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Washington Commanders News & Rumors

Commanders To Sign QB Josh Johnson

April 11th, 2025 at 8:23am CST by Adam La Rose

Josh Johnson will be back in the nation’s capital in 2025. The journeyman quarterback has agreed to a one-year Commanders deal, ESPN’s John Keim reports.

Johnson’s career has included time with a record 14 NFL teams (in addition to his games played in the first edition of the UFL along with the AAF and the second iteration of the XFL). That lengthy resume includes a stint in Washington dating back to the 2018 campaign. Johnson started three games in four appearances that year.

One of the (many) stops he made after that was a pair of games with the 49ers in 2022. Johnson is therefore a familiar face to Commanders general manager Adam Peters, who ensured stability on the quarterback depth chart earlier this offseason. Marcus Mariota agreed to another one-year Washington pact last month, meaning he is in position to once again serve as backup to reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels.

That leaves Johnson, who turns 39 next month, in place to handle third-string duties and compete for a roster spot during training camp. In total, the former fifth-rounder has made 45 appearances and nine starts during his NFL tenure. Johnson has most recently spent the past two seasons taking part in his third stint with the Ravens. Baltimore added veteran Cooper Rush as a new backup in free agency, though, so it comes as no surprise Johnson finds himself on the move this spring.

The Commanders made a surprise run to the NFC title game in 2024, and they will look to repeat that success next season. Daniels will of course play a huge role in determining Washington’s ability to meet that goal, and if he is forced to miss time Mariota will represent an experienced fill-in option. Johnson could take on QB2 duties if needed, but his attention will turn to surviving roster cuts at the end of training camp.

Teams Unlikely To Trade Much In First Round of Draft

April 10th, 2025 at 7:40pm CST by Ely Allen

We’ve seen a common refrain bouncing around with several teams in the leadup to the 2025 NFL Draft: (input team here) is a likely candidate to trade down. The reason for this stems from a view that this year’s draft class lacks elite, top-end talent but boasts enough starting-caliber players to last well into the third round. Because of this, teams don’t seem to be valuing early draft picks as much, instead looking to acquire as many picks as possible.

Unfortunately, though, when so many teams are looking to trade down, it makes it harder to do so. That lack of elite, top-end players in the first round is going to make it difficult to find suitors to trade up with. Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht was quoted today saying that “he doesn’t foresee…many teams wanting to trade up across the league,” per the PewterReport X account. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport seemed to agree, claiming that “not a lot of teams are trying to move up.”

This doesn’t mean that no teams are going to trade up. A couple teams may fall in love with a certain player enough to chase him up the draft board. More likely, though, in the back half of the first round, teams targeting specific positions are going to want to trade into the first round to take players at those positions, especially if those teams currently reside at the top of the second round. Specifically, positions with the most expensive contracts, like quarterbacks and offensive tackles, could see prospects targeted by trading back into the first round.

This is because first-round picks are granted a fifth-year option that the rest of the draft class doesn’t get in its contracts. Passers and bookend blockers can be expensive to retain on second contracts, so having an extra year to work out contract extensions can be crucial. Similarly, quarterbacks and tackles are often the most likely candidates to be asked to sit and develop in the early years of their contracts. Having that fifth-year option gives teams an extra year to help determine if they want to keep a developing player long-term.

ESPN enlisted the help of multiple beat reporters to give some intel into what they’re hearing about their respective teams, and four of them fell into this group mentioned in the last paragraph. Jordan Reid believed the Browns and Giants could both trade back into the first round for a passer after using their Nos. 2 & 3 picks on Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter. Other teams could trade up for different positions but for the same reason. Matt Miller claimed that the Titans could trade up for a wide receiver at the end of the first round and that the Bears could do the same for a pass rusher.

There are several teams with a limited number of picks — Cardinals (6), Vikings (4), and Commanders (5) — that Reid and Miller identify as teams who could be easy targets to trade up with for the four teams mentioned above. Those teams should have their pick of the litter with so many others wanting to trade back, but with Arizona, Minnesota, and Washington so lacking in picks, teams looking to trade up may get more bang for their buck from that trio.

Wes Welker To Join Commanders’ Staff

April 8th, 2025 at 9:43am CST by Adam La Rose

Wes Welker‘s tenure on the Dolphins’ coaching staff came to an end this offseason, but he has a new opportunity lined up for 2025. A deal is in place for him to join the Commanders, as first reported by ESPN’s Mike Reiss.

Welker transitioned from playing to coaching shortly after his retirement. The five-time Pro Bowler spent a pair of seasons with the Texans before working on the 49ers’ staff from 2019-21 as their receivers coach. During that span, Welker worked closely with Deebo Samuel, who was acquired by Washington via trade this offseason.

After Mike McDaniel parlayed his San Francisco tenure into the Dolphins’ head coaching position, Welker followed him to Miami. He remained in place for three seasons but was fired shortly after the 2024 campaign came to an end. As the Patriots were overhauling their staff, Welker received consideration for the role of receivers coach. Instead, New England tapped Todd Downing for the job.

In spite of that development, Welker will have a gig in the nation’s capital for next season. The 43-year-old will hold the role of personnel analyst, per Reiss’ colleague John Keim. He will work alongside Washington’s personnel and coaching staffs in his new position. Welker represents a familiar face to general manager Adam Peters based on his time in New England and Denver during Welker’s playing days; the pair also worked together in San Francisco.

Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury also has a connection to Welker since the two were teammates in college. That level of familiarity could help the latter succeed in his new gig as he aims to help the Commanders duplicate their surprising level of success from the 2024 season.

Minor NFL Transactions: 4/3/25

April 3rd, 2025 at 8:24pm CST by Adam La Rose

Thursday’s minor moves:

Chicago Bears

Washington Commanders

  • Signed: DE T.J. Maguranyanga

Maguranyanga is the latest rugby player to join an NFL team as part of a bid to play football professionally. The 22-year-old is Zimbabwean and joins Washington via the International Player Pathway program. At 6-4 and 222 pounds, Maguranyanga will look to develop into a depth option along the edge, an area of need for the Commanders as the draft approaches.

Commanders Eyeing Terry McLaurin Extension; No Laremy Tunsil Talks Yet

March 31st, 2025 at 11:41am CST by Adam La Rose

Terry McLaurin enjoyed a productive season during Jayden Daniels‘ rookie campaign, and he faces high expectations heading into 2025. That represents McLaurin’s walk year at this point, but a new Commanders deal could be in place this offseason.

General manager Adam Peters said on Monday (via JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington) “positive” discussions have taken place regarding McLaurin’s future. Peters added his desire for the two-time Pro Bowler to remain in Washington for “a long time.” As a result, a strong push to work out a third contract in the near future would not come as a surprise.

One of many impact wideouts from the 2019 draft class, McLaurin inked a three-year pact averaging $23.2MM per season. The receiver market has surged on more than one occasion since that deal was signed in 2022, and Ja’Marr Chase now leads the way at $40.25MM in annual average value. McLaurin will not approach that figure on his next pact, but having reeled off five straight 1,000-yard seasons (and after scoring a career-high 13 touchdowns in 2024), the 29-year-old has a strong case for a raise.

Washington entered the offseason in need of another veteran receiver, and that vacancy was filled by the Deebo Samuel trade. The 49ers’ 2024 offseason was dominated by the possibility of a Brandon Aiyuk swap, and he was known to be interested in a deal sending him to the Commanders (and thus reuniting him with Daniels, his former college teammate). Had such an agreement been reached, McLaurin would have been a San Francisco target regarding compensation.

Instead, the Ohio State product remains on the Commanders’ books at a scheduled 2025 cap hit of $25.5MM. That figure could be lowered with an extension tying McLaurin to the team for the foreseeable future, and it will be interesting to see if he matches the team’s desire to work out a new agreement. Elsewhere on the team’s offense, though, it is unclear if Washington’s new left tackle will be in place for years to come.

Laremy Tunsil was acquired this offseason as part of the Texans’ multi-faceted efforts to rebuild up front. The five-time Pro Bowler’s departure was driven in no small part by Houston’s preference to commit funds elsewhere on the roster, leading to questions about how willing the Commanders would be to extend him. On that note, Peters said no contract talks have taken place yet (h/t Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post).

Two years remain on Tunsil’s pact, and he is attached to a cap charge of $21.35MM for both campaigns. No guaranteed salary exists for the final season of the 30-year-old’s deal, so working out an extension before that point would be feasible from the team’s perspective. Other financial priorities appear to be in place as things stand, though.

Daniels’ rookie contract provides the Commanders with a window of opportunity to build off their surprise run to the NFC title game last season. Both McLaurin and Tunsil will play key roles in that effort for at least the 2025 campaign, but they could be on separate paths with respect to their respective futures in the organization.

Commanders’ Andrew Wylie Accepts Pay Cut

March 26th, 2025 at 2:42pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Veteran offensive tackle Andrew Wylie agreed to a revised contract with the Commanders that reduces his 2025 compensation by $3.75MM, according to OverTheCap.

In return, the Commanders guaranteed $3.5MM of Wylie’s existing money, per ESPN’s John Keim, including a $1MM signing bonus and a fully-guaranteed $2.5MM base salary for the 2025 season. The seven-year veteran can earn $255k in per-game roster bonuses and and $250k in workout bonuses, $50k of which is new money.

Wylie will now count for $6.6MM against the Commanders’ salary cap, bringing the team to over $28MM in available cap space.

The renegotiated contract represents a growing trend around the NFL of teams asking veteran players to take a pay cut in the final year of their contract when little or none of their salary is guaranteed. Players often have little leverage in these situations, especially after the first wave of free agency has passed. Other teams have less money to spend with fewer needs to fill, meaning a smaller market if the player is released. Players also may not want to change teams after multiple years in the same city due to their familiarity with their coaches, teammates, and scheme, as well as personal and family considerations.

Wylie, however, had a legitimate argument to reject the pay cut and stay at his previous salary after starting 29 games for the Commanders over the last two years. He is not considered an elite tackle, but his $10.4MM cap hit still represented a solid value for a proven veteran at a premium position. The Commanders also have plenty of cap space remaining to sign their 2025 draft class and fill out their roster, even after trading for Deebo Samuel and making several signings in free agency.

Instead, Wylie opted to stay in Washington for additional guarantees, though the deal does not contain incentives that would allow him to make up the lost money. He is still slated to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2025 season.

Draft Rumors: Visits, Green, Nolen, RBs

March 25th, 2025 at 9:58pm CST by Ely Allen

As the 2025 NFL Draft continues to draw nigh, teams are beginning to do their due diligence on each prospect, including hosting several for visits.

A perfect example of this saw the Saints host a bevy of Longhorns for a dinner last night, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. The list of Texas prospects included possible first-rounders cornerback Jahdae Barron and wide receiver Matthew Golden as well as defensive tackle Vernon Broughton and quarterback Quinn Ewers.

The Saints weren’t the only team to spend time with Ewers yesterday, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Both the Jets and Raiders sent staffers to meet with the 22-year-old in Austin prior to the team’s pro day. Ewers has several visits planned following today’s pro day, as well, including meetings with the Cowboys, Colts, and Raiders, again, in early April.

Another potential Longhorn first-rounder, wide receiver Isaiah Bond, has also reportedly set up a number of visits following today’s pro day, per CJ Vogel of On Texas Football. Bond apparently has top-30 visits scheduled in the next month with the Falcons, Bears, Packers, and Rams.

Here are some more rumors concerning the 2025 NFL Draft:

  • East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. is making the rounds, as well. After previously meeting with New Orleans, Revel reportedly visited the Texans on Friday, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. Revel is attempting to make a speedy recovery from a torn ACL that ended his final collegiate season after only three games. He’s reportedly on track to be ready to return in time for training camp.
  • One of Revel’s top competitors at the position in this year’s class, Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, is set to meet with the Raiders, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Johnson has already met with the Falcons and reportedly met with the Cardinals already, as well.
  • Already having met with the Saints and Falcons, Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. is set to meet with several other franchises, per Wilson. One of the top tackle options in the class, Conerly has visits planned with the Texans, Eagles, Commanders, Bengals, and Bears. Wilson adds that, at the NFL Scouting Combine, Conerly already formerly met with the Texans, Jets, Titans, Patriots, Raiders, Commanders, and 49ers.
  • Marshall’s pro day garnered a few more visitors than usual today, thanks to the presence of potential first-round pass rusher Mike Green. According to Tony Pauline of sportskeeda, while several teams sent personnel to check Green out, the Falcons sent most of their front office as well as head coach Raheem Morris. Pauline adds that the Commanders also held a significant presence at the pass rusher’s pro day.
  • Due to the draft being more deep than top-heavy, there are several prospects who receive a wide range of opinions on when and where they’ll go in the draft. According to Matt Miller of ESPN, though, no player has a wider range than Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen. Transferring within the conference from Texas A&M for the final year of his collegiate career, Nolen had a strong, consensus All-American season with the Rebels, totaling 48 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 14 tackles for loss. Despite the impressive performance, Miller claims that “teams are torn on (Nolen’s) lack of refined pass-rush moves,” resulting in projections from the top 10 all the way back to the second round.
  • Last year was the second time in the three years that we saw no running backs taken in the first round of the draft. According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, we could see two running backs hear their names called on Day 1 of the event this year. A running backs coach told Schultz that “there’s no way (Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty) falls outside the top 15-20 picks.” Jeanty has been projected in multiple mock drafts to both the Raiders at No. 6 overall and the Cowboys at No. 12. While the position is deep, with players like Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson, Ohio State’s duo of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, Miami’s Damien Martinez, and several others, it’s North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton who may have played himself into the first round with Jeanty. Schultz claims that a personnel director told him the only thing Hampton needed to do in order to go in Round 1 was run in the 4.4’s at the combine, and Hampton ran a 4.46. He may not get taken as high as Jeanty, but he should still be considered a first-round candidate come the end of April.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/21/25

March 21st, 2025 at 8:58pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor moves in the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Green Bay Packers

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

New England Patriots

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Commanders

Commanders Sign WR Michael Gallup

March 20th, 2025 at 12:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

4:25pm: Unsurprisingly for a player making an NFL comeback, Gallup will sign with the Commanders on a one-year veteran minimum contract worth up to $1.335MM, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post. With six accrued seasons, his base salary will be $1.17MM, indicating that the deal includes $165k in incentives, though full contract details have not yet been reported.

12:38pm: Add another ex-Cowboy to Dan Quinn‘s Commanders roster. After making a visit to Washington early in free agency, Michael Gallup signed with the Commanders on Thursday.

Gallup visited the Commanders last week and scheduled a Seahawks meeting as well, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Gallup will make his comeback attempt for a team rostering a few former Cowboys. Noah Brown is among them, as the ex-Dallas wideout re-signed with Washington last week.

The Commanders’ receiver room is becoming crowded. Beyond the two former Cowboy cogs, the team traded for Deebo Samuel and re-signed K.J. Osborn. Third-round pick Luke McCaffrey is going into his second season. Gallup could add an interesting piece to the Commanders’ Terry McLaurin support stable, but he had trended downward before a 2024 retirement.

Signing with the Raiders after becoming a Cowboys cap casualty, Gallup did not end up playing in Las Vegas. He instead stepped away from the game before training camp. While this did give Gallup a year to rest up — well after an ACL tear came to define his career — his recent exit may provide an uphill battle regarding a spot on Washington’s 53-man roster. But Gallup has shown a gear Brown and the other batch of tertiary options in Washington have not.

Gallup posted an 1,107-yard season with the Cowboys, moving into four-digit territory (his only such season) in 2019. This came before the Cowboys drafted CeeDee Lamb. Still, Lamb’s arrival did not diminish Gallup’s role too much. Despite Dak Prescott going down early in the 2020 season, Gallup totaled 59 receptions for 843 yards and five touchdowns. These two seasons enticed Dallas to re-sign Gallup on a five-year, $57.25MM deal in 2022. Dallas re-signed Gallup rather than keep Amari Cooper for a third season; that became the wrong decision, as the former third-round pick could not live up to his midlevel WR deal.

A December 2021 ACL tear sidetracked Gallup, who missed eight games that year due to multiple injuries. Although Gallup returned in Week 4 of the 2022 season, he has not flashed the same form since the setback. After catching 39 passes for 424 yards and four TDs in 2022, the 6-foot-1 wideout totaled just 418 yards and two scores in 2023. This prompted the Cowboys to move on, as big-ticket Lamb and Prescott paydays loomed. Gallup will look to recapture some of his pre-injury form, and he is running out of chances.

Samuel will be in position as Washington’s No. 2 receiver next season, leaving McCaffrey, Osborn and the ex-Cowboys to vie for auxiliary roles. Gallup brings success in the past and impressed the Commanders at last week’s visit in order for the NFC runner-up to circle back and greenlight a comeback opportunity.

Commanders, Deebo Samuel Agree To Reworked Deal

March 19th, 2025 at 2:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

No immediate Deebo Samuel extension followed his Washington arrival, separating this trade of a 2019 second-round wideout from the trades involving D.K. Metcalf and A.J. Brown. Samuel will be assured of a nice 2025 payout, at least.

Samuel’s near-$17MM base salary will become fully guaranteed, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who adds $3MM in incentives will be attached to this revised agreement. That said, not too much has changed here; that may be more notable than any updated guarantee.

Metcalf agreed to a four-year, $128MM extension upon being traded to Pittsburgh. The ex-Seahawk joined Samuel in entering the NFL in the ’19 second round, and while Metcalf does not have a first-team All-Pro honor on his resume like the ex-49er does, he has been a more consistent player since each signed second contracts during 2022 training camp. Samuel saw injuries and modest performances ding his trade value, making the Commanders’ add more of a flier. Trade cost also separated this swap from the Steelers-Seahawks exchange, as Seattle obtained a second-round pick for Metcalf.

Samuel, 28, receiving guarantees early is not especially notable; as a vested veteran, he would have secured them shortly before Week 1. Remaining in a contract year, however, is key here. The Commanders may well look to evaluate their trade acquisition’s fit alongside Terry McLaurin, who joins Metcalf in having a more consistent career. Samuel’s best work has bettered both, but it has been a while since the versatile playmaker has made top-flight contributions.

Accumulating 1,770 scrimmage yards in 2021, Samuel powered the 49ers’ passing attack during Jimmy Garoppolo‘s final full season as the team’s starter. Samuel did improve on his 2022 dud with a 12-touchdown 1,117-yard 2023, but he struggled again in 2024. The 49ers moved on from Samuel after the near-$24MM-AAV player totaled just 670 receiving yards last year. The Commanders providing an extension now would not exactly be called for, given the South Carolina alum’s unreliability and potential durability concerns.

Still, Washington has secured what should be a substantial WR2 upgrade after being unable to provide McLaurin with a quality complementary option throughout the former third-rounder’s run. Samuel will give Jayden Daniels an interesting inside option, and the presence of Austin Ekeler may ensure not many handoffs go on Samuel’s odometer (202 career carries) this season. For now, though, the Commanders will wait and see on their trade asset’s post-2025 future.

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