The Washington Commanders have done a nice job of filling some needs/making upgrades during the first wave of free agency, but there's still work to be done as the team continues to build the 2025 roster.

Just like the other 31 teams – no roster is perfect. So, with that being said, what are the top remaining needs for the Commanders after the initial wave of free agency?

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A Dante Fowler Jr.-like replacement for, well, Dante Fowler Jr.

Fowler Jr. signed with the Dallas Cowboys on a one-year $8 million deal, leaving the Commanders without a specialized pass rusher on the edge. Sure, Frankie Luvu is still around, but he plays a different role from the one Fowler had. Somehow, the Commanders need to find a way to replace his 10.5 sacks.

Sure they've signed some guys in free agency, but none of them of have the athleticism, bend, or versatility that Fowler Jr. possesses. He can line up on the edge in a two-point stance, put his hand in the dirt, and even move inside on obvious passing downs. That's not easy to replace, as it requires a specific skill set. 

There's one guy out there in Za'Darius Smith that can help fill that role. If free agency isn't a viable option, then drafting a guy like Donovan Ezeiruaku is certainly one. Either way, the Commanders need to find an explosive edge rusher that can help make the lives of opposing quarterbacks hell on a consistent basis.

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A big-bodied receiver that can make tough catches and be a red zone threat

The Commanders made a smaller group of receivers work last year, but it's obvious they need some big guys who can get off the line and make tough catches in traffic. Terry McLaurin and Zach Ertz combined for 17 red zone touchdowns last year, so just imagine what the Commanders offense, one that converted 63.4% of trips into touchdowns, could do with another legitimate threat?

Right now, the only receiver on the roster taller than 6-foot-2 is Mike Strachan, who has a grand total of six career catches over his three years in the league. Deebo Samuel has never been a receiving threat in the red zone, as he's never caught more than three touchdown passes inside the 20 in a single season.

Adding this type of element to the Commanders passing attack would continue to round things out, which can only lead to good things for Jayden Daniels and Co. There aren't any plausible free agents that fit this mold, so Washington will likely have to attack it in the draft.

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Another safety that is versatile, effective, and can play special teams

Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. like to have the bigger defensive backs on the field in order to help maximize both coverage and run defense and one way they make that happen is having players that are basically a linebacker/safety hybrid to where they can roam in space and take on blocks.

They not only need that guy for schematic purposes, but depth purposes, as well. Right now, Quan Martin and Will Harris are the top-2 safeties. If one of them were to go down, it'd leave a decent-sized hole at the position and would likely have a trickle-down effect on the defense as a whole.

A guy like Damontae Kazee makes solid sense. The veteran safety was drafted by Quinn when he was head coach of the Atlanta Falcons and had his best year in 2018, where he recorded seven interceptions. He's mostly a free safety, but he can play centerfield in some subpackages while Harris moves up into the box and Martin matches up where it makes most sense. Or, the Commanders could go split safety with Martin and Kazee up top and Harris down low.

He wouldn't be expensive, either. It's a move that makes sense all-around and could bolster the Commanders secondary, as well.

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