As the Commanders try to revamp their defense this offseason, the front office is adding some additional cornerback help.
The team signed veteran Rasul Douglas to a one-year, $3.8 million deal, ESPN reported Monday. Douglas, a former third-round pick for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017, played in Miami last year, recording two interceptions and 62 tackles for the Dolphins.
Douglas fills a position of need for Washington. The Commanders defense allowed 242.5 passing yards a game, ranking 28th in the NFL.
After the team started 3-7, defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. ceded play-calling duties to head coach Dan Quinn. The organization moved on from Whitt in the offseason and brought in Minnesota Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones.
Douglas started 13 games in 2025 and was one of the better players at his position last year, ranking 21st out of 114 eligible corners on Pro Football Focus with a grade of 72.7.
His nine pass breakups ranked 12th in the NFL and he played over 850 snaps. Douglas allowed 41 receptions, good for 37th in the league.
He bounced around to several organizations after being drafted by the Eagles. He played in Carolina, Green Bay and Buffalo over the last nine seasons. He won a Super Bowl as a rookie with the Eagles in 2018.
Prior to the signing, Washington was fairly young at corner with Mike Sainristil, a second-rounder in 2024, and Trey Amos, a second-rounder last year, out on the perimeter. The team signed Amik Robertson, who can play inside and outside, this offseason after he spent the last two years with the Lions.
During the draft, the organization opted not to add any secondary help. Assistant general manager Lance Newmark said the front office considered drafting corner, but the options weren’t enticing.
“It just didn’t make sense at the time,” he said. “It wasn’t that it was not considered. It wasn’t that everything [in the secondary] was fine. It’s just that when we were picking a player in those rooms, it just didn’t make sense as the best decision at that point.”
Washington has spent signifcant resources in free agency on the defense, adding Robertson, defensive end Odafe Oweh, linebacker Leo Chenal, defensive end K’Lavon Chaisson, defensive tackle Tim Settle, saefty Nick Cross, defensive end Charles Omenihu and cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon.





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