Commanders' Javontae Jean-Baptiste: Adds to D-Line depth in D.C.
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The Commanders selected Jean-Baptiste in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 222nd overall.
Jean-Baptiste secured a full-time starting role in his sixth collegiate season at Notre Dame after transferring from Ohio State. He made good on the opportunity by tallying 10 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks and is regarded as a technically solid player without standout athleticism. Jean-Baptiste is likely to get a long look in training camp, but his ultimate destination is likely a practice squad to further develop.
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Commanders' Dominique Hampton: Lands in DC
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The Commanders selected Hampton in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 161st overall.
The two-year starter for Washington has bounced around a litany of different starting secondary spots over the course of his six-year collegiate career, but Hampton finally seemed to find his home as a strong safety, leading the team in tackles (105) last season. Given Hampton's 6-foot-2 height and freakishly long arms/wingspan, the soon-to-be 24-year-old will probably stick at safety at the professional level. It's possible the Commanders shift prized offseason signee Jeremy Chinn back over to free safety to make room for Hampton as a box safety early on, but more than likely the rookie will have to carve out a role on special teams to begin his career.
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Commanders' Jordan Magee: Nabbed by Washington
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The Commanders selected Magee in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 139th overall.
The Bobby Wagner signing will be a bridge at the inside linebacker spot while Magee develops. Magee, a Temple product, had two seasons over 80 tackles and had 23 tackles for loss over his last two seasons with the Owls. Like several of the off-ball linebackers in this class, Magee is on the lighter side for the position at 228 pounds on a 6-foot-1 frame, but he can fly to the ball with 4.55 speed. He and Jamin Davis could combine to give Washington an uber-athletic linebackers group.
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Commanders' Mike Sainristil: Second-round pick for Washington
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The Commanders selected Sainristil in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 50th overall.
Sainristil might be limited to the slot at just 5-foot-10, 182 pounds, but the Michigan standout should excel there at least. He was a standout presence in a suffocating Wolverines defense that carried Michigan to its National Title victory in 2023, and his workout numbers indicate the ability to cover ground effectively (4.47-second 40-yard dash, 40-inch vertical, 131-inch broad jump). Sainristil should immediately take over the slot position for Washington and might even have an outside chance of winning a starting role.
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Commanders' Jamin Davis: Not getting Year 5 option
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The Commanders are declining the fifth-year option on Davis' (shoulder) rookie contract, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.
Washington took Davis with the 19th pick in the 2021 Draft, and while he's started 36 of 45 games through three seasons, his elite athleticism (4.47 40, 42-inch vertical) hasn't translated to elite performance. The 25-year-old likely will be a starter again in 2024 under new coach Dan Quinn, but it won't come as any surprise if this ends up being Davis' final year in Washington. He had season-ending shoulder surgery in December, potentially impacting his participation in spring practices.
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Shaka Toney: Let go by Commanders
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The Commanders waived Toney on Monday, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.
Toney was reinstated by the NFL this past Thursday after having served a suspension for violating the league's policy on gambling. The 2021 seventh-round pick, who last played during the 2022 season, now will look to catch on elsewhere as a depth defensive end.
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Commanders' Shaka Toney: Reinstated from suspension
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The NFL reinstated Toney from suspension Thursday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Toney missed all of the Commanders' 2023 campaign after getting suspending for violating the NFL's gambling policy, but he's now been reinstated. Across his 26 appearances with Washington from 2021-2022, the 26-year-old defensive end recorded 16 total tackles, including 1.5 sacks. He's now expected to compete for a rotational role on the Commanders' defensive line as the offseason progresses.
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Falcons' James Smith-Williams: Signs with Atlanta
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Smith-Williams signed a one-year deal with the Falcons on Monday, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Smith-Williams spent the first four seasons of his career with Washington, where he recorded seven sacks across 55 appearances. In 13 games last season, the 26-year-old logged 22 tackles and one sack. Smith-Williams should add depth at defensive end for the Falcons, and he'll likely slot in somewhere beind starters Ta'Quon Graham, Grady Jarrett (knee), and Zach Harrison (knee).
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Saints' Khaleke Hudson: Inks with New Orleans
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The Saints and Hudson agreed to terms Thursday on a one-year contract, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Hudson put together a career-best 2023 season with Washington, the final year of his rookie deal, when he notched 74 tackles (44 solo), two pass defenses and 1.0 sacks in 17 regular-season games. Eight of those contests were starts, and he contributed 341 snaps on special teams. He figures to handle a similar role with New Orleans.
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Commanders' Haggai Ndubuisi: Joins Washington
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The Commanders signed Ndubuisi to a contract Wednesday.
Ndubuisi missed the 2023 season, but he should now be fully recovered from the fractured finger he had surgically repaired last September. As part of the NFL's International Player Pathway Program, Ndubuisi will now get a chance to further his development and compete for an end-of-roster spot with Washington.
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Commanders' Mykal Walker: Goes to Washington
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Walker signed a contract with the Commanders on Tuesday.
Walker suited up eight times for the Steelers in 2023, recording 33 tackles (21 solo) and two passes defended, including one interception. It was a reduced role from his 2022 campaign with the Falcons, which saw him cross the century mark in tackles. He'll likely be a depth option in Washington's linebacker corps this season.
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Commanders' Clelin Ferrell: Heading to Washington
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Ferrell signed a one-year contract with the Commanders on Monday.
Ferrell spent the 2023 campaign with the 49ers, appearing in all 17 of the team's regular-season contests while producing 28 tackles and 3.5 sacks. The defensive end was forced to miss the team's run to the Super Bowl due to a knee injury, but he'll look to pick up where he left off as he begins his time in Washington.
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Bills' Casey Toohill: Heads to Buffalo
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Toohill (shoulder) signed a one-year contract with the Bills on Tuesday, Patrick Warren of the team's official site reports.
Toohill appeared in 16 games last season, missing the Commanders' final contest due to a shoulder injury. The Stanford product notched a career-high 5.0 sacks in 2023 and should bolster Buffalo's depth off the edge now that he's healthy.
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Broncos' Cody Barton: Headed to Denver
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Barton signed with the Broncos on Friday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
The 2019 third-round pick out of Utah will be playing for his third team in three years after spending last season in Washington and the prior four seasons with Seattle. Barton missed four games while on IR with an ankle injury and registered 121 tackles (67 solo), one interception and one fumble recovery over 13 games in 2023. He could start alongside Alex Singleton at inside linebacker for the 2024 season, with Drew Sanders being direct competition for that spot.
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Rams' Kamren Curl: Bolsters Rams' secondary
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Curl (quadriceps) signed a two-year, $13 million deal with the Rams on Thursday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Curl was drafted in the seventh round of the 2020 draft, but he maintained a significant role on the defensive unit for the Commanders in all four of his seasons with the team. He topped 80 tackles in each of those campaigns and had at least four passes defensed on three occasions. The 24-year-old -- who is presumably past a quad injury that sidelined him in Washington's season finale -- is in line to play a key role in a revamped Rams' secondary that also includes the newly added Darious Williams.
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Commanders' Efe Obada: Back with Washington
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The Commanders re-signed Obada (lower leg) on Thursday.
Obada returns for a third consecutive season in Washington, after having played just five games in 2023 before needing to undergo right leg surgery. After a full offseason to recover, Odaba figures to be ready to contribute as a depth defensive end Week 1.
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Dolphins' Kendall Fuller: Finds home in Miami
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Fuller (knee) agreed to a two-year, $16.5 million contract with the Dolphins on Thursday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Fuller ended the 2023 season on IR after appearing in 15 games for the Commanders, but there are no indications he's still dealing with any knee issues. The 29-year-old cornerback replaces longtime standout Xavien Howard (foot), who the Dolphins recently released, as the starter across from Jalen Ramsey in Miami's secondary. Fuller remains a standout at his position, so his presence allows the Dolphins defense to continue leaning on its cornerback corps for an identity.
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Commanders' Anthony Pittman: Moves to Washington
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Pittman is signing with the Commanders on Thursday, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.
Pittman spent the previous four seasons with the Lions, seeing the vast majority of his snaps on special teams. The Wayne State product will likely be working to earn a similar role with his new team.
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Commanders' Jeremy Reaves: Stays with Washington
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Reaves (knee) re-signed with the Commanders on a two-year contract Wednesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Reaves suffered a partial ACL tear early last season, limiting him to just five games in 2023. However, the 27-year-old was a special-teams Pro Bowler in his last healthy season in 2022, a level of play he'll be aiming to get back to in 2024.
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Commanders' K.J. Henry: Contributes as rookie
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Henry recorded 19 tackles 14 solo), two pass defenses and 1.5 sacks across 10 games during his 2023 rookie season.
The fifth-round pick made just one appearance before November, strictly playing special teams, but then got more playing time once the Commanders traded DEs Chase Young and Montez Sweat. Henry played at least 30 snaps on defense in each of the team's final seven games, but he won't necessarily have that kind of role in his second season, with the Commanders presumably looking to upgrade their shaky group of edge defenders this spring.
