Latest reports say Commanders’ top free agent target will likely be available this offseason
The Commanders need to be aggressive this offseason, and they’ll have the opportunity to with LB Devin Lloyd expected to hit free agency.
The Washington Commanders have a lot of work to do this offseason now that the majority of the coaching staff changes are done.
The roster needs significant work, with 33 pending free agents for the Commanders and multiple positions in need of an upgrade. General manager Adam Peters needs to be aggressive this offseason, and the NFL is expected to have yet another major salary cap boost this year for teams to work with.
The Commanders need to keep certain players around in free agency while bringing in top talent, and one of the biggest targets this offseason may actually be available, according to reports.
LB Devin Lloyd is expected to hit free agency this offseason
The Commanders are expected to have the NFL’s top-five salary cap room this offseason, especially after a few more roster moves, and they need to take a big swing or two to land a top free agent. One of the top options is Jacksonville Jaguars LB Devin Lloyd, who is expected to hit the market with a price tag too high for the Jaguars.
ESPN’s Michael DiRocco said in an ESPN article that Lloyd likely played himself out of the price range the Jaguars are comfortable with, which is great news for the Commanders.
“Linebacker Devin Lloyd is also a free agent,” DiRocco wrote. “But the estimated franchise tag of $27.5 million is too high, and he’ll demand a big contract in FA, so the Jaguars are likely out on him.”
The Commanders need to be aggressive and land Devin Lloyd
It’s no secret that the Commanders’ defense needs a lot of help, and hopefully, new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones can make an immediate impact. He’ll need better talent, however, and Lloyd is a perfect fit for Jones’ defense. Lloyd is a true do-it-all defender, as one of the NFL’s best coverage linebackers. He recorded five interceptions last season and had the third-highest coverage grade on PFF.
Lloyd is also excellent in the run game and is a more effective blitzer than people think, with 25 pressures, the third-most by a linebacker in 2025. Jones needs a linebacker like Lloyd in his defense, so the unit can execute everything at a high level. The players around Lloyd would only get better, with no liabilities in his game, unlike other linebackers in Washington last year.
Lloyd just turned 27 years old, and he’s hitting his prime, so it’s the perfect time to pay him a big bag that he deserves. Spotrac has his market value at a three-year, $60.4 million contract, and he’d be worth every penny. The Commanders don’t have a single dominant player on defense, and Lloyd would fix multiple areas of weakness at once.
