Latest On Potential Commanders Sale
As the league’s March owners’ meetings draw closer, the sense surrounding the NFL continues to build Dan SnyderThe time as owner of the Commanders is coming to an end. His departure – either through a sale or an unprecedented vote ousting him from his position – could be foreshadowed by the team’s recent financial decisions. 
The Commanders have delayed signing bonus payouts on their recent player contracts, as detailed by The Athletic’s Ben Standig (subscription required). Typically, teams arrange contracts so that the first installment of sizeable payouts is to be paid within a few weeks of the contracts going into effect. As Standig notes, Washington has followed this standard practice with contracts signed in previous offseasons, including left tackle Trent WilliamsDefensive tackle Jonathan Allen and wide Terry McLaurin.
However, the monster expansion of the team with Daron Payne, who was signed shortly after the franchise tag was affixed to him, is asking that his first signing bonus payment be delayed until May 12, per Standig. That date marks exactly two months after the deal was agreed, and will particularly likely come after a new ownership group was set up to take on the commanders’ financial responsibilities, including payroll. The same goes for Washington’s deals with right tackle Andrew Wylie and quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett.
“Compared to their previous contract precedents, it seems like they deliberately delayed the first installment of their signing bonuses.” said a former team member in an observation of the situation. “[It’s] very plausible that it has to do with the expected timing of a sale… I think the pay dates are pretty telling.”
The possibility of a vote that would force Snyder out was a topic of conversation with the Colts owner during the 2022 season Jim Irsay noted in October how such a move was on the table. Since then, bids have taken place for the embattled franchise, with a shortlist from other professional sports owners josh harris And Tilman Fertita be named as potential finalists. Amazon CEO jeff bezos remains linked to a potential purchase, although reports suggest he may not participate in a hypothetical sales process.
Adding to the recent report that a Commander sale is imminent was NBC Sports’ JP Finlay tweets that the situation is now metaphorically at “first and finish”. The league owners are due to meet next week, so further developments on this front could be coming very soon. As the team’s contract agreements suggest this offseason, a change of ownership remains the most likely ending to the situation in Washington.