When the Commanders traded for wide receiver Deebo Samuel last year, it was understood at the time that he was headed for free agency in March of 2026. That day is fast approaching.
Samuel’s contract has officially voided, leaving a $12.3 million cap hit on the Commanders’ books for 2026. He’ll become an unrestricted free agent on March 11.
It’s an open question what kind of contract the 30-year-old Samuel can command in free agency. At times in his career he’s been one of the best wide receivers in football (he was a first-team All-Pro in 2021), but he’s coming off a rather uninspiring season in which he averaged a career-low 10.1 yards per catch.
When the 49ers traded Samuel to the Commanders last year, San Francisco got only a fifth-round pick because the 49ers were eager to get Samuel’s contract off their books. Now Samuel can find out how much every NFL team thinks he’s worth.
There’s one big similarity between the new hires the Commanders made at the top of their offensive and defensive coaching staffs since the end of the 2025 season.
Offensive coordinator David Blough and defensive coordinator Daronte Jones are both stepping into those roles for the first time. That’s a departure from their predecessors, but their lack of experience in their new jobs isn’t something that worries head coach Dan Quinn.
“I felt their vision right away and the energy they have for it,” Quinn said, via Ben Standig of the Associated Press. “I know we may talk of two first-time coordinators, but I also recognize everyone needs their first stop. I really feel like we’re going to set them up to succeed.”
Quinn has a lot of experience as a head coach, which should help balance any learning curve that Blough and Jones go through in their first days trying to establish visions that the Commanders believe will benefit the team in the long run.
Punter Tress Way won’t be leaving the Commanders as a free agent this offseason.
The Commanders announced that they have signed Way to a contract extension on Tuesday. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that it is a one-year deal.
Way entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie with the Bears in 2013 and made his regular season debut for the Commanders in 2014. He has appeared in every game for Washington over the past 12 seasons. He was selected for the Pro Bowl for the 2025 season, which marked the third time he’s been tabbed for that honor.
Way has a net average of 41.7 yards per kick over the course of his career. He’s also 2-of-2 for 38 yards as a passer.
During last week’s Radio Row ruckus, we neglected to mention that the Washington Post disbanded its sports department.
Given the general outcry that was articulated by others far more eloquently than I ever could, I’ll stick with my initial reaction to the news: “What the eff?”
On Tuesday, Commanders coach Dan Quinn met with reporters for the first time since the Post punted its sports section. The team had three empty seats in the front row for the now-absent Post reporters.
Quinn, in a video posted by JP Finlay of NBC 4, noted the empty seats and said he was “bummed” to learn about the decision. “Their presence is missed,” Quinn said.
The accountability the Post brought to sports teams and leagues also will be missed. Reporting regarding former Commanders owner Daniel Snyder helped expedite his forced exit in 2023. More recently, in-depth reporting from the Post potentially sparked a federal investigation regarding a doctor who may have responsibility in connection with the May 2025 death of Colts owner Jim Irsay.
As corporations and oligarchs gobble up more and more independent media, true journalism — finding out the stuff they don’t want us to know — will become more and more rare in sports, because there will be fewer outlets whose employees are not beholden to the rich and powerful.
Which will allow those who are doing things they shouldn’t be doing to keep right on doing them.
The Commanders officially announced changes to the titles of 11 members of head coach Dan Quinn’s staff on Tuesday.
Quinn announced a couple of them during a Tuesday press conference. William Gay is moving from assistant defensive backs coach to cornerbacks coach while Wes Welker will be an offensive assistant after working as a personnel analyst in 2025.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Commanders have moved Andre Coleman to assistant wide receivers/returners coach, Anthony Lynn to running backs coach, Jesse Madden to assistant running backs coach, Darnell Stapleton to offensive line coach, and Shane Toub to assistant offensive line coach.
George Banko will now be the assistant linebackers coach while Tommy Donatell will move to safeties coach. Darryl Tapp has shifted to assistant defensive line coach and John Pagano will now be the team’s outside linebackers coach.
