The Washington Commanders have orchestrated an impressive roster overhaul this offseason, but one glaring need remains: cornerback depth. And interestingly, a former Kansas City Chiefs starter who was just cleared of criminal charges could be the perfect fit.
After a disappointing 5-12 season, general manager Adam Peters faced a monumental task rebuilding a defense that ranked among the NFL's worst in 2025. Through free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft, Peters has successfully injected youth and speed into multiple position groups, including edge rusher and linebacker. But with so many holes to fill, cornerback remained an unfinished project.
With training camp still two months away, Washington's most pressing needs are cornerback and another starting-caliber wide receiver. While San Francisco's Brandon Aiyuk has been floated as a potential receiver target, the 49ers' hardball negotiating stance makes that far from certain.
That brings us back to the secondary. The Commanders released Marshon Lattimore in March and watched Jonathan Jones and Noah Igbinoghene depart in free agency, leaving just two of last season's five primary cornerbacks returning for 2026: Mike Sainristil and Trey Amos. Sainristil struggled after a stellar rookie campaign, while Amos showed tremendous promise before a broken leg ended his season in Week 10.
Washington signed Amik Robertson early in free agency to start, and added veteran Ahkello Witherspoon. But that's still thin. The Commanders didn't draft a cornerback, leaving free agency as the remaining avenue for reinforcement. Former Cowboys corner Trevon Diggs has been linked to the team due to his connection with head coach Dan Quinn, but Diggs struggled mightily last season for both Dallas and Green Bay.
Enter L'Jarius Sneed. A fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Sneed quickly developed into a starting-caliber cornerback for the Chiefs, earning a franchise tag from Kansas City. Now cleared of criminal charges, the 27-year-old offers proven production and playoff experience—qualities that could immediately stabilize Washington's secondary. For a team looking to build around second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels, adding a veteran cornerback with Sneed's pedigree might be the missing piece.