The Washington Commanders have faced two concurrent challenges in the offseason proceeding the team’s most magical season in recent memory.
The Commanders must retain enough of their plentiful free agents to ensure the bottom and middle of the rosters benefit from continuity, rather than rolling the dice on a new cast of characters asked to fill holes on both sides of the ball. However, this must be leveraged against the surplus of cap space they entered the offseason with to surround quarterback Jayden Daniels with stars capable of winning a Super Bowl.
So far, so good. Washington made the biggest offensive line splash of the offseason by trading for left tackle Laremy Tunsil and took a well-leveraged gamble on San Francisco 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel.
Other moves, particularly in the trenches, were less popular. Commanders fans are saying the same thing about defensive line signings Javon Kinlaw and Clelin Ferrell – “why?”
Kinlaw, coming off a one-year, $8 million deal with the New York Jets (and a rookie contract with a declined fifth-year option), didn’t seem poised to cash in on the open market. He was asked to fill in for John Franklin-Myers and a host of Jets linemen who departed during the offseason. Instead the unit struggled and Kinlaw became the face of an uninspiring unit.
Totaling just 4.5 sacks and five tackles for loss, Kinlaw was a liability who occasionally flashed as a pass rusher. He managed to turn that into three years and $45 million, with $30 million guaranteed – the most surprising deal of the free agent cycle.
Recently released stalwart Jonathan Allen signed for three years and $51 million with just over $23 million in guaranteed money.
This is a bank on a scheme fit and a change of scenery helping Kinlaw turn those flashes into more consistent production. At such an inflated cost, it’s hard to not at least be skeptical.
Ferrell, meanwhile, saw a similar dose of pessimism from the fanbase. Yet, it’s easy to see why Washington wanted him back. It’s clear that continuity is valued by this administration. Making moves to get over the hump is one thing, but replacing seemingly everybody that isn’t a star is quite the task. Ferrell didn’t play particularly well, but as far as third edge rushers go, his 3.5 sacks and nine quarterback hits are fine.
His contract details are yet to be released, but they likely won’t be much more expensive than the $3.75 million he played for last year.
As long as the Commanders ensure he’s in a depth role, they’ll take his pedigree, flashes against the run, and familiarity with head coach Dan Quinn and run with it in 2025.
