he’s not the first defensive tackle off the board. He’s 6-3, he’s 315. He can run; he’s twitchy. He plays fullback on offense. He plays goal line quarterback. Like he is an athlete. If you watch the LSU game, he runs everything down. His pursuit’s awesome. He’s physical … I have some consternation about his ability to pick up the higher-level hand usage at the next level because he’s played a lot of ball, and he just doesn’t do it.”
- Lee Hunter
One thing: “The first game I watched, I didn’t really like him. And then the more I watched him, I was like, ‘He’s the best player on the defense.’ … The way he plays double teams, the way he uses his hands, he’s got 34 inch arms, and you feel every inch of that length. He’s got a really nice feel for tackles for loss. He had 11 tackles for loss last season. He’s just a really impressive nose guard player and very disruptive. And his ability to compliment and supplement David Bailey like on first and second down to like kind of cover up some of his issues as a run player, I just was like, ‘He’s the reason the defense works.’
Podcasts & videos
2026 NFL Scouting Combine: Prospect Professor Takes Indy + Top Players to Watch | Command Center
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Bleeding Green Nation
Eagles Film Review: Jaelen Phillips is a classic “want to keep, but may be hard to keep” free agent
Roster and Cap Context
The Eagles have multiple young defensive linemen and edge players who need snaps and are heading toward their own contract conversations. Players that we have drafted, such as Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt. Resource allocation across the defensive front is becoming crowded. Even if the coaching staff ranks Phillips at the top of their defensive retention list, the financial structure of the roster may not cooperate at the number the market produces.
The Verdict
Phillips is a classic “want to keep, but may be hard to keep” free agent, and those are often the most frustrating ones because the outcome feels determined by external factors rather than internal evaluation. From a pure football standpoint, the case for retaining him is straightforward. He is very good, and he will absolutely be missed. He defends the run, generates consistent pressure, wins as a rusher with enough frequency to command respect, and plays with the discipline Fangio’s system demands. The defensive staff would push for a reunion without hesitation. I bet they wanted to keep Milton Williams and Josh Sweat, too. They were also excellent players that the Eagles had to let go.
The challenge is that very good edge rushers are expensive on the open market, and the market doesn’t always differentiate cleanly between very good and elite. Someone may pay Phillips at or near the top of his projection band, and the Eagles will face a tough decision.
I really hope, from a scheme and continuity standpoint, that the market proves softer than expected and a deal gets done. I think it’s absolutely possible, and I think the Eagles will certainly want to keep him. I imagine he will want to stay here, too. If he stays, it’s a significant win for defensive continuity heading into a season where the offense may go through a season of transition, so the defense may need to carry the team once again. If he goes, it won’t be because the Eagles didn’t value him; it will be because the economics of edge rushing in the modern NFL are brutal, and sometimes the price of keeping a good player is simply too high.
Big Blue View
NY Giants 2026 NFL Draft scouting report: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
Anthony Hill Jr. projects as a starting off-ball linebacker at the NFL level.
He would likely start his career as a weak-side linebacker who primarily plays in space and as a pursuit player. However, he could develop into a strong-side or inside linebacker if he continues to develop in his ability to take on blocks.
Hill will need to get quicker and more consistent in deconstructing blocks in the run game, and also more consistently accurate in how he processes the offense. He shouldn’t have to wait long to hear his name called on the second day of the draft and could develop into an impact defender if his mental skills fully align with his athletic traits.
Final Word: An early Day 2 prospect
Pro Football Talk
Joe Schoen on Kayvon Thibodeaux: Right now, he’s going to be with us
Thibodeaux is heading into a contract year and adding Carter to an edge rushing mix that also includes Brian Burns makes it less likely that the Giants are going to make a long-term investment in Thibodeaux’s services. The prospect of trading Thibodeaux came up when General Manager Joe Schoen spoke to reporters at the Scouting Combine earlier this week.
“Right now, Kayvon’s going to be with us,” Schoen said, via Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. “He played well. He is going into his fifth year and he’s motivated and you can’t have enough pass rushers. You really can’t. So I’m proud of the development and the maturation of Kayvon and he’s come a long way. And I expect big things out of him next year with that rotation.”
Schoen added that “you take into consideration everything” that comes up in terms of calls from other teams and dealing Thibodeaux, who is set to make $14.75 million, would open significant cap space that the Giants could use to shore up weaker spots on their roster.
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Front Office Sports
NFLPA Report Cards Leak Despite Ban on Public Release
The leak comes nearly two weeks after the NFL won a grievance barring the NFLPA from publicly releasing the results
Results of the controversial NFL Players Association report cards leaked Thursday, 13 days after the league won a labor grievance that prevented the union from publicly releasing them.
ESPN first reported a portion of the 2026 NFLPA report cards on Thursday, then released the full grades for all 32 teams later that afternoon. Other media outlets have since reported on some of the results.
Developed from player surveys, the report cards have become an annual hot topic since their debut in 2023. Typically released around the NFL Scouting Combine, it was anticipated that some or all of this year’s results could leak this week as teams and draft prospects gather in Indianapolis.
The annual report cards issue letter grades, ranging from A+ to F-, to each team across a wide range of franchise operations, including training facilities, the quality of coaches and support staff, travel conditions, and how player families are treated.
The NFL and NFLPA have not commented on the reveal of the 2026 results.
The top and bottom three ranked teams in the survey are:
- 1st: Dolphins
- 2nd: Vikings
- 3rd: Commanders
- 30th: Browns
- 31st: Cardinals
- 32nd: Steelers
ESPN
NFLPA 2026 report cards: See the results for all 32 teams
ESPN obtained the results of the NFL Players Association’s 2026 report cards, an annual survey that grades franchises from A-plus to F-minus on everything from ownership to treatment of families.
Per the survey results obtained by ESPN, this year’s report cards are based on responses from 1,759 players. All players who were on a 2025 roster at the time of the survey were eligible to participate, and it was conducted from Nov. 2 to Dec. 11.
Washington Commanders
- Treatment of Families: B+
- Home Game Field: B+
- Food/Dining Area: A-
- Nutritionist/Dietician: A-
- Locker Room: B
- Training Room: A-
- Training Staff: A
- Weight Room: A
- Strength Coaches: A+
- Position Coaches: B+
- Offensive Coordinator: B+
- Defensive Coordinator: B-
- Special Teams Coordinator: A-
- Team Travel: B-
- Head Coach: A+
- General Manager: A
- Team Ownership: A+
- Overall Rank: 3
NFL Draft / Combine
NFL.com
Sonny Styles generates huge buzz with 2026 NFL Scouting Combine performance
At 43 1/2 inches, the 6-5, 244-pound linebacker had the highest vertical jump by any player 6-4 or taller and any player weighing 240 or more pounds at the combine since at least 2003.
Styles’ broad jump of 11-foot-2 wasn’t too shabby, either. It led all combine participants on Thursday and in recent history, was only topped by Jamie Collins (11-7 in 2013), Bud Dupree (11-6 in 2015) and Willie Gay Jr. (11-4 in 2020) among linebackers.
Styles ran the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds, which tied his Buckeyes teammate Arvell Reese for the fastest time of all the defensive linemen and linebackers who participated on Thursday.
Styles is the only player to run a sub-4.5 40-yard dash with a vertical of 40+ inches and a broad jump of 11+ feet at 230 or more pounds since 2003, per NFL Research.
Commanders Roundtable
Four Prospects for Washington Commanders on Day Two of NFL Combine
LSU safety AJ Haulcy
Haulcy was a First-Team All-Big 12 with Houston in 2024 before transferring to LSU and becoming a First-Team All-SEC and First-Team All-American in his lone season there. In the year, he had 88 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, and four passes defended. For his college career between LSU, Houston, and New Mexico, he picked off ten passes. Concerns about his long speed and missed tackles are what’re keeping him from first-round talk. However, if he falls to the Commanders in the third round, he’ll be a great piece to add to the secondary if they don’t get Downs. He could’ve been an obvious draft target had the Commanders been able to pluck LSU’s safeties coach as was initially expected.
Ohio State CB Davison Igbinosun
Downs teammate at Ohio State, Igbinson started at Ole Miss before transferring to Ohio State in 2023, and grew into one of the best players on the Buckeye defense. After helping them win the National Championship in 2024, he went off in his senior year, earning a First-team All-Big Ten selection with 53 tackles, 0.5 tackle for loss, two interceptions, and eight passes defended. Just like Moore, Igbinson is a physical corner, listed at 6’2”, 192 pounds. His biggest issue in college was penalties, as PFF has him being called for 30 of them during his time in college. The on-field drills will be important to him, with questions of how fluid he is in his movements. This is another guy to pay attention to in the later rounds of the draft.
