Solely one of many strikes is stunning: Leno, 32, was one of many staff’s extra dependable offensive linemen over the previous three seasons and had a 12 months remaining on his contract, which carried a $15.5 million cap cost. By releasing him, Washington will carry $8.3 million in lifeless cash from his remaining ensures that may depend in opposition to the wage cap.
The Commanders positioned Leno on injured reserve late final season, and he missed 4 video games. He’s set to bear hip surgical procedure subsequent week, in response to an individual with data of the scenario.
The releases of Thomas and Gates appeared extra possible heading into offseason. Thomas, 32, has endured a string of accidents since arriving in Washington in 2020. He missed 14 video games over the previous two seasons, and the Commanders are more likely to revamp their tight finish corps this offseason. By slicing him, Washington saved roughly $6.5 million in wage cap area.
Washington signed Gates final March to a three-year, $16.5 million contract however benched him early final season after he allowed 5 sacks in seven video games. The staff will save solely $333,332 by slicing him, however his exit is a part of a extra vital overhaul of the road, which struggled in 2023.
Caleb Williams stated it could be “cool” to land together with his hometown staff. The D.C. native and former star quarterback at Gonzaga School Excessive was requested Friday about the potential of taking part in for the Commanders, who’ve the No. 2 decide within the upcoming draft.
“It’d be actually cool to be again there and expertise that,” Williams stated. “The assembly [with the Commanders] went very well, and all people was within the room. So, being round all people … [I got] a style of how they’re, who they’re, as a result of every part is new there.”
Intrigue concerning the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner’s possibilities of returning house to star for the Commanders grew when the staff employed Kliff Kingsbury as its offensive coordinator final month. Final 12 months, Kingsbury was a senior offensive assistant at Southern California, the place Williams performed two seasons of school ball.
“Kliff and I haven’t talked an excessive amount of particularly on [Williams],” Commanders Basic Supervisor Adam Peters stated Tuesday. “We actually simply talked about quarterback play on the whole and what he appears to be like for in quarterbacks and the way we will discover that proper match for him, if that’s what we’re going to do. And positively that hasn’t been determined but, by any stretch of the creativeness.”
The Commanders’ skill to land Williams, the presumptive No. 1 decide, will depend on the Chicago Bears, who maintain the draft’s high decide and would in all probability anticipate a haul to even contemplate buying and selling down.
Williams was considered one of six quarterbacks the Commanders held formal conferences with on the NFL mix this week, together with Jayden Daniels (LSU), Drake Maye (North Carolina), J.J. McCarthy (Michigan), Bo Nix (Oregon) and Michael Penix (Washington). Many, if not all, of them are more likely to meet with the Commanders once more on top-30 visits this spring to the staff’s facility for extra in-depth interviews.
These visits are why Williams opted out of throwing or present process medical checks on the mix.
“I performed 30-something video games, I consider,” he stated. “Go forward and watch actual, dwell ball of me and see how I’m as a competitor. … I’ll be doing the medical stuff — simply not right here in Indy. I’ll be doing it on the staff interviews. Not 32 groups can draft me. There’s solely considered one of me. So the groups that I am going to for my go to, these groups may have the medical [information], and that’ll be it.”
So what are the Commanders searching for of their subsequent quarterback? “You’re searching for the face of your franchise,” Peters stated. “… He doesn’t must be an enormous rah-rah man, doesn’t must be an enormous colourful man. However simply be a frontrunner and carry your self the best approach. Clearly, all of the expertise you need, and particularly now, in case you have a cell quarterback, that actually helps, however you have got to have the ability to play the place first.”
Coach Dan Quinn cited psychological toughness as essential high quality, together with the flexibility to improvise and be capable of get out of unhealthy performs.
“There’s not a metric for that,” Quinn stated. He added that quarterbacks must be correct on deep throws as a result of they key explosive performs.
Throwing downfield will in all probability be an enormous a part of Kingsbury’s offense. Throughout his 4 seasons because the Arizona Cardinals’ coach, 12.5 p.c of the staff’s throws traveled for 20-plus air yards downfield, the Tenth-highest price within the NFL.
Over the previous two years, Daniels, the previous LSU quarterback, had essentially the most environment friendly deep ball within the nation. He accomplished 53 p.c of his downfield makes an attempt for 27 touchdowns and no interceptions, in response to TruMedia.
Let’s interrupt the quarterback evaluation for some roster information. The Commanders launched beginning left deal with Charles Leno Jr. and tight finish Logan Thomas on Friday. The strikes clear $13.8 million in wage cap area and jump-start a roster rebuild, particularly on the offensive line. Leno is about to bear hip surgical procedure subsequent week, in response to an individual with data of the transfer.
The transfer is considerably stunning; Leno was one of many staff’s extra dependable linemen over the previous three years. He was positioned on injured reserve late within the 2023 season and missed 4 video games.
Leno, 32, had one 12 months remaining on his contract, which carried a $15.5 million cap cost. By releasing him, the staff will carry $8.3 million in lifeless cash from his remaining ensures that may depend in opposition to the cap.
Okay, again to quarterbacks. Daniels stated what stood out about his interview with the Commanders was “simply how cool the entire workers was.” He name-checked Quinn and Kingsbury.
Maye doesn’t suppose it could be bizarre to play with Sam Howell. Maye sat behind Howell at North Carolina in 2021 and considers him a mentor and good buddy. They play the board recreation Catan and the online game PGA Tour collectively. However Maye disregarded the concept it’d pressure their relationship if Washington had been to draft him to switch Howell.
“There’s quite a bit greater issues on the market on the planet than being with considered one of your greatest pals within the quarterback room,” he stated. “It’s not awkward for us; it’s simply enterprise.”
Maye stated he has “quite a lot of connections” to the Commanders. Quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard recruited him in highschool, and Kingsbury is aware of Phil Longo, Maye’s offensive coordinator in 2021 and 2022.
McCarthy’s first interview was with the Commanders. “So I used to be tremendous nervous, I’m not going to lie,” the previous Michigan quarterback stated. “Sweating a little bit bit. Coach Quinn was simply superior. I received to speak to Mr. Peters proper earlier than the assembly. Only a nice vibe.”
Commanders managing associate Josh Harris sat in on all six quarterback interviews. He was there to watch quite than ask questions. When requested what stood out about their interviews with Washington, no quarterback talked about Harris.
Jamin Davis was sentenced in his reckless driving case. The Commanders’ linebacker, a first-round decide within the 2021 NFL draft, entered a responsible plea in Loudoun County Circuit Court docket on Friday in his enchantment of a reckless driving conviction. He obtained a 180-day suspended jail sentence — an alternative choice to imprisonment — and his license will likely be suspended for six months. (Davis’s unique conviction carried a 30-day non-suspended sentence.)
A suspended jail sentence usually comes with situations for good conduct that, if violated, might lead to jail time. He additionally paid a $12,500 effective and must carry out neighborhood service.
Davis was cited for driving his McLaren 114 mph in a 45-mph zone on Loudoun County Parkway at Evergreen Ridge Drive shortly after 1 p.m. on March 28, 2022. He pleaded not responsible to a cost of reckless driving (rushing greater than 20 miles above the restrict, in extra of 85 mph), which is a Class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia and punishable with as much as 12 months in jail and a $2,500 effective.
