7 defensive and 2 offensive free agent signings have transformed the Commanders roster and raised the optimism of fans

Earlier this week, we published a survey question asking readers to rate the offseason to-date. At the time the poll was published, the free agent “legal tampering” period was only at the end of its first day. At that point, the Commanders had signed 4 external free agents:

The team also announced just prior to the survey, the return of backup QB Marcus Mariota and a 2-year extension for left tackle Laremy Tunsil.

Asked to grade the free agency moves up to that point, respondents were generally positive in their assessment, with more than half giving Washington a grade of “B”. Comments from survey respondents, were, however, reserved rather than effusive in their praise, with many expressing a ‘wait & see’ approach, feeling that the job, while a good start, was incomplete.

We’ll need a follow up survey to find out what they think now (and we’ll probably ask this question again soon), but my feeling as an interested observer is that fan sentiment has turned sharply positive over the past two or three days as Adam Peters has kept grinding and signing players.

Starting late Tuesday afternoon, a stream of reported agreements with five more external free agents were reported.

Also, the extension of backup OT Trent Scott on a 1-year deal was announced.

It feels as if the job that was only partially complete on Tuesday morning is now almost there. The team still needs another top-tier receiver and would benefit from the addition of another long, athletic cornerback. Also, many fans are puzzled about the decision to cut Tyler Biadasz last week without replacing him with a veteran free agent.

Overall, however, a roster that looked like a slice of Swiss cheese at the start of the month now looks more like a suburban lawn with a couple of patches where the grass is thin and dry — a little watering and care may be all that’s needed to turn it lush and green.

We’ve still got a long way to go with 24 roster spots still to be filled before training camp and the NFL draft about 5 weeks away, but Adam Peters seems to have started slow and ‘finished’ strong in the first wave of 2026 free agency. Washington’s roster — especially on defense — has undergone a dramatic face lift this week and fans have taken notice!