{"id":268980,"date":"2026-03-13T09:15:05","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T13:15:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=268980"},"modified":"2026-03-13T07:23:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T11:23:21","slug":"the-commanders-are-building-slowly-but-the-clock-is-ticking-with-jayden-daniels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2026\/03\/13\/the-commanders-are-building-slowly-but-the-clock-is-ticking-with-jayden-daniels\/","title":{"rendered":"The Commanders Are Building Slowly but the Clock Is Ticking with Jayden Daniels"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Washington Commanders are building slowly through free agency, but the rookie contract of Jayden Daniels<\/a> is ticking. Washington entered <\/span>free <\/span>agency <\/span>with <\/span>plenty <\/span>of <\/span>cap <\/span>space <\/span>and <\/span>a <\/span>front <\/span>office <\/span>that <\/span>has <\/span>preached <\/span>patience <\/span>since <\/span>the <\/span>moment <\/span>Adam <\/span>Peters <\/span><\/a>arrived. <\/span>Patience <\/span>sounds <\/span>great <\/span>in <\/span>a <\/span>press <\/span>conference. <\/span>It <\/span>sounds <\/span>even <\/span>better <\/span>when <\/span>you <\/span>are <\/span>trying <\/span>to <\/span>clean <\/span>up <\/span>a <\/span>roster <\/span>that has <\/span>spent <\/span>years <\/span>making <\/span>bad <\/span>decisions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fans <\/span>usually <\/span>support <\/span>patience. <\/span>Then <\/span>the <\/span>offseason <\/span>actually <\/span>begins.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now <\/span>the <\/span>Commanders <\/span>find <\/span>themselves <\/span>in <\/span>an <\/span>awkward <\/span>position. <\/span>Several <\/span>solid <\/span>moves <\/span>have <\/span>been <\/span>made. <\/span>A <\/span>few <\/span>useful <\/span>players <\/span>have <\/span>been <\/span>added. <\/span>Depth <\/span>has <\/span>improved <\/span>in <\/span>a <\/span>couple of <\/span>spots.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet <\/span>the <\/span>overall <\/span>feeling <\/span>is <\/span>hard <\/span>to <\/span>ignore. <\/span>Something <\/span>still <\/span>feels <\/span>unfinished. <\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Draft <\/span>Board <\/span>Creates <\/span>A <\/span>Real <\/span>Problem<\/span><\/h3>\n

Part <\/span>of <\/span>that <\/span>comes <\/span>from <\/span>the <\/span>draft <\/span>board.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Washington <\/span>is <\/span>missing <\/span>two <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>most <\/span>valuable <\/span>picks <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>entire <\/span>draft. <\/span>The <\/span>second <\/span>round <\/span>selection <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>fourth <\/span>round <\/span>selection <\/span>are <\/span>both <\/span>gone. <\/span>Those <\/span>picks <\/span>were <\/span>part <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>trade <\/span>that <\/span>brought <\/span>left <\/span>tackle Laremy Tunsil<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to <\/span>Washington. <\/span>The <\/span>move <\/span>helped <\/span>stabilize <\/span>the <\/span>offensive <\/span>line, <\/span>which <\/span>absolutely <\/span>needed <\/span>attention. <\/span>No <\/span>one <\/span>will <\/span>argue <\/span>that <\/span>point.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>problem <\/span>shows <\/span>up <\/span>when <\/span>you <\/span>look <\/span>at <\/span>the <\/span>rest <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>draft.<\/span><\/p>\n

Right <\/span>now, <\/span>the <\/span>Commanders <\/span>are <\/span>scheduled <\/span>to <\/span>pick <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>first <\/span>round, <\/span>the <\/span>third <\/span>round, <\/span>then <\/span>not <\/span>again <\/span>until <\/span>the <\/span>fifth. <\/span>Two <\/span>picks <\/span>follow <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>sixth <\/span>round, <\/span>then <\/span>a <\/span>seventh <\/span>rounder <\/span>closes <\/span>things <\/span>out.<\/span><\/p>\n

That <\/span>leaves <\/span>Washington <\/span>with <\/span>only <\/span>two <\/span>selections <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>first <\/span>three <\/span>rounds.<\/span><\/p>\n

For <\/span>a <\/span>roster <\/span>that <\/span>still <\/span>has <\/span>holes <\/span>in <\/span>multiple <\/span>places, <\/span>that <\/span>is <\/span>not <\/span>ideal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Second-round <\/span>picks <\/span>often <\/span>turn <\/span>into <\/span>immediate <\/span>contributors. <\/span>Starting <\/span>guards <\/span>come <\/span>from <\/span>that <\/span>range. <\/span>Running <\/span>backs <\/span>who <\/span>can <\/span>handle <\/span>a <\/span>full <\/span>workload <\/span>often <\/span>appear <\/span>there. <\/span>Safeties <\/span>and <\/span>corners <\/span>who <\/span>become long-term<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>starters <\/span>regularly <\/span>emerge <\/span>in <\/span>that <\/span>round.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fourth <\/span>round <\/span>selections <\/span>carry <\/span>value, <\/span>too. <\/span>That <\/span>range <\/span>often <\/span>produces <\/span>players <\/span>who <\/span>develop <\/span>into <\/span>rotational <\/span>defensive <\/span>linemen, <\/span>useful <\/span>linebackers, <\/span>or <\/span>special <\/span>teams <\/span>players <\/span>who <\/span>stick <\/span>around <\/span>for <\/span>years.<\/span><\/p>\n

Take <\/span>those <\/span>picks <\/span>away, <\/span>and <\/span>suddenly <\/span>the <\/span>margin <\/span>for <\/span>error <\/span>becomes <\/span>very <\/span>small.<\/span><\/p>\n

Free <\/span>Agency <\/span>Needed <\/span>To <\/span>Carry <\/span>More <\/span>Weight<\/span><\/h3>\n

That <\/span>is <\/span>why <\/span>the <\/span>Commanders <\/span>probably <\/span>needed <\/span>to <\/span>be <\/span>more <\/span>aggressive <\/span>in <\/span>free <\/span>agency.<\/span><\/p>\n

So <\/span>far, <\/span>the <\/span>approach <\/span>has <\/span>been <\/span>careful. <\/span>Rachaad <\/span>White <\/span>adds <\/span>receiving <\/span>ability <\/span>out <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>backfield <\/span>and <\/span>brings <\/span>some <\/span>familiarity <\/span>with Jayden Daniels <\/a><\/span>from <\/span>their <\/span>college <\/span>days. <\/span>Linebacker <\/span>Leo <\/span>Chenal <\/span><\/a>brings <\/span>physicality <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>middle <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>defense. <\/span>Cornerback <\/span>Amik <\/span>Robertson <\/span><\/a>and <\/span>safety <\/span>Nick <\/span>Cross <\/span><\/a>add <\/span>competition <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>secondary.<\/span><\/p>\n

Each <\/span>move <\/span>makes <\/span>sense.<\/span><\/p>\n

None <\/span>of <\/span>them <\/span>changes <\/span>how <\/span>opposing <\/span>coordinators <\/span>prepare <\/span>for <\/span>Washington.<\/span><\/p>\n

There <\/span>is <\/span>still <\/span>no <\/span>clear <\/span>answer <\/span>at the <\/span>corner. <\/span>The <\/span>team <\/span>could <\/span>use <\/span>another <\/span>edge <\/span>rusher <\/span>who <\/span>actually <\/span>makes <\/span>quarterbacks <\/span>uncomfortable. <\/span>Wide <\/span>receiver <\/span>depth <\/span>remains <\/span>questionable <\/span>once <\/span>you <\/span>move <\/span>past Terry McLaurin<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Running <\/span>back <\/span>still <\/span>looks <\/span>like <\/span>a <\/span>committee <\/span>situation <\/span>even <\/span>after <\/span>White <\/span>arrived.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Adam <\/span>Peters <\/span>Philosophy <\/span>Is <\/span>Becoming <\/span>Clear<\/span><\/h3>\n

None <\/span>of <\/span>this <\/span>means <\/span>the <\/span>offseason <\/span>has <\/span>been <\/span>bad. <\/span>Peters <\/span>clearly <\/span>prefers <\/span>a <\/span>methodical <\/span>approach. <\/span>He <\/span>wants <\/span>younger <\/span>players. <\/span>He <\/span>wants <\/span>contracts <\/span>that <\/span>do <\/span>not <\/span>wreck <\/span>the <\/span>cap <\/span>two <\/span>years <\/span>down <\/span>the <\/span>road. <\/span>San <\/span>Francisco <\/span>followed <\/span>that <\/span>blueprint <\/span>for <\/span>years.<\/span><\/p>\n

That <\/span>approach <\/span>worked <\/span>there. The problem is Peter’s timing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Washington <\/span>currently <\/span>has <\/span>Jayden <\/span>Daniels <\/span>playing <\/span>on <\/span>a <\/span>rookie <\/span>contract. <\/span>Teams <\/span>around <\/span>the <\/span>league <\/span>treat <\/span>that <\/span>window <\/span>like <\/span>a <\/span>green <\/span>light. <\/span>It <\/span>is <\/span>the <\/span>moment <\/span>when <\/span>rosters <\/span>get <\/span>aggressive <\/span>because <\/span>the <\/span>quarterback <\/span>position <\/span>is <\/span>affordable. Ask Kansas City.<\/a> They built heavily around Patrick Mahomes<\/a> early on, and it resulted in several trips to the Super Bowl.<\/span><\/p>\n

That <\/span>window <\/span>does <\/span>not <\/span>stay <\/span>open <\/span>forever.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fans <\/span>understand <\/span>rebuilding. <\/span>They <\/span>are <\/span>less <\/span>patient <\/span>when <\/span>an <\/span>opportunity <\/span>seems <\/span>to <\/span>be <\/span>sitting <\/span>right <\/span>in <\/span>front <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>team.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Offseason <\/span>Is <\/span>Not <\/span>Over, <\/span>But <\/span>The <\/span>Pressure <\/span>Is <\/span>Growing<\/span><\/h3>\n

The <\/span>Commanders <\/span>still <\/span>have <\/span>time <\/span>to <\/span>address <\/span>that <\/span>concern. <\/span>Free <\/span>agency <\/span>is <\/span>not <\/span>finished. <\/span>Trades <\/span>happen <\/span>every <\/span>year <\/span>once <\/span>the <\/span>draft <\/span>approaches. <\/span>A <\/span>few <\/span>veteran <\/span>players <\/span>will <\/span>eventually <\/span>hit <\/span>the <\/span>market <\/span>as <\/span>teams <\/span>reshape <\/span>their <\/span>rosters.<\/span><\/p>\n

Right <\/span>now, <\/span>though, <\/span>the <\/span>roster <\/span>looks <\/span>better <\/span>around <\/span>the <\/span>edges <\/span>while <\/span>the <\/span>biggest <\/span>needs <\/span>remain <\/span>obvious.<\/span><\/p>\n

That <\/span>is <\/span>the <\/span>part <\/span>that <\/span>keeps <\/span>this <\/span>offseason <\/span>from <\/span>feeling <\/span>complete.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Commanders are building slowly with free agency. But the clock is ticking with Jayden Daniels’ rookie contract.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5774,"featured_media":269049,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":true,"sfio_embed_code":"<\/smartframe-embed>","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8896,6431],"tags":[33883,32671,10326,32192,1305,9166,9114,4687],"class_list":["post-268980","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-commanders","category-nfl-teams","tag-2026-nfl-free-agency","tag-adam-peters","tag-amik-robertson","tag-jayden-daniels","tag-laremy-tunsil","tag-leo-chenal","tag-nick-cross","tag-terry-mclaurin"],"modified_by":"Sue Levine","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/268980","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5774"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=268980"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/268980\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":269047,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/268980\/revisions\/269047"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/269049"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=268980"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=268980"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=268980"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}