Commanders contracts explained

1. Laremy TunsilLT · First $30 million-a-year lineman, with two void years3.5x$11.9M in 2026

   Two-year, $60.2 million extension (March 2026) with $52.655 million guaranteed, a $32.5 million signing bonus and $34.35 million paid in cash in 2026 (Commanders Wire, citing Over The Cap).

   $11.9M2026

   $17.2M2027

   $42.2M2028

   Cap hits as reported by Commanders Wire (Bryan Manning, March 18, 2026), citing Over The Cap. 2029 and 2030 are void years. Peak remaining $42.2M (2028) / 2026 $11.9M = 3.55x, which is extremely backloaded (over 3x).

   3.5x: his peak cap hit (2028, $42.2M) is 3.5 times his 2026 cap hit ($11.9M).

   • He was due to count more than $24 million in 2026. The extension cut that to $11.9 million (Commanders Wire).
   • He's the first offensive lineman to average $30 million a year (Commanders Wire).
   • The 2028 cap hit of $42.2 million is high on purpose. Commanders Wire expects both sides to renegotiate before 2028 if he's still playing well.

   The GM view: Washington paid him heavily in 2026 cash to keep his cap hit low. The bill comes due in 2028 unless they redo the deal first.

   Sources: Commanders Wire (Bryan Manning), March 18, 2026, citing Over The Cap · Last Word on Sports, Aug 22, 2026 (Commanders top cap hits and guarantees)

2. Terry McLaurinWR · Season-ending injury, $34 million cap hit next year, and little guaranteed2.2x$18M in 2026

   Three-year extension signed in August 2025, announced as $97 million (Commanders Wire). It included a $30 million signing bonus paid in installments and $44.65 million fully guaranteed at signing (ProFootballTalk).

   $18M2026

   $34M2027

   $39M2028

   Cap hits as reported by Commanders Wire (Ivan Lambert, Oct 22, 2026). Peak remaining $39M (2028) / 2026 $18M = 2.17x, which is heavily backloaded (2x to 3x).

   2.2x: his peak cap hit (2028, $39M) is 2.2 times his 2026 cap hit ($18M).

   • He tore his patellar tendon on Monday night, Oct 19, and is out for the season (Commanders Wire; Commanders.com IR move).
   • Of his $23.3 million 2027 base salary, $5.35 million was guaranteed for injury at signing and becomes fully guaranteed in 2027 (ProFootballTalk). If he isn't healthy by then, Washington owes that money either way.
   • Commanders Wire describes an $850,000 roster bonus on April 1, 2027. ProFootballTalk's term sheet lists $850,000 a year in per-game active-roster bonuses instead. The sources disagree, and we show both.
   • Commanders Wire's verdict: his age-32 season most likely won't be played in Washington.

   The GM view: The guaranteed money mostly ran out this year, and the deal is set up so the team can walk away. The injury guarantee is the one complication.

   Sources: Commanders Wire (Ivan Lambert), Oct 22, 2026 · ProFootballTalk (Mike Florio), Aug 28, 2025 · Commanders.com, Oct 2026 (McLaurin to IR) · Last Word on Sports, Aug 22, 2026 (Commanders top cap hits and guarantees)

3. Jayden DanielsQB · Rookie contract for now, a huge extension comingNo score$10.3M in 2026
4. Odafe OwehEDGE · Cut him after one season and he still collects $51.3 millionNo score$9.20M in 2026

   Four-year, $96 million free-agent deal (March 2026) with $68 million guaranteed, $50.6 million of it fully guaranteed at signing (Hogs Haven, a fan site, citing Over The Cap).

   $9.20M2026

   2026 cap hit of $9,200,000 from Last Word on Sports (Aug 22, 2026). Hogs Haven reports flat $27.2M cap hits from 2027 to 2029 and $5.2M in a 2030 void year, but we haven't matched that from a second source.

   No backload score: The only year-by-year schedule we found comes from a fan site, so it isn't scored.

   • If he were cut after 2026, he would still collect $51.3 million: a $26 million signing bonus, $3.3 million base, about $700,000 in bonuses and a guaranteed $21.3 million for 2027 (Hogs Haven).
   • An April 2027 roster trigger guarantees $17.4 million of his 2028 salary (Hogs Haven).
   • Hogs Haven calls it the most player-friendly Washington contract since Alex Smith's 2018 extension, and says the first practical exit is after 2028.

   The GM view: This deal is close to fully guaranteed in practice. Washington is betting he lives up to it.

   Sources: Hogs Haven (fan site, Bill Horgan), March 29, 2026, citing Over The Cap · Last Word on Sports, Aug 22, 2026 (Commanders top cap hits and guarantees)

5. Daron PayneDT · Final contract year, season-ending injury, trade talks overNo score$27.9M in 2026

   A 2018 first-round pick in the last year of his current contract (ProFootballTalk). Last Word on Sports lists $55.01 million guaranteed at signing and says he's an unrestricted free agent after the season.

   $27.9M2026

   2026 cap hit of $27,950,000 from Last Word on Sports (Aug 22, 2026), the team's biggest.

   No backload score: It's the final year of his deal, so there's nothing to compare it with.

   • Washington was in trade talks for him when he suffered a season-ending foot injury in practice, which ended the trade (ProFootballTalk, Oct 31).
   • Because the trade fell through, the Commanders owe the rest of his $16.4 million 2026 base salary (ProFootballTalk).
   • He went to injured reserve on Nov 3 (ProFootballTalk).

   The GM view: One practice injury can wipe out trade value. The biggest cap hit on the team won't play again this season.

   Sources: ProFootballTalk (Mike Florio), Oct 31, 2026 · ProFootballTalk (Charean Williams), Nov 3, 2026 · Last Word on Sports, Aug 22, 2026 (Commanders top cap hits and guarantees)

6. Stefon DiggsWR · A one-year, $8 million deal that won Thursday's gameNo score2026 not reported

   One-year deal (August 2026) with an $8 million base value: a $5.15 million guaranteed salary, a $2 million signing bonus and $850,000 in $50,000 per-game bonuses. $7.15 million is fully guaranteed, and $4 million in incentives can push it to $12 million (Commanders On SI, citing Spotrac).

   No backload score: His 2026 cap hit isn't stated in a source we can cite, and it's a one-year deal.

   • He caught Jayden Daniels' 32-yard go-ahead touchdown with 57 seconds left in the 24-21 win at the Giants (Giants.com).
   • Each game he plays earns him another $50,000 (Commanders On SI).

   The GM view: A cheap deal with incentives, and the risk is low for Washington. Every catch also helps him earn more of those incentives.

   Sources: Commanders On SI (Philip Hughes), Aug 13, 2026, citing Spotrac · Giants.com, Instant Analysis, Nov 13, 2026 · Last Word on Sports, Aug 22, 2026 (Commanders top cap hits and guarantees)

7. Javon KinlawDT · $16.2 million cap hit, out for the season after MCL surgeryNo score$16.2M in 2026

   Three-year, $45 million deal signed in March 2025 (NFL.com, Rapoport). Last Word on Sports lists $30 million guaranteed at signing.

   $16.2M2026

   2026 cap hit of $16,200,000 from Last Word on Sports (Aug 22, 2026).

   No backload score: His 2027 cap hit isn't reported in a source we can cite.

   • He went to injured reserve on Nov 3 with a lingering knee injury (ProFootballTalk). The next day he had season-ending MCL surgery (CBS Sports, citing The Athletic).
   • With Payne also out, Washington's interior defensive line is down to Tim Settle and Shy Tuttle, and Jer'Zhan Newton is managing a pectoral injury (ProFootballTalk).

   The GM view: The two biggest defensive-line cap hits, nearly $44 million combined, are both on injured reserve.

   Sources: Last Word on Sports, Aug 22, 2026 (Commanders top cap hits and guarantees) · NFL.com video, March 2025 (Rapoport: Kinlaw agrees to $45M deal) · ProFootballTalk (Charean Williams), Nov 3, 2026 · CBS Sports / RotoWire, Nov 4, 2026, citing The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala

Bars show each reported cap hit by year on one shared scale; the dark bar is 2026. Tap a deal for the full breakdown.

1. Sam CosmiG$20.3M—Last Word on Sports, Aug 22, 2026 (Commanders top cap hits and guarantees)
2. Dorance ArmstrongEDGE$12.1M1 year leftLast Word on Sports, Aug 22, 2026 (Commanders top cap hits and guarantees)
3. K'Lavon ChaissonOLB$11.5M1 year leftLast Word on Sports, Aug 22, 2026 (Commanders top cap hits and guarantees)
4. Frankie LuvuLB$11.3M1 year leftLast Word on Sports, Aug 22, 2026 (Commanders top cap hits and guarantees)
5. Marcus MariotaQB$7.34M—Last Word on Sports, Aug 22, 2026 (Commanders top cap hits and guarantees)
6. Sonny StylesLB$6.77M—Last Word on Sports, Aug 22, 2026 (Commanders top cap hits and guarantees)
7. John BatesTE$5.79M—Last Word on Sports, Aug 22, 2026 (Commanders top cap hits and guarantees)
8. Chig OkonkwoTE$5.33M—Last Word on Sports, Aug 22, 2026 (Commanders top cap hits and guarantees)
9. Nick CrossS$5.25M—Last Word on Sports, Aug 22, 2026 (Commanders top cap hits and guarantees)
10. Amik RobertsonCB$5.01M—Last Word on Sports, Aug 22, 2026 (Commanders top cap hits and guarantees)
11. Will HarrisS$4.76M—Last Word on Sports, Aug 22, 2026 (Commanders top cap hits and guarantees)
12. Leo ChenalLB$4.33M—Last Word on Sports, Aug 22, 2026 (Commanders top cap hits and guarantees)
13. Josh Conerly Jr.T——Last Word on Sports, Aug 22, 2026 (Commanders top cap hits and guarantees)Cap hit not reported
14. Jer'Zhan NewtonDL——Last Word on Sports, Aug 22, 2026 (Commanders top cap hits and guarantees)Cap hit not reported
15. Tim SettleDL——Last Word on Sports, Aug 22, 2026 (Commanders top cap hits and guarantees)Cap hit not reported
16. Mike SainristilCB——Last Word on Sports, Aug 22, 2026 (Commanders top cap hits and guarantees)Cap hit not reported
17. Nick AllegrettiG——Last Word on Sports, Aug 22, 2026 (Commanders top cap hits and guarantees)Cap hit not reported

The next deals by 2026 cap hit that don't have a full card yet. A dash means that figure has not been reported in a source we can cite. Each row links the reporting we used.