Commanders linked to top free agent option who would become explosive weapon for Jayden Daniels
ESPN links free agent TE Isaiah Likely to the Commanders as the best team fit this offseason as a new weapon for Jayden Daniels.
The Washington Commanders are heading into a critical offseason where they have to be active, unlike last season, and build around quarterback Jayden Daniels.
General manager Adam Peters will have a top-5 salary cap space and the opportunity to create more before free agency. The Commanders’ roster needs young, rising players who can be part of the team’s long-term plans, not more veteran one-year fillers.
ESPN links the Commanders to one young free agent who could be Daniels’ next big weapon and also a part of the team’s future.
ESPN links the Commanders as the best team fit for TE Isaiah Likely
The Commanders need to take a careful approach in free agency, with 32 pending free agents on the roster, by finding younger talent at a more affordable price. The salary cap will go quicker than people realize, and swinging at two or three bigger names is more reckless than finding multiple gems who can turn into key starters.
ESPN links one of those gems, TE Isaiah Likely, to the Commanders as the best landing spot this offseason, and it makes a ton of sense.
Should the Commanders pursue TE Isaiah Likely?
The Commanders need to find playmakers for David Blough’s new offense, and Likely would be a great fit. Blough will use motion and scheme tight ends open, which is perfect for Likely. They need to replace TE Zach Ertz, who is a free agent and coming off a torn ACL, and Likely has TE1 upside at just 26 years old.
Likely can win in the short routes and turn them into big plays after the catch, but he can also stretch the field vertically. He had a down 2025 season after suffering a foot injury in training camp that kept him out of the start of the season. The late start allowed Mark Andrews to retake his starting spot and receive a new contract extension. Make no mistake about it, though, Likely can play.
He had six touchdowns in 2024 and just one last season after seeing Andrews take over more snaps, but Likely still had big play after big play when he was called on last year.
Likely would be the better swing instead of overpaying for Kyle Pitts, who may not even hit the market. He’s projected to make around $11-$14 million per year this offseason, which is very reasonable for the Commanders.
The Commanders have a lot of holes to fill before the 2026 NFL Draft, and finding younger ascending players like Likely at a better price will help them build out their roster successfully this offseason.
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