Commanders Free Agency: Daniel Brunskill Among Three Veteran Ol Signed

The Commanders are ramping up the competition level in their offensive line room. Head coach Dan Quinn cited that reason for Washington adding three new offensive linemen to the roster prior to Saturday morning’s training camp practice.  

Washington signed center Daniel Brunskill, offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere and guard Max Scharping.  

The Commanders released receiver Chris Hilton Jr. and guard Timothy McKay in corresponding moves. Defensive tackle D.J. Davidson was the other one. He has decided to retire, and was placed on the reserve retired list. That’s the third player to retire during training camp, and Dan Quinn said that was typical as player’s assess their careers.

We reported on the Scharping addition on Friday evening, and it turns out that was one of three additions to the offensive front. They’re all veterans with significant frontline experience.  

“We actually wanted to see if we could raise up the competition level in that back group, to see who could go,” Quinn said in a Saturday morning press conference. “It was not injury related. It was more like, ‘let’s battle this thing out and see where we can go.” 

The Brunskill addition is a big one. He has 71 starts in 108 games and has played most offensive line spots, including significant time at center. He also has a history with Commanders GM Adam Peters, who was in San Francisco during Brunskill’s 49ers tenure starting in 2019.  

Brunskill has prized versatility and can snap, with long stints playing center in Tennessee.  

Petit-Frere has 28 starts in 34 games, all with Tennessee from 2022-24. He was largely out of the NFL in 2025, save a brief offseason stint with the 49ers.  

Quinn also provided a related injury update for Commanders projected starting center Nick Allegretti, who suffered a strained calf during camp’s first practice, and tight end John Bates, who’s dealing with a hamstring issue.  

“They’ll probably be another week or so out of their assessment, as we get into Wednesday and Thursday,” Quinn said. “They’re getting closer, but not today, though it’s not long-term, either.”