The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team.

Don't look now, but the new league year is just around the corner, which means that NFL teams will have their first opportunity to improve their roster with the start of free agency.

The Washington Commanders, who finished the 2025 season with a 5-12 record, have plenty of work to do between now and training camp. They have the most important position locked up with Jayden Daniels returning for his third season, but there will be an extensive rebuild for the defense and retooling at positions like wide receiver and running back, which have just four total players under contract for 2026. The Commanders will have some of the most projected available cap space this year, and a significant portion of that will be dedicated to getting the team back into the playoff discussion.

So, Commanders.com will spend the next week breaking down the outlook for several positions ahead of free agency beginning on March 11 at 4 p.m. ET. Today, we're wrapping things up with the defensive backs.

Cornerbacks

Alontae Taylor, New Orleans Saints

• Taylor has been one of the most consistent cornerbacks over the last four years, averaging 13 pass breakups per season in that span. He was at his best in zone coverage in 2025 with a grade of 80.3 from Pro Football Focus. He also split time between the outside and the slot, so there is some versatility to his skill set.

Tariq Woolen, Seattle Seahawks

• Woolen hasn't recaptured the magic of his rookie season, when he led the league with six interceptions, but he still managed to be an effective piece during the Seahawks' Super Bowl run. Plus, it's hard to find cornerbacks with his size; he's 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds and knows how to use his stature at the line of scrimmage.

Joshua Jobe, Seattle Seahawks

• Jobe was a full-time starter for the first time in his career in 2025 and responded to that extra responsibility with a career-high 12 pass breakups. Unlike Woolen, Jobe has a more traditional frame for a cornerback, but he was a key cog in the Seahawks' top-rated defense.

Greg Newsome II, Jacksonville Jaguars

• Newsome wasn't quite as productive in Jacksonville as he was during several stretches of his career in Cleveland, so the Jaguars seem fine with letting him test the market. He's been one of the best cornerbacks in the league multiple times in his career, so whoever signs him could be getting a top-tier player if he can remain consistent.

Jamel Dean, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• It seems like Dean is going to test the free agency market for the first time in his career, and what a time for the 2019 third-round pick to do so. He's coming off a strong season with three interceptions -- one returned for a touchdown -- and nine pass breakups. He doesn't fit the "young and rising" mold of players that teams are hoping to find this year, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a better, more experienced option.

Safety

Nick Cross, Indianapolis Colts

• Cross has been a reliable player for the Colts since being named a starter. A former Maryland Terrapin, he's recorded two 100-tackle seasons with four interceptions. Plus, at only 24 years old, he's got plenty of productive years ahead of him. He could be a player on the rise.

Jaquan Brisker, Chicago Bears

• Brisker brings a physical style to the field and used that to great effect on the Bears' defense last season. He started a full season for the first time in his career and recorded 93 tackles with a sack and an interception. Issues with concussions kept him out for most of the 2024 season, but it looks like that is behind him.

Jalen Thompson, Arizona Cardinals

• Thompson has had a quiet couple of seasons, but his history shows that he has the skill set to be a top-tier safety. He grabbed nine interceptions in his first five seasons along with two 100-tackle seasons. He's spent his entire career in Arizona, so perhaps he could do with a change.

Kevin Byard, Chicago Bears

• Although he's one of the older safeties in the league, Byard continues to find ways to be productive. He was a First Team All-Pro for the third time in his career, leading the league with seven interceptions. He's also incredibly reliable, as he has only missed nine games in his entire career.

Reed Blankenship, Philadelphia Eagles

• Commanders fans should know all about how much of a problem Blankenship can be for quarterbacks. Though his 2025 performance didn't quite reach the levels he was at in 2023 and 2024, there's enough film to show that he can be an effective player in the right situation.