The Washington Commanders have signed three players to reserve/future contracts following the conclusion of the 2025 NFL season. This move is part of a broader strategy as teams begin to prepare for the upcoming league year, which starts in March. Reserve/future contracts are typically offered to players who finished the previous season on practice squads or who were free agents.
On January 2, 2025, the Commanders added guard Tyler Cooper and wide receiver Nick Nash to their roster. The day after, on January 3, 2025, they signed tight end Lawrence Cager. These signings come shortly after the organization parted ways with three coaches: Kliff Kingsbury, Joe Whitt Jr., and Bobby Johnson.
Cager, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound tight end, has been in the NFL since 2020. He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs and has had stints with several teams, including the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, and New York Giants. During his career, Cager has participated in 22 NFL games, including the Commanders’ Week 16 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles at Northwest Stadium.
Nash, standing at 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 195 pounds, went undrafted before signing with the Atlanta Falcons. He was released after the training camp in the previous season. Cooper, a 6-foot-5, 302-pound guard, initially joined the Commanders’ practice squad in September 2025, was briefly released, and then signed by the Arizona Cardinals before returning to Washington.
These reserve/future contracts are typically one-year deals at the league minimum, lacking guaranteed money. They count towards the offseason roster limit of 90 players and impact the salary cap for the forthcoming league year. With these signings, the Commanders are providing these athletes with a secure pathway to participate in the offseason program and training camp.
As the Commanders look ahead, these acquisitions reflect their ongoing efforts to build a competitive roster for the next season.
