Commanders’ next big offseason domino should be no-brainer decision urged by prior mistake
The Commanders have one clear contract extension to take care of before free agency with an All-Pro standout.
The Washington Commanders are full speed ahead in the 2026 NFL offseason, with multiple decisions to make.
The 2026 NFL free agency period is just two weeks away, and the Commanders will have to take swings this offseason. They’ll have plenty of salary cap space and multiple moves available to make more before free agency.
The Commanders can also free up more salary cap space by extending one of the team’s biggest assets and learning from one massive prior mistake.
The Commanders need to extend LT Laremy Tunsil before free agency
Last offseason, we saw general manager Adam Peters and franchise WR Terry McLaurin going into an offseason-long standoff for a new contract extension, which hurt the team in the end. The Commanders can’t afford to do that again, and they need to make contract progress with franchise left tackle Laremy Tunsil before free agency.
Peters said during the end of the year press conference that he “definitely wants to get deals done, and sooner rather than later.” They’ve been in constant communication, and Tunsil represents himself as well.
Tunsil was as good as advertised last season as one of the best left tackles in the entire league, and had the third-best pressure rate allowed at just 3.06%. He also allowed only two sacks on the entire season, and impressed as a much-improved run blocker as well. Whatever Tunsil gets paid this offseason, he deserves every penny as an All-Pro and Pro Bowl snub this offseason.
How much the Commanders could pay Laremy Tunsil this offseason
Tunsil showed that Peters made the right call by trading a haul of picks to the Houston Texans this offseason, and now he can be rewarded for it. Los Angeles Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater reset the market and currently makes $28.5 million, and Tunsil could easily pass that with a projection of $29-$30 million.
This would make Tunsil the highest-paid left tackle in the league, before others who are younger reset the market even more. The NFL had another salary cap boost, which will inflate contracts this offseason, so the sooner the Commanders get a deal done, the better for the long haul.
The Commanders can structure Tunsil’s contract to save them even more salary cap space, since he carries a 2026 cap hit of $24.9 million. Tunsil will turn 32 when the season starts, but I’d predict a three-year, $90 million extension for him this offseason to keep him around while playing at a high level.
Washington Commanders News
Potential salary cap casualty candidates Commanders could strike gold on during 2026 NFL free agency period
The Commanders’ top targets this offseason may not even be available until teams start releasing these salary cap casualty players.
