New Commanders defensive back receives rave reviews

On the first day of free agency last year, Washington Commanders fans were spoiled when the team went on a signing binge. That was out of necessity due to the franchise's recent NFL draft failures. New general manager Adam Peters was signing depth players while also looking for foundational pieces.

It worked to perfection, and the Commanders finished 12-5 and made it to the NFC championship game.

This year, Washington has been quieter regarding signing players, but have been aggressive. There was the trade for veteran wideout Deebo Samuel and the shocking trade for five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil. The Commanders have improved.

Shortly after the legal tampering period opened on Monday, Washington signed 27-year-old defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw. The move drew mixed reviews. That was Monday's only move outside of the Tunsil trade.

On Tuesday, the Commanders signed defensive back Will Harris. Harris was signed, in part, to replace Jeremy Chinn, who left for the Las Vegas Raiders. Harris, 29, is a five-year veteran with plenty of experience.

Most Washington fans didn't know a lot about Harris, so they quickly went to X and saw how several Saints fans didn't want to lose him. He only played for New Orleans in 2024 but made a positive impression.

On Tuesday's episode of "Grant and Danny" on 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C., Saints sideline reporter Jeff Nowak of Audacy Sports joined the show to discuss Harris.

“Will came in last offseason on a minimum contract and wasn’t penciled into the rotation. He made himself into a starter,” Nowak said, via Lou DiPietro of Audacy. “When they were beating up on Dallas in Week 2 last year, he had a monster hit on CeeDee Lamb. That's what Will Harris is — one of those guys you throw in the secondary, basically a small linebacker, who is going to come up and make hits. He’s good in run support, too, but I don't think he's at his best as a single-high safety.”

That's a pretty solid scouting report on Harris. Commanders assistant general manager Lance Newmark played a part in drafting Harris in 2019 while both were with the Detroit Lions. Washington head coach Dan Quinn wants physicality out of his defenders. That's Harris to a tee. His versatility is also a bonus. While Harris's best position may be safety, he's played in the box and in the slot, too. That's the type of player the Commanders can use almost anywhere.

Harris received a two-year, $8 million deal, which is exactly half of what Chinn got with the Raiders. If he can offer similar production for half the cost, that's another win for Peters.

A bonus for Washington fans: Harris will play Lamb and the Cowboys twice a year.