Team USA dominated NFL players in inaugural Fanatics Flag Football Classic

While he will never regain the All-Pro form he once had, White is still a starting-caliber corner that will help out a Commander that could potentially have some new NFL faces in it.

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Logan Paulsen asserts that Okonkwo is a better blocker than he’s usually given credit for

Ex-Washington tight end Logan Paulsen explained to “Locked on Commanders” host David Harrison why Okonkwo actually has more talent as a blocker than he’s often credited with possessing.

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Paulsen revealed, “the thing that kept me watching play after play, after play, with him is how aggressive he was in the run game. People saying ‘Oh, you can’t block.’ An important part of run-blocking is matchup, but when you’re looking at, like, the fundamentals of blocking, like hand placement, hat placement, footwork, Chig’s pretty good in these areas.”

To underline his point, Paulsen went on to recount a game where then-Tennessee Titans starter Okonkwo “absolutely” dominated his blocking assignment against the Jacksonville Jaguars late last season.

This game film and Paulsen’s endorsement may shock some of those who believe 6-foot-3, 238-pound Okonkwo is more big-bodied wide receiver than true tight end.

If Okonkwo does bring more muscle to bear in the trenches it will be a mere bonus for the Commanders. Especially when holdovers John Bates and Ben Sinnott are already formidable blockers.

ESPN

2026 NFL free agency grades

Commanders signing edge Odafe Oweh

Terms: Four years, $100 million

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Grade: B

The Commanders needed to add pass rush juice at edge. And they ideally needed to do it with a player in his prime, rather than an aging veteran like Von Miller a year ago. Oweh checks both boxes. The former Ravens and Chargers edge rusher was one of the top free agents in this year’s class — and he got paid like it.

Oweh failed to record a sack while he was with Baltimore last season, then notched 7.5 after being traded to the Chargers. That split is mostly noise because his underlying numbers were good all year. He ranked in the 80th percentile in pass rush win rate among edge rushers and in the 82nd percentile in pressure rate. Plus, he recorded 10 sacks with the Ravens the year before. He’s good — he just took time to develop.

This price ($25 million per year) seems right in line with where Oweh’s market should be. If we translate past contracts for edge rushers to the 2026 cap environment, it’s comparable in average per year to Harold Landry III’s deal with the Titans in 2022 ($25.3 million in 2026 dollars) or Carl Lawson’s 2021 deal with the Jets ($24.8 million), per OverTheCap.com. It’s cheaper than Bud Dupree’s 2021 contract with the Titans ($27.3 million) or Nik Bonitto’s 2025 extension with the Broncos ($28.6 million).

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As poor as last season went for Washington, the team should absolutely be maximizing its current window. With a healthy Jayden Daniels on a rookie contract and lots of cap room entering free agency, the Commanders might as well build up their roster and see how far they can go. Oweh will lead an edge-rushing group that includes Deatrich Wise Jr. — who missed most of last season with a quadriceps injury — and Dorance Armstrong, who tore an ACL last October.

Commanders sign Edge K’Lavon Chaisson

Terms: One year, $11 million

Grade: B+

Two days after signing Odafe Oweh to a big-money contract, the Commanders have agreed to terms with a second edge rusher at a much more moderate price.

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After managing only 10 total sacks over the first five seasons of his career, Chaisson broke out with 7.5 sacks last season with the Patriots. His pass rush win rate at edge was in the 61st percentile, while his pressure rate was a bit lower (39th percentile). He doesn’t offer that much in the run game, so the Commanders are betting that his 2025 pass-rush performance continues.

They’re making that bet at a reasonable price, as Chaisson got a smaller contract than I was expecting. In Washington, he’ll join not only Oweh but also Dorance Armstrong, who tore his ACL last October, and Deatrich Wise Jr., who missed almost all of 2025 with a quadriceps injury.

Chaisson isn’t a game wrecker, but he had an affordable contract. Instead of bringing back Chaisson, the Patriots opted to sign Dre’Mont Jones to a three-year, $39.5 million deal (with $23.1 million fully guaranteed, per OverTheCap.com). Washington got the better deal.

Chargers sign C Tyler Biadasz

The deal: Three years, $30 million

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Grade: B

It was a bit of a surprise when the Commanders cut Biadasz in late February. He had been a good player for them and was slated to make only $8.3 million. It turns out the market thought he was worth a little more than that.

Our metrics indicate that Biadasz was solid last season, ranking in the 57th and 52nd percentile in pass block win rate and run block win rate, respectively. But that was down from the season before, when he was in the 57th (PBWR) and 77th (RBWR) percentiles.

Biadasz fills a clear need for the Chargers. Their previous center, Bradley Bozeman, recently announced his retirement but even if he hadn’t, Los Angeles was going to need to find a replacement after Bozeman ranked second-to-last in pass block win rate at the position.

Podcasts & videos

Post-Signing 1-on-1: S Jeremy Reaves | Free Agency Friday x Next Man Up | Washington Commanders

NFC East links

Big Blue View

Cam Skattebo apologizes for remarks about CTE, asthma

Young running back tries to clean up a mess he made

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Skattebo’s insensitive remarks certainly did not come off as a joke. This should be a lesson for Skattebo, and a reminder to all athletes to be careful about what platforms they appear on and what topics they delve into.

If those are things Skattebo truly believes, perhaps he should spend some time with families who have suffered with former players who have dealt with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, and with people live with conditions like asthma.