The NFL’s ‘legal tampering’ period began on Monday ahead of the new league year commencing later this week…but there’s still time to re-sign your own, and the Commanders took care of two of theirs Sunday night into Monday.
According to our own JP Finlay, the team has re-signed punter Tress Way to a one-year deal (worth $2.8 million, per John Keim), while NFL Network’s Mike Garofalo reports the team and tight end John Bates have agreed to a three-year deal, terms undisclosed as of yet.
Way, the longest-tenured Commander at now 11 seasons and counting, averaged 42.9 net yards on 50 punts in 2024, with 22 downed inside the 20 and just two touchbacks. The left-footer has a 41.5 net average on 776 career punts, and is, of course, the holder for the kicking game as well.
Bates had just eight catches for 84 yards in 2024, but he is one of the premier blocking tight ends in the NFL, and his re-signing re-assembles a tight end room that brings back 2024 draft pick Ben Sinnott and saw Zach Ertz re-signed over the weekend.
Originally a fourth-round pick in 2021 during the Ron Rivera era, Bates has played in 67 of 68 games over four seasons, recording 61 catches for 592 yards and two touchdowns.