After last season’s 5-12 finish, one thing is abundantly clear for Washington football fans. The team needs to add a significant amount of talent during the offseason. While Adam Peters will continue to use the draft, the Commanders GM will also have an estimated $82 million in cap space at his disposal after various projected restructures, releases, and dead cap hits. Jayden Daniels is entering his third year, and the clock is ticking on the franchise quarterback’s rookie contract, making this arguably the most critical free agency of the new millennium for Washington. With free agency set to open on March 11th, Hogs Haven will be working to bring you articles on potential targets to fill various positions of need:
Top Needs:
- EDGE
- Safety
- Linebacker
- Wide Receiver
- Cornerback
- Tight end
Secondary Needs:
- Running Back
- Defensive Tackle
In each article, we will briefly summarize the team’s current situation at the position, traits the coaching staff will prioritize, along with a list of the top free agents and a detailed look at a few players that fit the team at different projected average annual values (AAV), typically one high-, one moderate-, and one low-cost contract.
Today, we begin our series with the cornerback position.
Position Summary
Currently Under Contract:
- Marshon Lattimore: Retains a significant veteran presence.
- Mike Sainristil: Second-round pick (2024) entering his third season.
- Trey Amos: Under contract following his rookie season.
- Darius Rush: Reserve/futures contract
- Qwuantrezz Knight: Reserve/futures contract
- Tre Hawkins: Reserve/futures contract
- Car’lin Vigers: Reserve/futures contract
Significant Free Agents:
- Jonathan Jones
- Noah Igbinoghene
- Antonio Hamilton
Marshon Lattimore is almost a lock to be released before March 11, leaving the Commanders with only one projected starter in 2nd year CB Trey Amos. After Mike Sainristil’s sophomore campaign, his role for 2026 is unclear, while free agents Jonathan Jones and Antonio Hamilton should be allowed to walk. Noah Igbinoghene may be retained at the right price, but was brought over from the Cowboys and has no ties to new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones. Jones is expected to prioritize aggressive, scheme-versatile athletes that specialize in attacking the ball and generating turnovers.
Top 2026 Cornerback Free Agents:
Nahshon Wright
Jaylen Watson
Jamel Dean
Alontae Taylor
Josh Jobe
Cordale Flott
Montaric Brown
Cam Taylor-Britt
Greg Newsome
Tariq Woolen
Trevon Diggs
Eric Stokes
Roger McCreary
Dee Alford
Jack Jones
Rasul Douglas
Jaylen Watson, 27, Chiefs
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 197lbs
Career Stats:
| Def Interceptions | Fumbles | Tackles | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Team | Lg | Pos | G | GS | Int | Yds | IntTD | Lng | PD | FF | Fmb | FR | Yds | FRTD | Sk | Comb | Solo | Ast | TFL | QBHits | Sfty | AV | Awards |
| 2022 | 24 | KAN | NFL | DB | 16 | 6 | 1 | 99 | 1 | 99 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 49 | 37 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 2023 | 25 | KAN | NFL | CB | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 33 | 28 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2024 | 26 | KAN | NFL | RCB | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 32 | 21 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2025 | 27 | KAN | NFL | CB | 15 | 15 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 64 | 42 | 22 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 7 | |
| 4 Yrs | 53 | 29 | 3 | 125 | 1 | 99 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 178 | 128 | 50 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 14 | |||||
| 17 Game Avg | 17 | 9 | 1 | 40 | 0 | 99 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.3 | 57 | 41 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | |||||
Spotrac Projection: 3 years, $37,423,638
AAV: $12,474,546
Jaylen Watson is one of the premier cornerbacks in this year’s free agency cycle for good reason, the 7th-round draft pick exploded in a full time role with the Chiefs after missing a good portion of 2024 due to injury. He did not allow a touchdown on 478 coverage snaps and 64 targets and also picked off two passes while allowing a passer rating of just 79.0 to opposing quarterbacks. The 27-year old has plus size and length while being considered a scheme-versatile, disciplined player with more than 2,000 snaps played at outside corner. Boasting a 9.21 RAS score, he has plenty of athleticism and experience in Steve Spagnoulo’s system which utilizes an aggressive style with plenty of disguised looks.
While his production in the turnover category might be lacking, he would provide a steady, consistent presence on the outside that would minimize big plays. As an added bonus, Watson recorded 64 tackles last year, 42 solo, with a 1.5 missed tackle rate so he is also strong in that area as well:
While Spotrac predicts a very reasonable 12.5 AAV, I believe there will be several suitors for Watson’s services, and he may end up more in the $15-16 million AAV range. If Jaylen is able to repeat his production from last season over the full length of his contract, he would be well worth it.
Josh Jobe, 27, Seahawks
Height: 5’11
Weight: 190lbs
Career Stats:
| Def Interceptions | Fumbles | Tackles | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Team | Lg | Pos | G | GS | Int | Yds | IntTD | Lng | PD | FF | Fmb | FR | Yds | FRTD | Sk | Comb | Solo | Ast | TFL | QBHits | Sfty | AV | Awards |
| 2022 | 24 | PHI | NFL | CB | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2023 | 25 | PHI | NFL | CB | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 22 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2024 | 26 | SEA | NFL | CB | 10 | 6 | 1 | 33 | 0 | 33 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 37 | 29 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 2025 | 27 | SEA | NFL | CB | 16 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 54 | 41 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | |
| 4 Yrs | 54 | 24 | 2 | 33 | 0 | 33 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 114 | 90 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | |||||
| 17 Game Avg | 17 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 33 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 36 | 28 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |||||
| PHI (2 Yrs) | 28 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 23 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||||
| SEA (2 Yrs) | 26 | 21 | 2 | 33 | 0 | 33 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 91 | 70 | 21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | |||||
Spotrac Projection: 3 years, $29,221,872,
Avg. Salary: $9,740,624
While somewhat lesser known than his counterpart Tariq Woolen, Josh Jobe enjoyed an impressive showing in the Superbowl, including a great pass breakup on third down versus Kayshon Boutte:
Don’t base your evaluation on the Superbowl alone, as Jobe played well all season. He made 16 appearances (15 starts) in the regular season, giving up just 45 catches on 91 targets (49.5 completion percentage) for 517 yards. While he did give up four touchdowns, opposing quarterbacks had a passer rating of just 77.0 when targeting him, and he held his opposition to 11.5 yards per reception, the lowest mark of his career.
The downside is Jobe doesn’t have the size and length defensive coordinators covet, and his production and playing time were limited until this season. Those items will cost him on the free agent market although his performance in postseason is reflected in his projected price tag. It makes Jobe a nice mid-level target in free agency as a young, ascending player that can handle Mike McDonald’s defensive scheme and a likely fit for Daronte Jones as well.
Fabian Moreau, 31, Vikings
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 197lbs
Career Stats:
| Def Interceptions | Fumbles | Tackles | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Team | Lg | Pos | G | GS | Int | Yds | IntTD | Lng | PD | FF | Fmb | FR | Yds | FRTD | Sk | Comb | Solo | Ast | TFL | QBHits | Sfty | AV | Awards |
| 2017 | 23 | WAS | NFL | DB | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2018 | 24 | WAS | NFL | LCB | 16 | 10 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 16 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 58 | 37 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 2019 | 25 | WAS | NFL | DB | 12 | 7 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 44 | 33 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 2020 | 26 | WAS | NFL | DB | 16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2021 | 27 | ATL | NFL | RCB | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 61 | 44 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| 2022 | 28 | NYG | NFL | RCB | 14 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 66 | 50 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 2023 | 29 | DEN | NFL | CB | 16 | 11 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 46 | 33 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 2024 | 30 | MIN | NFL | CB | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 31 | MIN | NFL | CB | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 17 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 9 Yrs | 124 | 56 | 7 | 41 | 0 | 16 | 45 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 322 | 230 | 92 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 24 | |||||
| 17 Game Avg | 17 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 44 | 32 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||||
| WAS (4 Yrs) | 60 | 18 | 6 | 32 | 0 | 16 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 125 | 84 | 41 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 | |||||
| MIN (2 Yrs) | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 24 | 19 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||
| ATL (1 Yr) | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 61 | 44 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |||||
| DEN (1 Yr) | 16 | 11 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 46 | 33 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |||||
| NYG (1 Yr) | 14 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 66 | 50 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |||||
Spotrac Projection:1 years, $1,125,645
Avg. Salary: $1,125,645
Fans should be very familiar with this final name on our list. Fabian Moreau was drafted by Washington in the third round and played for the Burgundy & Gold from 2017 to 2020. Jeff Okudah is a popular depth signing to associate with the Commanders in free agency, but it was actually Fabian Moreau who played more snaps for Daronte Jones last season. After Okudah was sidelined with concussions, Fabian played 198 snaps and allowed a 54.2 passer rating on 20 targets. While his age would seem to make him the less attractive of the two options, Moreau has spent the last two years in Minnesota, and provides more familiarity with Jones. A return to D.C. on a low-cost one-year deal to compete for a roster spot while helping to install Jones’ scheme could make a lot of sense, even if he ultimately ends up on the practice squad as emergency depth.
Bottom Line
Adam Peters needs to roll Marshon Lattimore’s salary into another viable starter on the boundary to pair with Amos, whether it be Watson or another top free agent.
Expect at least one low-cost, versatile depth signing while possibly retaining Igbinoghene, who carries a projected contract of one year, $2.4 million.
It will be interesting to see which direction Jones goes with Sainristil and how UDFA Car’lin Vigers looks in a new scheme, but multiple additions in free agency will be required.
from https://ift.tt/I4D6ies
No comments:
Post a Comment