Washington Takes Command of Free Agency
The Washington Commanders are fresh from their playoff loss in January and are looking to retool and bolster their team in hopes of winning a Super Bowl next season. Free Agency is the first step in doing this, and they have made sure to resign their vital pieces. They have also retained their staff, an often unseen part of a team’s success. Below, youβll find a recap of the initial offseason for Washington, and what the rest of their offseason might look like.
Last offseason, the Commanders fans witnessed one of the largest roster overhauls in the history of the NFL, which was vital to turn the team around. This year, Washington is clearly in win-now mode, signing fewer players, and aggressively trading for difference-makers. This strategy is commonly employed by teams that see themselves as championship contenders, such as the Chiefs or the Bills. Teams like that make it a focus to retain their core, cultivate homegrown talent, and draft extremely well. If Washington can mimic this, only good things will follow.
The Commanders kicked off free agency strong, trading for 49ers Wide Receiver Deebo Samuel. Although he is coming off a down year, he was battling injuries last season and was still an effective playmaker. The trade was also somewhat low-risk for Washington, as it only cost them a 5th-round pick. Under Offensive Coordinator Kliff Kingsburyβs system, Samuel has a high chance of thriving and being a lethal weapon for Jayden Daniels.
Arguably the most surprising trade of the offseason, however, was the Commanders trading for the Texans 5x Pro Bowl Left Tackle, Laremy Tunsil. Due to the caliber of player that he is, the trade was expensive for Washington. Peters traded a third and 7th round pick this year, along with a second and fourth next year, in exchange for Tunsil and a fourth-round pick this year. When it comes to players like Tunsil, the price is rarely cheap, but the player you receive makes it worth it. He is one indisputably one of the best tackles in all of football and will provide great benefit for the Washington offense.
Outside of trades, Washington has also had an effective signing period. They brought back key veterans in Linebacker Bobby Wagner and Tight End Zach Ertz. Both played important roles on their side of the ball and had signature moments during the season. The Commanders also signed two new defensive starters in Jets Defensive Tackle Javon Kinlaw and Saints Safety Will Harris. While both are not superstar players, neither were Wagner or Ertz, but because they fit the system so well, they thrived. The hope is the same for Kinlaw and Harris, who are replacing former Commanders, Jonathan Allen and Jeremy Chinn.
Other than those two signings, the Commanders primarily signed a slew of depth players. Most were on the offensive and defensive lines, which were both points of weakness this past season. Many fans are still calling for Washington to add proven players in the secondary and defensive line, but that has yet to be seen. With the draft still upcoming, it can be expected that Washington will target those positions.
Many are questioning some of the names that the Commanders are signing, similar to last offseason. While we have to wait for next season to see how it turns out, fans will have to put their trust in Adam Peters. Heβs constructed the team well so far, and signings that were looked down upon last year are the reason the team is where it is now. With QB Jayden Daniels at the helm, the Commanders will continue to ascend, and fans have yet to see the limit.
