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The Washington Commanders have enough cap space to be active in free agency this month. Per Over the Cap, the Commanders currently have just under $32 million in available cap space. There are easy ways to create more space if Washington wants to add more than one high-level player in 2022.
We know the Commanders are pursuing veteran quarterbacks. However, landing Russell Wilson or Deshaun Watson doesn’t feel realistic, meaning Washington could target someone such as Mitchell Trubisky in free agency or go all-in on a rookie in the 2022 NFL draft.
If Washington lands a veteran passer via free agency, like Trubisky or Marcus Mariota, the Commanders will need to give the quarterback more help at wide receiver. The only sure thing is Terry McLaurin and the franchise’s top priority this offseason is to lock up McLaurin to a new long-term deal.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Gil Brandt recently named 10 potential free-agent fits and has the Commanders matching up with wide receiver Allen Robinson.
This would be a big-time move, just one season removed from giving Curtis Samuel a three-year contract and getting six receptions from him in 2021.
Would adding a top free-agent wide receiver to pair with McLaurin complicate his contract negotiations?
I say no. Here’s why: Any receiver Washington signs will make less than McLaurin on his new deal. If Robinson signs with Washington for an average of $16 million per season, McLaurin will at least command $18 million per season based on the market.
What about the presence of Samuel? The Commanders aren’t giving up on Samuel. He’s a different receiver than McLaurin or Robinson. And he’s only under contract for two more seasons. If Washington signed Robinson to a three-year contract, the team has no franchise passer on the books for the foreseeable future. If the Commanders sign a Trubisky or draft a quarterback, they can afford another high-paid wide receiver in the short term.
If you can’t land an elite passer such as Wilson, give your new quarterback plenty of help.
Here’s what Brandt said on Robinson to Washington:
Robinson is coming off an injury-marred season in Chicago, but he could be the perfect veteran partner to help take some of the burden off Terry McLaurin. Robinson’s receiving total over the past three years (2,807) is almost twice what the No. 2 pass-catcher (in terms of yardage) managed in Washington in that span. Provided the 28-year-old Robinson is fully healthy, he’d bring instant credibility and balance to a passing game that has pretty much been carried solely by McLaurin since 2019.
While I wouldn’t rule out Washington signing a free-agent wide receiver, it’s doubtful they aim at the top of the free-agent market. The team would like to fill other holes. However, if Ron Rivera fails to land that elusive franchise quarterback, he could be aggressive, adding new playmakers for a run in 2022.