Tag: 2022 NFL Offseason

Commanders plan to exercise DE Montez Sweat’s 5th-year option

The Commanders will reportedly pick up Montez Sweat’s fifth-year option. No surprises there.

Washington Commanders defensive end Montez Sweat is entering his fourth NFL season in 2022. And, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post, the team plans on Sweat being around for a fifth year — and potentially more.

Jhabvala reported on Wednesday morning that Washington planned on exercising Sweat’s fifth-year option for 2023. The deadline to either pick up a fifth-year option or decline is May 3.

A first-round pick in 2019, Sweat played in every game during his first two seasons, registering 92 tackles, 16 sacks, four forced fumbles and one interception returned for a touchdown.

Unfortunately, Sweat’s 2021 season was marred by injury and tragedy. He fractured his jaw in a Week 8 loss at Denver, missing several weeks. Sweat returned to play in two games and missed the final two weeks due to the tragic death of his brother.

Sweat would play in a total of 10 games, finishing with 24 tackles, five sacks, 13 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.

It was an overall disappointing season for several of Washington’s young defenders, including fellow defensive end Chase Young.

Russell Wilson: ‘The West Coast is better for me right now’

Russell Wilson was asked about coming “east” to Washington Tuesday.

A popular offseason topic for fans of the Washington Commanders has been the idea that Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson could force a trade and pick Washington as his next destination.

A native of Richmond, Virginia, Wilson has played his entire 10-year career with the Seattle Seahawks on the West coast. Last season, Wilson’s agent said he would approve trades to four teams, and Washington was not on that list.

A lot can change in one year, and head coach Ron Rivera believes the Commanders are a desirable destination for one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. As for Wilson’s previous list, three of the four teams he’d approve a trade to either have a standout passer or, in Chicago’s case, drafted one in the first round last year.

While Wilson has given no indication he’s unhappy in Seattle; his future has been a fun topic this offseason for many quarterback-needy teams. Washington, of course, being the primary one due to Rivera’s persistence, the team will swing for the fences to land a franchise passer.

In an appearance on the NBC’s TODAY Show Tuesday, host Craig Melvin — a noted Washington supporter and official fan ambassador — directly asked Wilson about “coming east” and playing for the team in the nation’s capital.

Wilson and his wife Ciara laughed at the question, knowing it was coming once Melvin identified himself as a Commanders’ fan. Wilson’s response:

“Listen, man, I love the East Coast, but I think the West Coast is better for me right now,” Wilson said, laughing. “I got my whole family over here. I’m from Richmond; I know what you mean; I got people hitting me up every day. All my friends, from the East Coast, but Seattle is the place that I’m at right now, and I love it, and it’s great.”

What is he supposed to say? If he wanted to be traded, he is under contract for two more seasons and too classy of a guy to campaign publicly about wanting a trade. His laugh implied as much. Wilson handled the question with humor and class.

Some have written stories today saying Wilson definitively said he wasn’t coming to Washington. He did not. He answered the question perfectly. Now, does that mean he wants to go to Washington? Of course not. But for some to surmise that he ruled out the Commanders for jokingly answering a question from a Washington fan at the end of an interview is a bit silly.

It’s the offseason, folks.

 

Browns salary cap: Who can get cut to save $3 million or more in cap

If the Browns want to shake things up, here are all the players they could cut to gain $3 million or more in salary cap space. This is the whole list, not just players that might be cut:

The Cleveland Browns have some work to do going into the 2022 NFL offseason. The team underachieved for their goals in 2021 but bring back much of the same core for 2022. Due to injuries, free agency and performance, that core will need additions to it especially if the team loses players like David Njoku and Jadeveon Clowney.

In our Mock Offseason 1.0, we took a look at some ways we thought the Browns could improve through free agency, a trade and the NFL draft. We know that free agency may not be robust this year despite the team having over $20 million in cap space.

Cleveland can get more cap space with a few moves but still may be working on signing Denzel Ward to an extension, which will not come cheap.

If the team wants to shake things up and make some pricey moves before the NFL draft, there are a few players they could cut to add more cap space. For all of those noted below, we are using the “after June 1st” cap saving for only 2022. Each release could impact 2023’s salary cap with more dead cap that year as well.

The following players would all save the Browns over $3 million in salary-cap space if released with the “post-June 1st” designation:

Washington tight ends coach Pete Hoener retires

This is disappointing news for the Commanders as Pete Hoener is one of the best in the NFL.

The Washington Commanders lost one of their top assistant coaches when veteran tight ends coach Pete Hoener officially retired Friday.

Hoener, who came to Washington in 2020 with head coach Ron Rivera, ends a 46-year coaching career that featured stops with the 49ers, Bears, Cardinals and Panthers in the NFL before his time in Washington. The 70-year-old Hoener also spent several years coaching college football with stops at Texas A&M, Iowa State, TCU, Purdue, Illinois, Indiana State, Illinois State and Missouri. His NFL coaching career began in 1985.

Hoener was instrumental in the development of Vernon Davis, Greg Olsen and the breakout of Logan Thomas. Under Hoener, Olsen became one of the NFL’s best tight ends during his nine-year run with the Panthers.

Olsen spoke of Hoener’s influence in 2019 to the Charlotte Observer, via Zach Selby of commanders.com:

“He’s been unbelievable for my development,” Olsen said. “He believed in me, gave me a chance. I was kind of on the fence about whether I was gonna be that next breakout guy or if I was gonna be another first-round ‘bust,’ so to speak. Obviously, my career took off to another level since I’ve gotten here, and Pete was a big part of that.”

Thomas has also been complimentary of Hoener and his role in the former quarterback’s development at tight end. Thomas had a career year for Washington in 2020 and signed a three-year contract extension last summer.

The 2022 season will be the first for Rivera as a head coach without Hoener on the sideline.

The Commanders acted quickly in hiring Hoener’s replacement, as Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reported the team was hiring veteran coach Juan Castillo as their next tight ends coach.

We’ll have more on Castillo tomorrow.

 

ESPN projects what could be a busy offseason of quarterback movement

There are lots of questions surrounding several veteran quarterbacks currently under contract. Does Washington have a chance at landing any of these veteran passers?

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Will Aaron Rodgers be traded or return to Green Bay? Will Russell Wilson leave Seattle? What happens with Deshaun Watson?

These are among the top questions as we have officially entered the 2022 NFL offseason. ESPN dove into the future of eight quarterbacks with questions surrounding them in what could be an unprecedented season of veteran quarterback movement.

Dan Graziano, Jeremy Fowler, and the reporters who cover each of the eight teams who feature quarterbacks on this list discuss the offseason ahead for these passers.

The veteran quarterbacks with the most significant offseason questions are Rodgers, Wilson, Watson, Jimmy Garoppolo, Kirk Cousins, Baker Mayfield, Derek Carr and Carson Wentz.

As you might expect, the Washington Commanders were mentioned in this story. But fans will not like what Graziano sees for Washington.

He wrote the following, linking Garoppolo to the Commanders:

The teams I keep thinking of for Garoppolo are Carolina and Washington, both teams that have a desperate need for a QB solution but for various reasons might not be able to land one of the big guys.

This isn’t the first time Garoppolo has been linked to Washington.

The most popular name attached to the Commanders in recent weeks is Wilson. However, no one believes Seattle trades Wilson, who has two years remaining on his contract. After all, who are you going to replace him with? You can receive three first-round picks and a veteran starter, but it means nothing if you don’t have a quarterback. Wilson is one of the best in the NFL, which is why it’s doubtful he is moved.

Washington coach Ron Rivera has likely been working hard behind the scenes to assess the availability of some of these quarterbacks. While all eight of these passers would represent an upgrade for the Commanders in 2022, only Rodgers, Wilson and Watson would be worth giving up multiple first-round picks.

It should be an interesting offseason for the Commanders.

POLL: Should the Jaguars franchise tag left tackle Cam Robinson?

Jacksonville has until March 8 to make a franchise tag decision on Robinson.

As the Super Bowl is in the rearview, the beginning of the new league year will be here before we know it. It’s a key offseason for the Jaguars, who have a new coaching staff in place and could still see a reorganization in the front office, as well.

They have a lot of cash to spend in free agency and the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft. But before they can get to any of those decisions, they face a big one: what to do with left tackle Cam Robinson.

Robinson was franchise-tagged last offseason after his rookie contract expired. Now, he’s a pending free agent again, and the decision with him this offseason has been a hotly debated topic.

Jacksonville has a few options. An extension would be expensive; the team can afford it, but Robinson was a below-average NFL tackle this season. Making him one of the highest-paid players at his position in the league may not be the best course of action.

Franchise tagging him again, though, would be a more reasonable option if the team wants to keep him around. It would be pricey for the one year, but it wouldn’t require a long-term commitment from the Jaguars. Plus, they could potentially get some return for him if they choose to trade him next fall.

Jacksonville has until March 8 at 4 p.m. EST to place the franchise tag on a player.

But of course, the plan with the first overall pick could change things. Many expect the team to take a tackle with that selection, and considering Walker Little was a second-round pick last year and played well as a rookie, he and the draft pick could be the starters at tackle next season.

If the Jags plan to take a player like Evan Neal at No. 1, tagging Robinson wouldn’t make a lot of sense unless the team doesn’t feel confident in Little’s development. Jawaan Taylor has struggled and could be replaced at right tackle next season, so drafting someone with the top pick wouldn’t necessarily solve all of the problems there.

Starting-caliber offensive linemen don’t grow on trees, and it’s always a risky decision to let one walk. But while Robinson fits that bill, the team could do for an upgrade, especially with bolstering the line being among the top priorities.

What do you think? Should the Jags franchise tag Robinson, try to work out a long-term extension or let him test free agency? Let us know in the poll below.

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ESPN thinks Jags are a fit for pair of potential top-50 free agents

ESPN thinks the Jags could give big deals to these two offensive linemen this offseason.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have quite a bit of money to spend this offseason. While they don’t lead the league in available cap space like they did last season, they still rank in the top five heading into a crucial free agency period.

One area the team needs to do some work on is the offensive line, where it could have as many as three departing free agents. Some of that could be addressed in the draft, but this team will almost certainly look to sign someone for the line this offseason.

ESPN identified two potential offensive line free agents who would be a good fit with the Jaguars, and one of them is already on the roster. Left guard Andrew Norwell’s deal is expiring after it was restructured last offseason, and what to do with him will be one of the difficult decisions the team faces.

Why it makes sense: Jacksonville’s offensive line disappointed overall, but Norwell was solid with a 66.7 Pro Football Focus grade and three sacks allowed. So bring back a productive, familiar face inside while rebuilding the tackle spots. — Fowler

Scheme fit: Norwell is a mauler in the run game, with a big, long frame to displace defenders. He stays with Doug Pederson’s team here, as the offensive focus continues to center on building and maintaining the front. — Bowen

Keeping Norwell would help the interior, but there are still questions at the tackle spots. Jawaan Taylor has struggled on the right side, and Cam Robinson has an expiring deal, too. Jacksonville could look to re-sign or tag the latter, but ESPN thinks it could upgrade with a veteran tackle in free agency in former New Orleans Saint Terron Armstead.

Why it makes sense: Armstead should earn well above $20 million per year on a new deal. Jacksonville is armed with $57.7 million in cap space and must replace Cam Robinson. New coach Doug Pederson came from Philadelphia, which prioritizes tackle play. — Fowler

Scheme fit: A powerful mover with nimble feet, Armstead immediately upgrades the pass protection for quarterback Trevor Lawrence. But the veteran also fits here in Pederson’s run-game structure as a blocker in both gap and zone schemes. — Bowen

Keeping Norwell would make a good bit of sense, given the team’s other needs, and it’s hard to argue Armstead wouldn’t be an improvement over Robinson (though using the first pick on a tackle is also an option).

Both of these additions would help Trevor Lawrence, but if the team wants to add a playmaker in free agency, ESPN also said it could be a candidate for Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku. However, his current team was listed as the best fit for him.

It’s clear the Jaguars need some upgrades on the offensive side of the ball, and if they made the moves outlined here for the line, the unit would almost certainly take a pretty big leap in 2022.

Could Carson Wentz be an option for the Commanders in 2022?

Washington desperately needs a quarterback and will explore all options — including the less-than-desirable ones.

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When Carson Wentz was with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017, Washington fans were discouraged after seeing Wentz shake off defenders, duck and sling the ball deep downfield for touchdowns. The Eagles had their man for the next decade, and the rest of the division was in trouble.

Now, here we are in 2022, and Wentz could be heading for his third team in three years. Inconceivable, right?

The fall of Carson Wentz from MVP finalist in 2017 to benched in 2020 — and later traded — is a strange one. Last offseason, Wentz was sent to the Indianapolis Colts for first- and third-round draft picks.

Wentz played well early in 2021, and his numbers were outstanding. He passed for 3,563 yards with 27 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. However, Wentz’s play late in the season was a significant factor in why the Colts missed the playoffs, and general manager Chris Ballard was not pleased with his quarterback.

“Sitting here today, I won’t make a comment on who’s going to be here next year and who’s not going to be here next year,” Ballard said recently via Nate Atkins of the Indianapolis Star. “That’s not fair to any player. I thought Carson did some good things, and there’s a lot of things he needs to do better. Our passing game has to be better.”

Surely, the Colts wouldn’t trade or release Wentz after a disappointing ending to a solid season. Well, chatter around the NFL leads many to believe Wentz could be on the way out.

The Washington Commanders need a quarterback, and Wentz will be affordable. Would Washington consider making a move for Wentz after likely striking out on bigger targets such as Russell Wilson?

This is a complicated question. Most everyone in Washington is gone that remembers the Wentz from 2017 and 2018. Here’s a sample of Wentz’s magic vs. Washington from that period.

Wentz isn’t that same player anymore. Yes, there are flashes, but injuries have taken a toll on Wentz, and he doesn’t appear to be as confident as a player as he was in the early years of his career, which began in 2016.

No one knows what the Colts will do at the quarterback position. As Washington fans know, it’s hard to find a capable NFL passer. Wentz is certainly a capable player who would provide an upgrade over the 2021 options. And, the Commanders will do their homework on every potential option — including Wentz.

Ultimately, I don’t see a match here. I’m still hesitant to believe the Colts will part ways with a player they traded two high picks for just one year ago. Ballard traded for Wentz because head coach Frank Reich’s work with the quarterback early in his career. Now, perhaps Indianapolis drafts a quarterback high in the 2022 NFL draft and decides to move on from Wentz next year.

As for the Commanders, perhaps the free-agent route paired with a rookie may be the best option if they can’t land one of the top targets.

Chase Young says recovery is ‘going great’

Chase Young’s recovery from knee surgery is “going great,” and he really likes the new uniforms.

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The Washington Commanders had a forgettable season in 2021. There were injuries, COVID-19 outbreaks and the team received very little from its free agent and draft classes. Perhaps most disappointing for Washington was its defense.

Everyone expected Washington’s defense to be the one constant in 2021; however, the unit struggled throughout the first half of the season. Unfortunately, the face of those struggles was often second-year defensive Chase Young.

Fair or not, when fans or media members discussed Washington’s defensive struggles, Young’s lack of sacks was often a topic of discussion. The 2020 NFL defensive rookie of the year had just 1.5 sacks before a knee injury in Week 10 ended his second NFL season.

Young underwent knee surgery in late November to repair a torn ACL. He appeared and spoke to the media at exit interviews after Washington’s final game but has remained quiet for the most part.

Last week, Young joined ESPN’s John Keim on his podcast, titled the “John Keim Report,” and spoke on his recovery, the new name, uniforms and Joe Burrow.

Young, who is training in Colorado this winter, discussed his recovery.

“It’s coming along great, man,” Young said. “I’m already squatting 225. I am already one-leg squats with weight on my back on the knee I hurt. I’m jumping; it’s going great.”

Commanders’ fans certainly hope Young follows a similar path to former college teammate Nick Bosa. Bosa won defensive rookie of the year in 2019, then tore his ACL in 2020 and returned with 15.5 sacks in 2021. Young has the potential for a similar return.

Later, Keim asked Young about the new uniforms, for which he is a big fan.

“The white one is clean,” Young said. “I know every away game we have this year; I am going to love that clean unless we got an alternate. I think the black is my favorite, but the white one and the burgundy one, I will like seeing those when we play.”

And the name?

“I would say the name grew on me,” he answered. “Just seeing the jersey, seeing how things came together, what we’re going to stand for, just being from D.C., I’m ready to go ‘Take Command.'”

Young was on record in November that he didn’t like some of the potential names, including the Commanders. Young may still not like the name, but he understands if the team wins, it doesn’t matter. And he really does seem to like the uniforms.

Young’s latest update on his health is an encouraging one for Washington. For the Commanders to take the next step in 2022, they need a healthy Young back on the field.

Where are the Commanders in ESPN’s early 2022 NFL power rankings?

No surprises at the top. Where is Washington?

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Immediately after the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 to win-win Super Bowl LVI, it was time to turn the page to the 2022 NFL season.

ESPN took a quick look at the 2022 season, offering very early power rankings. There were no surprises at the top with the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Rams, Green Bay Packers and Bengals rounding out the top five.

What do those five teams have in common? A franchise quarterback. When you have a franchise passer in place, you don’t worry too much about how the offseason can change your roster because that quarterback will keep you among the best in the NFL. ESPN’s rankings assume that Aaron Rodgers will return in 2022, of course.

For a team like the Washington Commanders, there’s a lot of uncertainty because no one knows who will be under center next fall. ESPN’s ranking of Washington at No. 25 reflects that uncertainty.

2021 record: 7-10

Offseason in three or fewer words: Another QB search

Washington has started 32 quarterbacks since it last won the Super Bowl after the 1991 season — and eight passers in the past three years. While the Commanders like Taylor Heinicke as a high-end backup, they’re definitely searching for “The Guy” this offseason. Since Kirk Cousins left after the 2017 season, Washington has the NFL’s worst total QBR (36.7). In Ron Rivera’s first two seasons as coach the team is 30th (35.3). Washington will pursue the big names who might be available, but it will be difficult to not only get teams to agree to a trade, but then to have quarterbacks such as Russell Wilson or Watson waive no-trade clauses to come here. — John Keim

Washington will take big swings at the quarterback position for players like Wilson and Watson, but the odds are against either happening for the Commanders. Instead, it could look to trade for Jimmy Garoppolo, or sign a lesser free agent like Mitchell Trubisky and also draft a passer high in the 2022 NFL draft.

Either way, Washington remains in quarterback purgatory and until there’s a solution, there isn’t a lot of hope amongst fans for a big leap in 2022.