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 highlighting the interior defensive tackles and edge rushers.
Khyiris Tonga, New England Patriots
A former seventh-round pick, Tonga has already played for four teams in five seasons. He's a pure rotational piece that can add depth in the interior and knows how to use his 335-pound frame to disrupt double teams. He also got 14 snaps as a fullback in short yardage situations.
D.J. Reader, Detroit Lions
Reader spent the last two seasons in Detroit and was an effective run-stopper with 51 tackles. He started 32 games in as many appearances, and while he's not much of a pass-rusher, he could have a role with a team looking for a solid noseguard.
Logan Hall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Hall, a second-round pick in 2022, never quite became what the Buccaneers hoped he would. He was a full-time starter in 2025, recording 39 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He might not have that same role with his next team, assuming the Buccaneers don't re-sign him, but he could have some value as a depth piece.
John Franklin-Myers, Denver Broncos
Franklin-Myers has been at his best since he joined the Broncos in 2024, recording 14.5 sacks with 33 quarterback hits. He has experience at multiple positions up front and has done well at all of them, recording 200 tackles and 34 sacks in the process. He's been considered a starter for the last five seasons and will likely be looking for a similar role with a new team if the Broncos don't re-sign him.
Dre'Mont Jones, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens moved Jones to defensive end once they acquired him in a trade with the Tennessee Titans, and the change seems to highlight his best traits. He recorded 15 quarterback hits in nine games -- six more than he did with the Titans.
Jaelan Phillips, Miami Dolphins
Phillips had a tough couple of years in Miami thanks to a torn Achilles tendon and a knee injury in back-to-back seasons. Prior to that, he was an emerging pass-rusher with 15.5 sacks combined in 2021 and 2022 to go with 41 quarterback hits. Phillips had only five sacks in 2025 with the Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles, but the feeling around the league is that his better days are ahead of him.
Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals
Hendrickson will be 32 by the end of the 2026 season, but you would be hard-pressed to find a more consistent pass-rusher over the last six years. He has four seasons with at least 13 sacks in that span, including back-to-back 17.5-sack campaigns in 2023 and 2024. He received the most fanfare in 2024, when he was a First Team All-Pro and came second in the voting for Defensive Player of the Year. He's hitting the market for the first time since 2021 and will likely have several suitors.
Boye Mafe, Seattle Seahawks
Mafe had a decreased role with the Seahawks in 2025, appearing in just 50% of the defensive snaps as opposed to 60.4% in 2024. He doesn't put up a lot of stats but has versatility and can handle multiple responsibilities. Plus, he's got plenty left in him at 27 years old.
Joseph Ossai, Cincinnati Bengals
Ossai has been more of a rotational piece than a starter in his career with the Bengals but hit a career-high in pressures last season. It's possible he's ready for a larger role, and there should be a number of teams ready to give him that chance.
Bradley Chubb, Miami Dolphins
Chubb is under contract with the Dolphins right now, but the team has made it clear that they will release him at some point. He put up respectable numbers in 2025, despite tearing his ACL prior to the start of the 2024 season. There's certainly potential in Chubb's game; he's recorded at least seven sacks in every season he was a full-time starter. We'll see what kind of market he has whenever he hits free agency.
