5 Commanders players cementing their future in Washington beyond 2024

Dante Fowler Jr.

The Washington Commanders are still in a good position despite their mini-slump against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles. To be sitting in the postseason picture during the first season of a long-term rebuild is immensely encouraging. But make no mistake, the hard work is just getting started.

General manager Adam Peters will have a good lay of the land by this point. The respected front-office figure knows the Commanders are not ready to challenge the elite. He also knows that his exciting project is ahead of schedule with the 2025 offseason on the not-too-distant horizon.

Peters is well-positioned to strengthen the Commanders when the next recruitment period arrives. They have more than $103 million in salary-cap space with 31 players under contract. He also has seven draft picks, which could increase further depending on the moves made before or during the selection process.

Not every player will be new to the organization. Several Commanders players are doing their chances of an extended stay well based on their efforts so far this season. Here are five prime examples.

Commanders players cementing their future in Washington beyond 2024

Cornelius Lucas - Commanders OT

Cornelius Lucas was one of a select few Washington Commanders players out of contract who received an extension from the new regime. This was somewhat surprising to fans, but he's proven more than worthy of the financial commitment this season.

Lucas enjoyed a profitable offseason working within blocking concepts that made everyone on Washington's new-look offensive line better. The veteran was tasked with sharing blindside responsibilities with third-round rookie Brandon Coleman. It was an unusual approach, but one the Commanders have benefitted from enormously.

When Lucas went out through injury and Coleman was tasked with shouldering the load, that's when things began to unravel. The former Kansas State star is now healthy enough to participate. Washington should go back to what worked so well earlier in the campaign.

After giving up one sack and one penalty from 323 offensive snaps en route to a superb 77.0 grade from Pro Football Focus, the Commanders should think about handing Lucas another extension when the time comes. He's not getting any younger, but his presence as a capable understudy or sharing starting duties makes it a smart short-term investment.

Noah Igbinoghene - Commanders CB

It's easy to forget that Noah Igbinoghene is still just 24 years old. The cornerback's gone through a rollercoaster NFL career so far. But head coach Dan Quinn saw something in the player last season on the Dallas Cowboys to warrant another look.

The Washington Commanders have gradually gotten the former first-round pick involved. It's not perfect from Igbinoghene, but the flashes alone suggest there is something to mold into a decent rotational option regardless of whether additional reinforcements arrive.

Washington made a daring trade for Marshon Lattimore before the deadline. Pairing the four-time Pro Bowler with promising second-round rookie Mike Sainristil is a mouth-watering proposition. The inconsistent Benjamin St-Juste is out of contract and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. looks like a lost cause. Igbinoghene sticking around on another short-term agreement cannot be completely dismissed.

How the Auburn product performs in the coming weeks will determine his fate. Igbinoghene is growing in confidence, but the margin for error remains slim as the Commanders look to cement their playoff spot in Year 1 of Quinn's head coaching tenure.

Dante Fowler Jr. - Commanders OLB

Dante Fowler Jr.'s arrival this offseason went relatively under the radar compared to others. The edge rusher has the full trust of head coach Dan Quinn, who worked with him previously on the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys. Even so, not many fans were expecting the significant impact he's made so far this season.

It took a while for Fowler to firmly establish himself. When the light came on, he instantly became Washington's most prolific pass-rusher by a considerable margin. This is a huge positive considering the inconsistencies of others.

The former No. 3 overall selection has 8.5 sacks, 12 pressures, and nine quarterback hits in 2024 to date. This is more impressive when one considers Fowler has played just 48 percent of the team's defensive snaps within Joe Whitt Jr.'s expansive scheme.

Washington will likely target an edge rusher relatively early in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, those in power would be wise to give Fowler another deal if he maintains these surprising performance levels over their remaining six games.

Bobby Wagner - Commanders LB

Bobby Wagner needed no introduction upon joining the Washington Commanders. He's one of the greatest linebackers of the modern era and a future first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer. His decision to reunite with head coach Dan Quinn represented a significant statement of intent.

Wagner made his presence felt from the moment he got into the building. He taught this new-look group how to prepare effectively and become a cohesive operation. There are no half-measures. Everything is meticulous down to the last detail. A big reason for the enhanced culture in Washington stems from his influence on and off the field.

The former second-round pick is also performing well despite his advancing years. Wagner struggles in coverage on occasion, but the player's ability to communicate and run-stopping prowess remains a significant asset. It's no surprise to see Frankie Luvu thriving alongside him at the defensive second level after the pair formed a close bond throughout the summer.

Nobody would blame Wagner for walking away from the game after the 2024 campaign. If he wants to play for one more year, the experienced figure has done more than enough to warrant another short-term commitment from the Commanders.

Jeremy Chinn - Commanders S

The Commanders thought they could bring Jeremy Chinn's career back to life. The dynamic defensive weapon spurned other offers to join Dan Quinn's ambitious project. It's been a match made in heaven so far.

Chinn represented a curious case coming into the Commanders. His rookie campaign as an outside linebacker with the Carolina Panthers was nothing short of astonishing. Moving him back to the safety spot saw his influence wane. When Ejiro Evero became defensive coordinator and moved the unit to a 3-4 base scheme, he had no use for the Southern Illinois product.

Carolina's loss was Washington's gain.

Quinn lauded the former second-round pick during his media availability this week, highlighting his tackling prowess and unrivaled energy as traits he's been particularly impressed with. The player is silencing even his harshest critics - something that makes general manager Adam Peters' decision easy this offseason if the same trend continues.

If Chinn extends his outstanding performance levels and perhaps increases them further, the Commanders should reward him accordingly. It won't be cheap, but he's an ascending player at 26 years old with his best football ahead of him.