Nothing is off the table for the Commanders this offseason.
It's no secret that the Washington Commanders have a lot of hard work ahead this offseason. They are in a better position than most considering their run to the NFC Championship game and the resources available. This doesn't detract from the frantic few months that await general manager Adam Peters and his staff.
The Commanders are loaded with substantial salary-cap space that could increase further once veteran defensive tackle Jonathan Allen is traded or released. Peters has 28 free agents to decide upon and only 47 players under contract right now. The size of this task is steep.
Being an attractive destination again helps. The Commanders won back respect around the league and installed the correct culture that players would actively pursue. That's a major positive, but finding the right characters who can help on the field and enhance the locker room is the tricky part.
Commanders planning to address the entire roster during critical offseason
Assistant general manager Lance Newmark delved deeper into Washington's offseason strategy during his media availability at the NFL Scouting Combine. Every part of the roster is being examined in pursuit of progress. Peters' right-hand man also hinted that the Commanders are looking to keep their core intact after achieving more than anyone expected in 2024.
"We have a lot of free agents, and we only have 47 players on our roster, so we have to look at everything. We have to really address our entire roster again. To say that one specific area is more important than the other would be inaccurate. Obviously, we like a lot of what we had last year. We were excited about that team and we did some good things. We'll try to get a lot of that core back, but we're addressing the whole roster every time we go through this. Where we are numbers-wise, we're looking at everything."Lance Newmark
Peters took a calculated risk with the Commanders' approach last offseason. He signed experienced players to one-year deals more often than not. Only a select few such as Frankie Luvu, Tyler Biadasz, and Dorance Armstrong Jr. got longer-term commitments. This provided the urgency needed to excel, but it made keeping everyone happy difficult this time around.
The front-office leader revealed that players want to stay thanks to Dan Quinn's leadership and the mentality he implemented across the franchise. That's something working in the Commanders' favor, but it'll probably come down to money when it's all said and done.
Washington cannot settle either. Reaching the final four was a monumental accomplishment, but having an emotional attachment to those who got the Commanders deep into the postseason won't do them any favors.
There needs to be aggression and ruthlessness. Peters is reportedly adopting this ethos if his pursuit of San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. is any indication. Expect every stone to be unturned and every option to be examined in close detail.
It's an enthralling time for fans. There is genuine hope for the future at long last. This comes with increased expectancy, but Peters and Newmark are shrewd talent evaluators who know exactly what's needed to take the Commanders forward positively.
And make no mistake, nothing is off the table.
