Tag: 2023 Commanders FA Signings

Mayhew confident as Commanders prepare for NFL draft

Mayhew feels free agency set the Commanders up well ahead of the NFL draft.

“We have the ability to go anywhere in this draft.”

Commanders General Manager Martin Mayhew met with local media Thursday in preparation for next week’s 2023 NFL Draft. The former NFL cornerback and now GM is confident the team after its free agency signings, is deeper and more balanced. “I thought in free agency that we added some guys, some starters from other teams. Two offensive line starters from very good teams, playoff teams. We added a linebacker, quality player there. Added Jacoby [Brissett]. We did some things in free agency that we feel are very beneficial going into our draft.”

Mayhew does not fear that the Commanders are so weak in one area they will have to draft that position in the first round. Having the No. 16 selection in the draft, there will be some good players definitely available. If the Commanders are entering the draft with no glaringly weak position, then why not go ahead and draft the best player available at No. 16?

Free agency set us up for the draft. We have the flexibility to go anywhere in the first round,” expressed Mayhew. That is a credit to our pro department, to our coaching staff who also evaluated all of those players. We are set up in really good shape going into our draft this year.”

The Commanders finished in last place in the NFC East (8-8-1) in 2022. Consequently, if they want to be a playoff team in 2023 (and of course they do), they will need to select a player in the first round who will make an impact next season.

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Commanders QB Jacoby Brissett’s top plays from the 2022 NFL season

Some of the top plays from Jacoby Brissett’s 2022 season in Cleveland.

The Washington Commanders have a new veteran quarterback for the 2023 season, having signed the Cleveland Browns’ Jacoby Brissett.

The Commanders have produced a highlight package displaying Brissett’s talents and production during the 2022 season when Brissett was a Cleveland Brown.

Brissett completed 236 of his 369 passing attempts (64.0 percent completions) and 2,608 yards, 12 touchdown passes and 6 interceptions. He averaged 7.1 yards per pass attempt, 11.1 yards per completions, 163 yards per game.

His passer rating of 88.9 in 2022 was his career high in his seven NFL seasons. A 60.0 QBR was also a career-high. He also brought Cleveland back with two fourth-quarter game-winning drives.

Washington fans will enjoy seeing Brissett’s taking off to run, and displaying toughness as well when running with the ball, being difficult to tackle at times, due in part to his being 6-foot-4 and weighing 235 pounds.

One of the highlights is Brissett having his own diving-to-the-pylon-touchdown running to his left, which will bring back a very certain recent quarterback memory for Washington fans.

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Commanders sign third free agent offensive lineman

The Commanders add more depth to the offensive line.

The Washington Commanders Thursday, signed their third offensive lineman of this 2023 free agent cycle.

Trent Scott, last of the Pittsburgh Steelers, is the third offensive lineman the Commanders have signed. Scott appears to be a move for camp/preseason depth, and if he performs well enough, then possible roster depth.

Scott actually spent two seasons with the Carolina Panthers, but unlike other Panthers players, coaches, or executives who have joined head coach Ron Rivera in Washington, Scott’s time with the Panthers came after Rivera had already departed for Washington.

The 29-year-old Scott played his college ball at Grambling State, went undrafted, and has played for the Chargers (2018-19), Panthers (2020-21) and Steelers (2022). He has played at both tackle and guard.

Starting in only 20 of his 61 NFL games in his five seasons, this signing is not about the Commanders attempting to sign an offensive lineman to make an immediate impact, replacing one of the starters off of last season’s disappointing Commanders offensive line.

In fairness to Scott, in his five NFL seasons, he has started 1, 9, 4, 5 and 1 game. In addition, the 2022 season for Scott was one where he played the least amount he has in his five-year career, receiving only 31 offensive snaps and one mere special teams snap. Both were far-and-away the least action he has seen in his five NFL years.

In the first days of the 2023 free agency period, the Commanders also had previously signed offensive linemen G/T Andrew Wylie (Chiefs) and Nick Gates C/G (NY Giants).