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As you've probably heard by now, the Washington Commanders need an edge rusher. You could have said the same thing in 2024 and in 2025. It has been a need since the hiring of GM Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn in 2024. However, the need became more glaring during last year's 5-12 season, which was marred by injuries.
Dorance Armstrong was Washington's top edge rusher last season, but he tore his ACL in a Week 7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Before his injury, Armstrong was having his best NFL season, recording 5.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss to lead Washington. When Armstrong went down, the Commanders struggled even more to generate a pass rush.
Armstrong is under contract for 2026. Future Hall of Famer Von Miller, signed just before training camp last July, led the Commanders in sacks with nine. Miller is a free agent and turns 37 in March.
Washington has a new defensive coordinator, Daronte Jones. There is some mystery about the type of defensive front Jones will run. Regardless of whether it's a base 3-4 or 4-3 scheme, the Commanders need pass rushers. With over $80 million in salary cap space, Washington is expected to be active when free agency opens this week.
Here are seven potential edge rushers the Commanders could target in free agency.
Phillips could be Washington's top target. Phillips is young (26), has terrific size (6-foot-5, 270) and has a track record of success since entering the NFL in 2021. There are concerns, though. In five NFL seasons, Phillips has played in every game in three of those years. However, in the other two seasons, he's missed a total of 22 games. He's also never had more than 8.5 sacks in a season (2021). Will that impact his market? When Phillips was traded to the Eagles in November, he was extremely impactful. Philadelphia wants to retain him. While he didn't post huge sack numbers, Phillips is a disruptor. Washington needs a couple of disruptors.
It's a bit surprising that the Chargers didn't lock up Oweh before free agency, given how much cap space they have. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Oweh was a first-round pick by the Ravens in 2021. After an up-and-down tenure in Baltimore, he was traded to Los Angeles in October. Oweh's career took off with the Chargers, playing in 12 games, recording 28 tackles, including eight for loss, 7.5 sacks, and 13 quarterback hits. It's not like he wasn't productive with the Ravens, as he recorded a career-high 10 sacks in 2024. He had 13 sacks in his first three seasons, playing in a situational role. Oweh's arrow is pointing up, and the last two seasons are encouraging.
Mafe has missed only three games in four seasons. He has 20 career sacks, including a career-high nine in 2023. Although he had only two sacks in 2025, he did have 33 QB pressures. The Seahawks also often rotated their defensive linemen. Mafe's pass-rush metrics paint a positive outlook on his impact. He brings good size (6-foot-4, 261) and offers versatility. Mafe is another young pass rusher with untapped potential. The Commanders now have one of the better defensive line coaches in the NFL (Eric Henderson).
The biggest available name and the one with the best track record of success. In 2023 and 2024, Hendrickson's 35 sacks were more than anyone in the NFL, including Myles Garrett. Hendrickson wanted a trade from Cincinnati last offseason after the Bengals refused to make him one of the NFL's highest-paid pass rushers. Washington showed interest in Hendrickson last offseason. How much? No one knows. The problem with Hendrickson is that he'll be 32 in December. Additionally, he missed 10 games last season due to a core muscle injury. Anytime a player is over 30, that's always a concern. Hendrickson is the right move for a team that is one move away from contention. That's not the Commanders.
Ebiketie is a name to watch. A 2022 second-round pick, Ebiketie has missed only one game in four seasons. In a part-time role with the Falcons, he has recorded 17 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks, but has 89 QB pressures. In 2023 and 2024, he had six sacks in each season. He would fit well in a base 3-4 as an outside edge rusher. Ebiketie would be a good addition, but if Washington signs him, there needs to be another pass rusher added, too.
Chaisson was a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He was a bust for the Jacksonville Jaguars, recording just five sacks in 57 games for the Jags across four seasons. Chaisson began to turn his career around in 2024 when he signed with the Raiders. In 15 games, including four starts, finishing with 32 tackles, five sacks and seven tackles for loss. His pressure rates were encouraging enough that New England signed him to a one-year, $5 million deal. He had a breakout year for an excellent Patriots' defense, finishing with 7.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 18 QB hits and two forced fumbles. He added three more sacks in the playoffs. Chaisson earned a long-term deal, and he's still only 26. Another excellent candidate to sign if Washington plans to run a base 3-4.
Another former first-round pick, Paye has started for the Colts for the past five seasons. He has 30.5 career sacks, 37 tackles for loss, 50 QB hits. Over the past two seasons, Paye has 84 total QB pressures, and he's also known to be solid against the run. A solid player, but he's not going to be an answer for Washington's pass rush woes. He can be part of the answer. If the Commanders sign Paye, that's a good start, but they'll need more.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders' 2026 free agency: 7 top edge rusher targets
Continue reading...
Dorance Armstrong was Washington's top edge rusher last season, but he tore his ACL in a Week 7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Before his injury, Armstrong was having his best NFL season, recording 5.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss to lead Washington. When Armstrong went down, the Commanders struggled even more to generate a pass rush.
Armstrong is under contract for 2026. Future Hall of Famer Von Miller, signed just before training camp last July, led the Commanders in sacks with nine. Miller is a free agent and turns 37 in March.
Washington has a new defensive coordinator, Daronte Jones. There is some mystery about the type of defensive front Jones will run. Regardless of whether it's a base 3-4 or 4-3 scheme, the Commanders need pass rushers. With over $80 million in salary cap space, Washington is expected to be active when free agency opens this week.
Here are seven potential edge rushers the Commanders could target in free agency.
Eagles EDGE Jaelan Phillips
Phillips could be Washington's top target. Phillips is young (26), has terrific size (6-foot-5, 270) and has a track record of success since entering the NFL in 2021. There are concerns, though. In five NFL seasons, Phillips has played in every game in three of those years. However, in the other two seasons, he's missed a total of 22 games. He's also never had more than 8.5 sacks in a season (2021). Will that impact his market? When Phillips was traded to the Eagles in November, he was extremely impactful. Philadelphia wants to retain him. While he didn't post huge sack numbers, Phillips is a disruptor. Washington needs a couple of disruptors.
Chargers EDGE Odafe Oweh
It's a bit surprising that the Chargers didn't lock up Oweh before free agency, given how much cap space they have. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Oweh was a first-round pick by the Ravens in 2021. After an up-and-down tenure in Baltimore, he was traded to Los Angeles in October. Oweh's career took off with the Chargers, playing in 12 games, recording 28 tackles, including eight for loss, 7.5 sacks, and 13 quarterback hits. It's not like he wasn't productive with the Ravens, as he recorded a career-high 10 sacks in 2024. He had 13 sacks in his first three seasons, playing in a situational role. Oweh's arrow is pointing up, and the last two seasons are encouraging.
Seahawks EDGE Boye Mafe
Mafe has missed only three games in four seasons. He has 20 career sacks, including a career-high nine in 2023. Although he had only two sacks in 2025, he did have 33 QB pressures. The Seahawks also often rotated their defensive linemen. Mafe's pass-rush metrics paint a positive outlook on his impact. He brings good size (6-foot-4, 261) and offers versatility. Mafe is another young pass rusher with untapped potential. The Commanders now have one of the better defensive line coaches in the NFL (Eric Henderson).
Bengals EDGE Trey Hendrickson
The biggest available name and the one with the best track record of success. In 2023 and 2024, Hendrickson's 35 sacks were more than anyone in the NFL, including Myles Garrett. Hendrickson wanted a trade from Cincinnati last offseason after the Bengals refused to make him one of the NFL's highest-paid pass rushers. Washington showed interest in Hendrickson last offseason. How much? No one knows. The problem with Hendrickson is that he'll be 32 in December. Additionally, he missed 10 games last season due to a core muscle injury. Anytime a player is over 30, that's always a concern. Hendrickson is the right move for a team that is one move away from contention. That's not the Commanders.
Falcons EDGE Arnold Ebiketie
Ebiketie is a name to watch. A 2022 second-round pick, Ebiketie has missed only one game in four seasons. In a part-time role with the Falcons, he has recorded 17 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks, but has 89 QB pressures. In 2023 and 2024, he had six sacks in each season. He would fit well in a base 3-4 as an outside edge rusher. Ebiketie would be a good addition, but if Washington signs him, there needs to be another pass rusher added, too.
Patriots EDGE K'Lavon Chaisson
Chaisson was a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He was a bust for the Jacksonville Jaguars, recording just five sacks in 57 games for the Jags across four seasons. Chaisson began to turn his career around in 2024 when he signed with the Raiders. In 15 games, including four starts, finishing with 32 tackles, five sacks and seven tackles for loss. His pressure rates were encouraging enough that New England signed him to a one-year, $5 million deal. He had a breakout year for an excellent Patriots' defense, finishing with 7.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 18 QB hits and two forced fumbles. He added three more sacks in the playoffs. Chaisson earned a long-term deal, and he's still only 26. Another excellent candidate to sign if Washington plans to run a base 3-4.
Colts EDGE Kwity Pate
Another former first-round pick, Paye has started for the Colts for the past five seasons. He has 30.5 career sacks, 37 tackles for loss, 50 QB hits. Over the past two seasons, Paye has 84 total QB pressures, and he's also known to be solid against the run. A solid player, but he's not going to be an answer for Washington's pass rush woes. He can be part of the answer. If the Commanders sign Paye, that's a good start, but they'll need more.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders' 2026 free agency: 7 top edge rusher targets
Continue reading...
