Not everyone is going to come along for the ride. The Commanders have 28 unrestricted free agents and a lot of hard work ahead. Peters acknowledged it'll be a busy few weeks, but the improved culture in the locker room makes retaining players an easy sell.
Peters won't bring everyone back. Washington has $81.91 million in available cap space and seven draft selections. This team is an attractive place to play again and the recent NFLPA report card shows how the Commanders are heading on the right path. The general manager must take advantage by attracting the correct characters to the organization.
A fascinating few weeks lie ahead for Washington's expectant fanbase. With this in mind, here are five fan favorites who might not be back in 2025.
We'll begin with veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota.
Commanders fan favorites who might not be back in 2025
Marcus Mariota - Commanders QB
Fans took Marcus Mariota to their hearts. Not for his performances on the field, which were pretty good when called upon, but for the way he embraced his role as a mentor with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.
The Washington Commanders identified Mariota as the support system Daniels needed to ease him through this important transition. His experience became a major asset — something that helped the Heisman Trophy winner take the league by storm in 2024.
Mariota was always on hand to provide advice and guidance. He played a role in keeping Daniels on an even keel. One only has to look at how glowingly the former LSU star and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury spoke about him to see how impactful he became behind the scenes.
The Commanders would probably love to have Mariota back. However, the weak free-agency options and less-than-stellar quarterback crop emerging from the college ranks could see a potential starting chance come his way.
That would be difficult for Mariota to turn down at this stage of his playing career. He performed well enough in limited involvement this season to improve his chances. The Commanders need to make contingency plans if this scenario comes to fruition.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. - Commanders RB
Chris Rodriguez Jr. became a cult figure among Washington Commanders fans this season. The running back fought hard to stick around and flashed tremendous promise when called upon. Some were disappointed that he didn't get much of an opportunity down the stretch or into the playoffs.
Rodriguez is a powerful runner with improving contact balance. He responded well to enhanced coaching and proved capable of stepping in at a moment's notice, as reflected by his 4.9 yards per carry.
When Brian Robinson Jr. displayed regression and Austin Ekeler went out with a concussion, the calls to give Rodriguez a legitimate shot were loud among sections of the fanbase. These fell on deaf ears, with the Commanders preferring veteran Jeremy McNichols when push came to shove.
The Kentucky product is an exclusive rights free agent, meaning the Commanders can offer him a qualifying contract offer. Whether they do or not remains to be seen, but at least Rodriguez has some decent production on tape to get another opportunity elsewhere.
Rodriguez should rightfully feel aggrieved about not earning the complete trust of Washington's decision-makers, especially after his starring performance against the Tennessee Titans. It'll be fascinating to see how the Commanders approach this issue, but all signs point to his departure.
Jonathan Allen - Commanders DT
The Commanders permitted Jonathan Allen to seek a trade. He wants a fresh challenge heading into the final year of his deal. Adam Peters is doing right by the veteran defensive tackle.
Allen's been an ever-present since being taken in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He's a two-time Pro Bowler who quickly emerged into an inspirational leader within the locker room. Unfortunately for the Alabama product, injuries and performance regression over the last two years cannot be ignored.
He cut a frustrated figure as Ron Rivera's tenure descended into chaos. Allen threatened to force the issue if the right moves weren't made. The appointment of head coach Dan Quinn galvanized his mindset to the point where he worked exceptionally hard to return from a torn pectoral ahead of time.
Aside from some flashes in the postseason, most notably in the divisional-round game at the Detroit Lions, Allen's campaign was largely underwhelming overall. Peters is letting his representatives gauge interest before taking things further. The front-office leader didn't rule anything out during his media availability at the NFL Scouting Combine, including another year with the squad.
The Commanders might outright release Allen with a saving of $16.47 million attached if no trade partner comes forward. It's a fluid situation that Peters will want to be resolved at the earliest possible opportunity.
Bobby Wagner - Commanders LB
Bobby Wagner firmly established himself as a locker room alpha in short order. The veteran linebacker opted to link back up with Dan Quinn in free agency. He was tasked with on-field production and spearheading the Washington Commanders' locker room culture shift.
That was a lot to ask. Instead of shying away from responsibilities, Wagner embraced them with his customary poise and determination. His role was integral to Washington's exceptional run to the final four.
Wagner's lost a step, there's no getting away from that. His sideline-to-sideline impactfulness isn't what it used to be. However, the former second-round pick's football IQ and ability to recognize plays developing quickly remain elite. His partnership with Frankie Luvu was exemplary, with both linebackers earning second-team All-Pro honors along the way.
The Utah State product is out of contract and looking for a new deal. Wagner's production more than warrants another year and the Commanders would be wise to keep him around. Even so, there is growing speculation that another team might be lurking for his services.
Pete Carroll is head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. His admiration for Wagner is well known and came across at the NFL Scouting Combine. Quinn was noncommittal when discussing his future, so it's a wait-and-see scenario for fans.
Noah Brown - Commanders WR
Noah Brown will be remembered in Commanders' folklore regardless of whether he re-signs or not. This, of course, is thanks to his miracle Hail Mary touchdown pass to beat the Chicago Bears.
Fortune favored Brown and the Commanders. With time expiring and the Bears en route to 5-2, quarterback Jayden Daniels heaved up a prayer near the end zone after a scramble drill. The ball got tipped into the wide receiver's hands, causing absolute bedlam at Northwest Stadium.
That immediately endeared Brown to Washington's fanbase. But from Adam Peters' perspective, he cannot allow emotional attachment to creep into his decision-making process.
Brown's overall contribution was modest. He made some big plays. He suffered mental errors with drops. A serious internal injury ended his campaign ahead of time and the former seventh-round pick was unable to get back for the postseason.
The Commanders need to fortify their firepower around Daniels this offseason with only Terry McLaurin and Luke McCaffrey under contract. Brown could get a reprieve depending on his medical assessments, but it might easily go the other way.
Dyami Brown's emergence over the second half of 2024 doesn't bode well for his hopes. The Commanders will consider keeping both, but they have the resources needed to think bigger.
It was a memorable campaign for the Washington Commanders in 2024. But no team gets anywhere by standing still.
Adam Peters is a cutthroat roster builder. He was delighted by the way things unfolded in year one of his rebuild as the Commanders defied expectations to reach the NFC Championship game. They couldn't get to the Super Bowl, but the foundations have been laid for a successful future.
