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Odafe Oweh's $29.8 Million Payday Hasn't Paid Off for the 1-4-1 Commanders, but Sam Cosmi's Has
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- Odafe Oweh's $29.8 Million Payday Hasn't Paid Off for the 1-4-1 Commanders, but Sam Cosmi's Has
Odafe Oweh is the most expensive player on the Washington Commanders this season, and he hasn't played like it. At 1-4-1, with trade rumors building ahead of the Nov. 10 deadline, the Commanders are paying Oweh, Sonny Styles, Daron Payne, Sam Cosmi and Javon Kinlaw $106 million in 2026 cash, according to Over the Cap .
Terry McLaurin's $14.25 million would have put him in that group, but he's out for the season , so Kinlaw takes the fifth spot. For each player, we ranked his contract's average annual value against the position, then compared it with PFF grades and the box score.
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Two of the five are clearly earning it, and one of them is a rookie.
Odafe Oweh hasn't matched the investment
Oct 11, 2026; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders outside linebacker Odafe Oweh (98) walks off the field after the game against the New York Giants at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Washington signed Oweh to a four-year, $96 million deal in March, and his $24 million average ranks 17th among edge rushers. The signing-year cash is what puts him at the top of the list. He's collecting $29.8 million this season against a $9.2 million cap hit.
"It's an attack mentality, and that's the style that I love to play in," Oweh said in June . The attack hasn't shown up yet. His 60.7 PFF grade ranks 72nd among 113 qualified edge defenders, and his 62.0 pass-rush grade is 62nd. He has 15 pressures and three sacks in six games, according to PFF, and his slow start has been a talking point since the Giants tie.
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Sonny Styles is already worth it
Sep 27, 2026; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders linebacker Sonny Styles (52) deflects a pass intended for Seattle Seahawks running back Jadarian Price (8) at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Styles' rookie deal is worth $37.2 million over four years, and it's front-loaded, so $24.4 million of it arrives this season. His $9.3 million average ranks 24th among linebackers.
He's been better than that number. Styles' 68.9 PFF grade ranks 24th among 75 qualified linebackers, and his 72.7 coverage grade ranks 11th. Tackling is the area to clean up, with eight missed tackles and a 49.9 tackling grade. Even so, he was ranked the NFL's top defensive rookie at the quarter mark.
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Daron Payne is short of his price as a pass rusher
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) runs the ball past Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne (94) on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers won the game, 27-18.Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Payne's four-year, $90 million deal averages $22.5 million, 15th among interior defensive linemen. He's collecting $22.4 million in cash, and his $27.95 million cap hit is the largest of the five.
His 65.0 PFF grade ranks 36th among 126 qualified interior defenders. The run defense has held up, at 67.9 and 22nd, but his 55.6 pass-rush grade ranks 101st, with 17 pressures and one sack. That contract expires after this season, and we've already made the case that the expiring deal says sell .
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Sam Cosmi is the best value on the list
Aug 22, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Washington Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves (39) and guard Sam Cosmi (76) take the field before the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images
Cosmi's four-year, $74 million extension averages $18.5 million, 12th among guards. He's collecting $16.5 million in cash, with a $20.3 million cap hit.
When he's been on the field, he's been one of the best guards in football. Cosmi's 84.1 PFF grade ranks fifth among 74 qualified guards, and his 80.6 pass-blocking grade ranks fourth. He has allowed four pressures in four games. The issue has been everything around him, on a line that keeps undoing what Jayden Daniels builds .
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Javon Kinlaw is a little short of his price
Sep 27, 2026; Landover, Maryland, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) rushes the ball against Washington Commanders linebacker Odafe Oweh (98) at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Kinlaw's three-year, $45 million deal averages $15 million, tied for 27th among interior defensive linemen. He's collecting $12.9 million in cash against a $16.2 million cap hit.
His 62.5 PFF grade ranks 48th among 126 qualified interior defenders, a bit below where the contract slots him. He has eight stops and only seven pressures.
Washington has room to fix this. Over the Cap had the Commanders with about $59.3 million in effective 2027 cap space at the end of September.
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The harder part is the pass rush. Oweh and Payne were supposed to drive it, and neither has. With the Eagles coming to Northwest Stadium on Sunday night, the most expensive player on the roster has a national stage to start earning that check.
More on the Washington Commanders
This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
