What is the real reason the Commanders released starter Tyler Biadasz?

By releasing center Tyler Biadasz with a post-June 1 designation, the Washington Commanders will free up $8.2 million against the 2026 salary cap while absorbing $2.7 million in dead money this year and $4.5 million in 2027. The move is officially framed as a cap-saving maneuver, yet it clashes with the front office’s recent public praise of Biadasz and raises immediate questions about the team’s priorities.

Biadasz, who carried a manageable 2026 cap hit of $10,985,294, had been repeatedly lauded by coaches and executives over the past two seasons. General manager Adam Peters, however, has simultaneously committed to keeping defensive tackle Daron Payne, whose 2026 cap charge sits at $27,950,000—more than double Biadasz’s figure. Releasing Payne with the same June 1 treatment would have created $22.35 million in cap room, fueling speculation that the decision runs deeper than simple accounting.

On-field indicators may have influenced the front office. Observers noted that Biadasz, who suffered an injury in the Christmas Day loss to Dallas, appeared less stout in 2025, occasionally being driven backward into the backfield. Whether the center’s recovery has stalled or whether new medical data emerged remains undisclosed.

Internal evaluations could also be shifting opinions. Quarterbacks coach David Blough, offensive line coach Darnell Stapleton—promoted after two seasons as assistant O-line coach—and head coach Dan Quinn now form a revamped brain trust. If that group believes a better option is available in free agency, the organization may feel comfortable moving on despite Biadasz’s continuity with third-year franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels.

The ripple effect is immediate. Washington already faces uncertainty at left guard with starter Chris Paul unsigned, meaning Daniels could lose two opening-day starters from the unit that graded out as the team’s most consistent in 2025. The Commanders must now weigh potential replacements against both salary demands and the risk of disrupting chemistry in front of their young signal-caller.

While the front office hopes the savings will be reinvested wisely, the decision leaves fans and analysts asking why a proven, affordable center was deemed expendable while a higher-priced defensive tackle—whose production has been questioned—remains off-limits. Until Peters clarifies the long-term plan, the release of Tyler Biadasz will linger as one of the offseason’s most puzzling choices.