McCain signed a one-year contract with the Giants on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
McCain, an eight-year veteran defensive back, is now slated to suit up for New York in 2023 following Tuesday's transaction. The 29-year-old had his two most productive seasons while playing for Washington across the last two years, as he registered 139 tackles, 14 passes defensed and four interceptions in that span.
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Commanders' Efe Obada: Back on one-year deal
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The Commanders re-signed Obada to a one-year contract Wednesday, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.
Obada, 30, appeared in all 17 games for the Commanders last season, recording four sacks as a deep reserve on roughly one third of the defensive snaps.
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Steelers' Cole Holcomb: Strikes deal with Steelers
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Holcomb (foot) and the Steelers agreed to a three-year contract Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Holcomb will head to Pittsburgh after spending the first four seasons of his career in Washington. The linebacker sustained a foot injury in late October and failed to play in any of the Commanders' final 10 games, but he's expected to be ready for OTAs after undergoing surgery in December. He finished the 2022 season with 69 tackles and one pass breakup over his seven appearances.
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Commanders' Jeremy Reaves: Receives tender
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Reaves, a restricted free agent, was tendered by the Commanders on Tuesday, Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post reports.
Reaves has been with Washington since 2018, playing both on defense and special teams. Last year was the first time he played in more than nine games, though his 143 snaps were his fewest since 2019. He'll likely retain a heavy special-teams workload while playing an occasional rotational role on defense.
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Commanders' Danny Johnson: Re-signs with Washington
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The Commanders signed Johnson to a two-year contract Monday, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.
Johnson joined Washington back in 2018 but proceeded to operate primarily as a special-teams contributor throughout his first three seasons in the league. The 5-foot-9 cornerback then served as a rotational cornerback in 2021 before registering career bests in tackles (29), sacks (one), interceptions (one) and passes defensed (nine) across 11 games during this past campaign. Johnson is now set to compete for a consistent starting role in the Commanders' secondary throughout the offseason and into training camp.
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Commanders' Daron Payne: Cashes in with massive new contract
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The Commanders agreed to sign Payne to a four-year, $90 million contract Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Payne was previously tabbed with the non-exclusive franchise tag Feb. 28 after he and the Commanders were unable to come to terms on a long-term extension before the end of his career-best 2022 campaign. However, this new multi-year deal represents a significant commitment from the team, as the 25-year-old defensive tackle, who recorded a team-high 11.5 sacks in 2022, will now receive $60 million in guaranteed salary over the next four seasons. This deal also makes Payne the second-highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history behind only Aaron Donald.
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Commanders' Khaleke Hudson: Staying in Washington
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The Commanders signed Hudson to a one-year deal Sunday, Sam Fortier of The Washington Post reports.
Hudson will stick with the Commanders for his fourth season after being selected by the team in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. The 6-foot linebacker was let go by the team ahead of the 2022 campaign, though he was ultimately re-signed after spending the first six weeks of the season on Washington's practice squad. Hudson still never worked his way above a core special-teamer role in 2022, as he has played almost exclusively in this phase during his time with the Commanders. Hudson has accumulated 34 tackles across 41 regular-season appearances in his career.
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Commanders' Nathan Gerry: Re-signed by Washington
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The Commanders re-signed Gerry on Wednesday to a one-year contract, Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports reports.
Gerry spent the majority of last season on Washington's practice squad and didn't record any statistics in four appearances with the club, with all of his snaps coming on special teams. While the 28-year-old linebacker isn't a lock to make the team coming out of the preseason, his experience on the third unit could be enough for him to secure a roster spot.
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Commanders' Daron Payne: Receives franchise tag
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The Commanders placed the franchise tag on Payne on Tuesday, John Keim of ESPN reports.
Payne is expected to carry an $18.94 million, one-year salary if he plays on the franchise tag for the 2023 season, though Washington did opt to use the nonexclusive tag. That allows Payne to negotiate with other teams, but he and Washington have already begun talks on a long-term option ahead of the July 17 deadline. Payne led the Commanders with a career-high 11.5 sacks while starting all 17 games in 2022.
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Bobby McCain: Time up in Washington
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The Commanders plan to release McCain on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Though Washington will be losing a starting defensive back in McCain, the team is set to save $4.42 million against the cap by letting him go. The 29-year-old posted a career-high 76 tackles across 17 games in 2022, so he should draw a decent amount of interest in free agency.
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Commanders' Chase Young: Plays only three games in 2022
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Young made only three appearances in 2022 and recorded five tackles and one pass defense on 115 snaps.
The 2020 No. 1 overall pick made his season debut Dec. 24 after suffering ACL and MCL tears Nov. 14 the year before. Young has only nine career sacks through three pro seasons, with 7.5 of those coming in a debut campaign that also included four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and a Defensive Rookie of the Year award. With a full offseason to continue strengthening his knee, Young has a chance to emerge as a top edge rusher in 2023, his age-24 campaign.
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Commanders' Danny Johnson: Career year in 2022
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Johnson appeared in 11 games (four starts) during the 2022 season and recorded 29 tackles (20 solo), including one sack, and an interception.
Johnson had the most efficient season of his career despite starting the year off on the practice squad. The 27-year-old set a new career high in tackles while also registering the first sack and interception in his five years as a pro. Johnson's role increased as the season went on, as nearly two-thirds of his playing time came during the last four weeks of the season. An unrestricted free agent this offseason, the 2018 undrafted free agent will look to compete for playing time either in Washington or elsewhere in 2023
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Commanders' David Mayo: Primarily playing special teams
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Mayo registered 34 tackles (14 solo), including one sack, while playing in 13 games (three starts) during the 2022 season.
Mayo saw the majority of his playing time this season on special teams, but he still started Washington's final three games as Cole Holcomb (foot) and Jon Bostic (pectoral) were both out with injuries. The eighth-year pro was effective in his limited playing time, as he amassed 25 tackles and a sack during that three-game span. With his contract set to expire this offseason, Mayo will provide value on special teams and as a reserve linebacker to whichever team he ends up in 2023.
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Commanders' Montez Sweat: Productive 2022 season
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Sweat started all 17 games during the 2022 season and compiled 46 tackles (27 solo), including eight sacks.
Sweat had another solid season, finishing second on the Commanders in sacks and third in tackles for loss (14). The 2019 first-round pick played 70 percent of the defensive snaps, the most among any of Washington's defensive ends. He's set to play out the last year of his rookie contract in 2023, when he'll look to maintain this level of production in order to put himself in a favorable bargaining position ahead of a potential dip into free agency.
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Commanders' Daron Payne: Leads team in sacks
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Payne registered 64 tackles (33 solo), 11.5 sacks and a fumble recovery in 17 games (all starts) during the 2022 season.
Payne had the most productive season of his career, as the defensive tackle registered double-digit sacks for the first time en route to leading his team in that category. The 2018 first-round pick is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason and thus is in line to receive a big payday from either the Commanders or another organization.
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Commanders' Bobby McCain: Switches from safety to cornerback
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McCain appeared in 17 games (16 starts) during the 2022 season and recorded 76 tackles (54 solo).
McCain switched positions from free safety to cornerback midway through the season following an ankle injury suffered by Benjamin St-Juste . While the 29-year-old didn't lead Washington in any statistical category, McCain finished top five in tackles and played 93 percent of the Commanders' snaps. With one year remaining on his contract, it remains to be seen what position the 2015 fifth-round pick will play, as Darrick Forrest seemingly locked himself into the starting free safety job.
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Commanders' Darrick Forrest: Breaks out in 2022
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Forrest played in 17 games (11 starts) during the 2022 season and compiled 84 tackles (54 solo), four interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Forrest had the best season of his young career as he took over the starting free safety job in the latter half of the season after Bobby McCain started playing cornerback. Forrest, a 2021 fifth-round pick, led the Commanders in interceptions and finished second in tackles while lining up for 81 percent of the defensive snaps. With two years remaining on his rookie contract, Forrest should continue to start for the Commanders next season, a context that puts him on the fantasy radar in IDP formats.
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Commanders' John Ridgeway: Nursing torn pectoral muscle
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Ridgeway suffered a torn pectoral muscle in Sunday's win over the Cowboys, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.
With fellow defensive linemen James Smith-Williams (concussion) and Jonathan Allen (knee) both unavailable for Washington's regular-season finale versus Dallas, Ridgeway was called upon to handle an increased workload this past weekend. The 23-year-old rookie registered a career-high five tackles on just 13 defensive snaps before departing with what has since been revealed as a torn pectoral muscle that will likely require months of rehabilitation. With the Commanders having missed the playoffs this season, Ridgeway will aim for a full recovery by the start of the 2023-24 campaign next fall.
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Commanders' Nathan Gerry: Will play Sunday
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Gerry (illness) is active Sunday against the Cowboys.
Gerry was able to log a limited practice Friday after being a DNP on Thursday. His ability to suit up Sunday will bolster the team's depth at linebacker against Dallas.
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Commanders' Kamren Curl: Sitting out versus Dallas
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Curl (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Cowboys.
Curl will now miss his third consecutive game to end the 2022 regular season due to an ankle injury. The third-year safety logged 84 tackles and one sack across 12 games this season, and his absence will once again leave Jeremy Reaves to start alongside Darrick Forrest.
