The Washington Commanders—and the rest of the NFL—can officially cross Tee Higgins off their list of potential free-agent targets. Whether Higgins was ever a serious option for general manager Adam Peters is up for debate, but there are still multiple avenues to strengthen the weapons around quarterback Jayden Daniels.
According to Sports Illustrated’s James Rapien, the Cincinnati Bengals plan to place the non-exclusive franchise tag on Higgins for a second straight year. With quarterback Joe Burrow applying public pressure on team decision-makers, Cincinnati has ensured Higgins remains in the fold. This forces Peters to shift gears with less than a month until the legal tampering period begins.
Washington enters free agency with plenty of cap space and an open Super Bowl window. While Peters won’t make reckless moves, the Commanders have become an appealing destination once again. Fans have full confidence in the front office after Peters’ aggressive yet calculated approach to reshaping the roster in 2024.
Commanders projected to land Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin in free agency
An analyst believes the Commanders could target the next-best available wide receiver with Tee Higgins off the market, though it comes with significant risk.
Ian Valentino of The 33rd Team projects Washington to pursue Chris Godwin when free agency opens. While acknowledging that it’s difficult to picture the receiver anywhere but Tampa Bay, he sees Godwin as a potentially dynamic weapon alongside Terry McLaurin for the 2025 season.
“Thanks to Jayden Daniels’ emergence, Washington will be a hot destination for free agents and trade speculation. With ample cap space and a respected coaching staff, the Commanders will be competitive in major recruitment battles. Their search for a high-quality No. 2 receiver opposite McLaurin could lead them to [Chris] Godwin, who has played at least 61 percent of his snaps in the slot for five of the last six seasons. While Washington likes Luke McCaffrey, the third-round rookie hasn’t shown enough to deter them from pursuing Godwin and using both in various roles. Instead, he’d be an upgrade over Jamison Crowder and Olamide Zaccheaus rather than a direct replacement for McCaffrey.”
—Ian Valentino
Godwin has proven himself as a top-tier receiver, with four 1,000-yard seasons over eight years. He was on pace for a career-best campaign in 2024 before suffering a dislocated ankle, which prematurely ended his season. While he’s expected to make a full recovery, this injury could make the Commanders hesitant to commit long-term.
Spotrac projects Godwin’s next contract to be around three years, $67.58 million ($22.52 million per season). That’s a major investment, meaning general manager Adam Peters must be fully confident that the benefits outweigh the risks and that Godwin’s ankle won’t be a lingering issue.
If Tampa Bay can’t retain Godwin and Washington clears him medically, the move becomes more feasible. However, if Peters has any reservations, the Commanders could pivot to other options. While Godwin is a high-level talent, Washington must determine if he’s the missing piece to elevate their offense.