Now is the time for the Washington Commanders to swing big. Quarterback Jayden Daniels will only be on his rookie contract once. There’s plenty of cap space, plenty of needs, and a realistic reason for Washington to be all-in on the next few seasons.
Daniels showed he’s capable of taking down the league’s elite teams. With several quality targets available, the opportunity will be present to add a premier target like Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins.
However, the Commanders aren’t looking to overhaul a roster that just went to the NFC Championship Game, and part of that cap surplus will be spent on retaining a portion of its significant class of veteran free agents. Washington will have to balance continuity and complacency, sustainability and aggression in the coming months.
Subsequently, the Commanders could lose Ertz to a Super Bowl contender in free agency, especially if the Kansas City Chiefs need to replace Travis Kelce.
He appeared in Arrowhead Addict's list of potential replacements, largely due to his status as a known quantity.
“While Ertz has stated publicly that he would like to stay under Kliff Kingsbury's watch in Washington for the rest of his career, the Chiefs might be able to turn his head away if they can tempt him with the promise of competing for championships alongside Mahomes,” Mike Luciano wrote. “This year proved Ertz can still get it done as a safety valve over the middle.”
Ertz is very much a security blanket in terms of his usage, although he did drop five of his 91 targets in 2024.
Helping Daniels emerge as a superstar, he turned those targets into 66 catches for 654 yards and seven scores – mediocre, but at times crucial – production. It stands to reason that Washington may choose to use its cap space elsewhere, letting young tight end Ben Sinnott take on a larger role in the offense. While his rookie year was unsteady, he is a more athletic, versatile option for next year’s squad.
However, it’s unlikely there isn’t some kind of starter-level veteran presence in the room. Perhaps that comes in the form of Tyler Conklin or Mike Gesicki, hoping to use the promise of competitiveness as bait on the open market.
For that to even be an option is good news for a Commanders team that feels close to perpetual contention.
Washington might find itself first in line for Ertz, but it remains possible that Daniels can find production with any competent battery mate at tight end. How willing the Commanders are to test that theory could decide how much cap they allocate to a non-premium position this offseason.
