The gamers can’t signal the offers till the league yr begins at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
Reset, revamp, recalibrate — nonetheless Quinn needs to label it, there’s no denying the Commanders within the midst of an overhaul that started with the possession change final summer season. Fortunate for the workforce, it’s loaded with sources to take action with the No. 2 draft decide (together with eight others) and greater than $90 million in wage cap house.
Washington’s focus in free company, nonetheless, has been extra on second-tier gamers who add expertise however don’t draw prime greenback on the open market. The workforce has emphasised constructing by the draft and utilizing free company to fill the gaps — a plan it held to throughout the begin of the authorized tampering interval.
However the work is simply starting.
Washington has quite a lot of roster spots in want of each starters and veterans, and the expertise stage within the NFC East solely received stronger Monday. The Philadelphia Eagles agreed to offers with move rusher Bryce Huff and operating again Saquon Barkley, and the New York Giants traded for defensive finish Brian Burns.
Right here’s a take a look at the gamers headed to the Commanders in free company.
Former Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu agreed to a three-year deal that has a most worth of $36 million, an individual with information of the settlement mentioned. The deal possible offers Washington a brand new “Mike,” or center linebacker, and a few sorely wanted pass-rushing assist.
Luvu signed with the New York Jets as a school free agent in 2018 and bounced on and off the roster and apply squad his first two seasons earlier than bursting onto the scene in Carolina. He arrived as a reserve linebacker and particular teamer however proved himself to be rather more, totaling 111 tackles and 7 sacks, a pick-six, 4 passes defended and one pressured fumble in 2022. Final season, he had 125 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 11 quarterback hits, plus 5 passes defended and two pressured fumbles.
Thought to be one of many league’s prime pass-rushing linebackers, Luvu has totaled 43 quarterback pressures and 62 run stops since 2022, rating fourth and twelfth, respectively, amongst linebackers in that span, in response to Professional Soccer Focus.
Ekeler reunites with Lynn
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Working again Austin Ekeler agreed to a two-year deal price as much as $11.43 million, two individuals with information of the settlement mentioned, giving the workforce a dual-threat again after it let Antonio Gibson depart for the New England Patriots.
Ekeler, 28, reunites with Commanders operating backs coach Anthony Lynn, who was the Los Angeles Chargers’ head coach when he made the roster as an undrafted rookie in 2017. Ekeler’s elusiveness out of the backfield and his pass-catching capacity ought to assist an offense that final season usually appeared one-dimensional.
Ekeler’s 158 catches and 1,158 receiving yards over the past two seasons ranked first and second amongst operating backs in that span, and his 2,701 scrimmage yards ranked sixth.
Armstrong to bolster move rush
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Washington is beginning to rebuild its move rush. The workforce agreed Monday to a three-year, $33 million cope with former Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Dorance Armstrong, two individuals information of the state of affairs mentioned. The contract is price as much as $45 million with efficiency incentives.
The Commanders are betting Armstrong will proceed rising as he did over six seasons with the Cowboys, whose protection was helmed by Quinn the previous three years. He entered the league at simply 20 — a fourth-round select of Kansas in 2018 — and developed right into a strong, versatile rotational edge rusher. Now, Washington will most likely give Armstrong, 26, his largest position but as an everyday starter.
The query is whether or not Armstrong can preserve producing in additional snaps. He had a mini-breakout in 2021 and over the previous two seasons complemented the Cowboys’ elite entrance in 34 video games (six begins) with 16 sacks and 17 tackles for loss.
Since 2022, his strain fee has been a superb 13 p.c, in response to TruMedia, which is an effective signal for the Commanders as a result of strain fee is a extra predictive metric than sacks.
Whereas Armstrong often lined up on the sides, Quinn often shifted him inside on apparent pass-rushing downs and a pair occasions even dropped him into protection. On tape, Armstrong seems to be snug as a get up rusher or together with his hand within the filth.
The query is whether or not Washington will proceed transferring him round or ask him to concentrate on taking part in as an edge rusher.
Biadasz fills void at middle
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Quinn is popping to a different acquainted face to anchor the Commanders’ offensive line. Former Cowboys middle Tyler Biadasz agreed to a three-year, $30 million cope with Washington, in response to two individuals with information of the settlement. The 26-year-old fills a big void up entrance for the Commanders, who’ve handled a string of accidents and efficiency points at middle over the previous few years.
Biadasz, the son of dairy farmers, was chosen within the fourth spherical of the 2020 draft out of Wisconsin. He began all however two video games over the previous three seasons, permitting solely three sacks and incomes a Professional Bowl nod in 2022.
Zach Ertz, the three-time Professional Bowl tight finish and Tremendous Bowl LII champion, agreed to a one-year contract with the Commanders price as much as $5 million with incentives, in response to two individuals with information of the deal. Washington launched Logan Thomas in early March, so Ertz, who was with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury in Arizona in 2021 and 2022, supplies wanted expertise on the place and familiarity with the offense.
Ertz, 33, spent his first 9 years within the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and was most just lately with the Detroit Lions for lower than per week throughout their playoff run. His future in Washington may rely on his well being; Ertz has performed only one full season up to now 5 years, largely due to accidents.
