Commanders Target Top Free Agents in 2026

Washington looks to bolster roster with elite wide receiver, edge rusher, and cornerback

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The Washington Commanders are gearing up for an active 2026 NFL free agency period, targeting several high-profile players to address key needs on their roster. The team is focused on signing wide receiver Alec Pierce, edge rusher Odafe Oweh, and cornerback Jaylen Watson to help improve their offense and defense.

Why it matters

The Commanders are looking to build on a disappointing 2025 season and return to playoff contention. Adding proven talent in free agency could provide a significant boost, especially at positions like wide receiver, edge rusher, and cornerback where the team struggled. Securing impact players like Pierce, Oweh, and Watson would give the Commanders more firepower on both sides of the ball.

The details

The Commanders have identified wide receiver Alec Pierce as their top free agent target. Pierce is coming off back-to-back seasons leading the NFL in yards per reception and would provide a dynamic deep threat to complement star wideout Terry McLaurin. The team also plans to pursue edge rusher Odafe Oweh, who had a strong finish to the 2025 season with the Chargers, including a 16.5% pass-rush win rate that ranked 11th in the league. On defense, the Commanders want to sign cornerback Jaylen Watson, who graded out as the 16th-best corner in 2025 and would shore up the team's secondary.

  • The 2026 NFL free agency period begins next week.

The players

Alec Pierce

A 25-year-old wide receiver who has led the NFL in yards per reception the past two seasons, making him one of the league's elite deep threats.

Odafe Oweh

A 27-year-old edge rusher who had a strong finish to the 2025 season with the Chargers, ranking 11th in the NFL in pass-rush win rate.

Jaylen Watson

A 27-year-old cornerback who graded out as the 16th-best corner in the league in 2025 and would provide a significant upgrade to the Commanders' secondary.

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What they’re saying

“I'm no longer gonna be an 80-target player… If I get paid this big contract, they're gonna have to throw me the ball more.”

— Alec Pierce (X by Up & Adams)

“Oweh has never really put together a Pro Bowl-caliber season, but he is very good at avoiding chip help to get after quarterbacks. (Among the top free-agent pass rushers) with 1,000 attempts over the past three years, Oweh ranks fifth in quarterback pressure probability over expected (QBPOE), a metric that uses the NFL Next Gen Stats model to estimate how likely a pass rusher is to create a pressure on a given snap. There could still be some untapped upside here.”

— Bill Barnwell, ESPN Analyst (ESPN)

What’s next

The Commanders will need to act quickly to sign their top free agent targets, as other teams will also be vying for their services once the market opens next week.

The takeaway

The Commanders' free agency strategy of targeting proven playmakers at key positions could pay dividends if they are able to land players like Alec Pierce, Odafe Oweh, and Jaylen Watson. These additions would significantly upgrade the team's offense and defense, putting them in a stronger position to compete for a playoff spot in 2026.