The Washington Commanders' sensational season ended with a defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game. One of the biggest thorns in their side provided a brutally honest assessment of where the team is and what more is needed.
Nobody expected the Commanders to be in the final four, least of all the Eagles. This division rivalry was renewed after being pretty one-sided in recent years. They split the regular-season series before Nick Sirianni's men completely outclassed Washington with the Super Bowl at stake.
This was a step too far for the Commanders right now. But according to Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown, they aren't too far away from rejoining the NFL's top table permanently.
A.J. Brown thinks Commanders can reach perennial contention with defensive additions
Brown, who got the better of cornerback Marshon Lattimore during their physical tussle, thought the Commanders were one or two pieces on defense away from perennial contention. The wideout praised quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receiver Terry McLaurin during an appearance on the 'Janky Rondo' stream. He also pointed the finger squarely at the defensive line as an area that needs to improve.
"You're really like a couple players off. Ya'll just got a really good quarterback. Ya'll get another couple pieces-ya'll get a key piece on defense though, ya'll really be in the dance for it–for real–every year. It's ya'll quarterback, bro, you're quarterback is nice. So when you got a dog like that–now you add him with another wideout to add to Terry (McLaurin), get you another defensive player...that's what you need, you need that D-Line–work on that D-Line, you'll be good."A.J. Brown via SI
This is a far assessment, especially coming from a heated NFC East adversary.
The Commanders were second-best in the trenches at Lincoln Financial Field. Not having defensive tackle Daron Payne and right guard Sam Cosmi to depend upon was too much to overcome. It played a leading role behind their demise, but the costly turnovers didn't exactly help matters either.
Adam Peters will take everything into account. Big changes are coming to the personnel once again this offseason. No fewer than 30 free agents need their futures sorted out before attention turns to additions. There's also the prospect of early releases or trades to factor into the equation.
Brown doesn't think it'll take too much for the Commanders' fairytale run to be much more than a flash in the pan. They've solved football's most pivotal position. Now, it's about surrounding Daniels with the required supporting cast to decrease the chances of a weak link emerging.
Daniels is exceptional, but he cannot do it alone. And it all starts upfront.
The Commanders have invested substantial resources in their defensive line in recent years. Four first-round picks operated the front once upon a time. Montez Sweat and Chase Young were traded. The same fate could befall Jonathan Allen, but there's just no telling for sure right now.
Philadelphia and others around the league will be watching developments in Washington closely. The Eagles won't be standing still, so this could be the start of a long-term titanic collision for divisional supremacy if the Commanders meet their end of the bargain.
With Peters leading the charge, that's a distinct possibility.
