Adam Peters has a significant amount of work ahead. He’s got 30 free agents to navigate before turning his attention to potential acquisitions. The general manager acknowledged that things were going to look different by the time organized team activities resumed. Just how much remains to be seen.
The Commanders are in a strong position to strengthen. They have almost $100 million in salary-cap space and seven draft selections. They also have an accomplished figure leading the front office with a clear plan in place for the team’s future.
Washington’s immediate success centered on head coach Dan Quinn surrounding himself with people he trusted. Most of the coaching staff were familiar with his tendencies. The head coach also relied on several players who’d worked alongside him at previous stops.
This was a recipe for success. Don’t be surprised if the Commanders do something similar this time around if the right opportunities present themselves.
Commanders linked with Cowboys DL Osa Odighizuwa in 2025 free agency
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN highlighted this possibility when discussing defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa’s future. The respected insider named the Commanders as a team to watch if the Dallas Cowboys let him test the market. He also believes Quinn was a big fan of the player during their time with Washington’s bitter division rival.
“Teams we’ve talked to think [Osa] Odighizuwa is the top defensive tackle because of his versatility, durability and pass-rush traits. Washington is a team to potentially watch — coach Dan Quinn has been big fan of Odighizuwa from their Dallas days together.”Jeremy Fowler
This is an interesting revelation. Odighizuwa and Quinn are linked, but there’s another factor to this equation that must be resolved before the Commanders make their move.
Jonathan Allen is heading into the final year of his deal. He worked hard to get back from a torn pectoral this season to help in the playoffs. However, the Commanders would save $17 million on their salary cap by releasing or trading the Pro Bowler this offseason.
Washington needs more in the trenches. Their defeat to the Eagles proved that, but how Peters handles the defensive side is a complex conundrum.
It’s a precarious situation. Daron Payne and second-round rookie Johnny Newton should be around, leaving Allen under the microscope. He’s been a mainstay since joining the Commanders as a first-round pick out of Alabama in 2017. At the same time, Peters won’t hesitate to ring the changes if he feels like it’s the best thing for the franchise.
Odighizuwa’s run-stopping came in for criticism this season. What the UCLA product does better than almost any interior defensive lineman is generate pressure from inside.
His 60 total pressures ranked third league-wide according to Pro Football Focus. Odighizuwa was fourth in quarterback hits, fifth in hurries, and 12th in both sacks and run stops. Having familiarity with Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. only sweetens the pot.
This will be largely dependent on Allen’s future. If the Commanders opt to remove him from the equation, this looks like a ready-made replacement. And at 26 years old, there’s still time to develop further in the coming seasons.
Leave a Reply