WASHINGTON — The Washington Commanders made a clear statement Saturday about where their roster priorities stand: the offensive line comes first.
The team waived wide receiver Chris Hilton Jr. and guard Timothy McKay, placed defensive tackle D.J. Davidson on the reserve/retired list, and used all three open spots to sign linemen. The NFL transaction wire confirmed the moves. Washington added guard Max Scharping, center Daniel Brunskill and tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere in a single afternoon of activity that reshaped the depth of a unit head coach Dan Quinn has targeted all offseason.
Scharping is the headliner of the three additions. A former second-round pick, he has 33 NFL starts to his name. Commanders insiders had reported the Scharping signing on Friday, making it the least surprising but most consequential move of the group.
Petit-Frere, a 2022 third-round pick, brings 28 NFL starts of his own. Brunskill is the most experienced of the trio by appearances — he has logged more than 100 games and 71 starts at the NFL level, with time at guard, tackle and center. That versatility gives Quinn and the offensive line coaching staff real lineup flexibility.
Davidson's retirement is the other notable exit. The defensive tackle played 47 games for the New York Giants from 2022 through 2025 before signing with Washington. His decision to retire opens a roster spot but also removes a veteran presence from a defensive front that had counted on him for depth.
Hilton's release was the most predictable cut of the day. The LSU product signed with Washington on May 7 as an undrafted free agent after going unselected in the 2026 NFL Draft. At the NFL Combine, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds — legitimate top-end speed.
The production at LSU never matched the athleticism. Hilton caught 41 passes for 780 yards and six touchdowns across five college seasons and never cleared 300 receiving yards in a single season. NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein said Hilton averaged 19 yards per catch over his career and has the build-up speed to threaten defenses deep, but flagged a lack of production and deficiencies at the point of attack on contested throws. Zierlein also identified specific route corrections Hilton needs to make to create separation underneath.
With Washington's receiver room in better shape than it was earlier this offseason, Hilton had no realistic path to the 53-man roster. The Commanders signed Stefon Diggs, who projects as a starter alongside Terry McLaurin. Rookie Antonio Williams is the leading candidate for a WR3 role. Veterans Treylon Burks, Luke McCaffrey and Van Jefferson are also on the roster. That depth chart left no room for an undrafted rookie with limited college production, regardless of combine speed.
The emphasis on the offensive line is the real story. Quinn's staff brought in three linemen with a combined 132 NFL starts in one afternoon. Brunskill's ability to play multiple positions — guard, tackle and center — gives Washington a backup who can fill gaps at several spots rather than one. Petit-Frere adds a former high draft pick with starting experience at tackle. Scharping, the most proven of the group, has the longest track record of the three.
Washington's offensive line has been a talking point all offseason, and Saturday's moves show the front office is not waiting for training camp competition to sort itself out. Three experienced linemen in one day is a direct response to a documented need.
McKay's waiver clears a guard spot Washington had no use for after adding Scharping and Brunskill, both of whom can play the position. The Commanders now carry significantly more proven offensive line depth than they did 24 hours earlier.
