Tag: Adam Peters

Commanders bring in former All-Pro cornerback for workout

Commanders bring in a former All-Pro cornerback in for a workout.

The Washington Commanders are in desperate need of help at cornerback. In Sunday’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Washington’s lack of depth at corner was exposed by Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers.

Rookie Mike Sainristil has played well but is most exclusively a slot cornerback. Veteran Noah Igbinoghene has been a pleasant surprise, while Benjamin St-Juste has battled consistency issues. The jury remains out on 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes.

So, while the Commanders have been mentioned as a possible buyer at the trade deadline, specifically for a cornerback, edge rusher, or wide receiver, general manager Adam Peters is exploring other avenues.

On Tuesday, the Commanders brought in five players, including former All-Pro cornerback Kyle Fuller, for a workout.

If that name sounds familiar, Kyle Fuller is the older brother of former Washington cornerback Kendall Fuller. Kyle Fuller, 32, was a first-round pick of the Chicago Bears in 2014, where he spent seven seasons. Fuller played for the Denver Broncos in 2021 and spent his final NFL season with the Baltimore Ravens in 2022. Unfortunately, Fuller suffered a serious knee injury and hasn’t played since.

Fuller was named first-team All-Pro in 2018 and and made two Pro Bowks.

While Fuller was once an excellent player, it’s difficult to imagine a 32-year-old cornerback, who hasn’t played in two years, can significantly help your defense. But you can’t blame Peters for taking chances because you just never know.

Watch: NFL analyst with high praise for Commanders’ rookies not named Jayden Daniels

The Commanders’ rookie class continues to stand out.

In his latest edition of “Baldy’s Breakdowns,” NFL analyst and former NFL offensive lineman Brian Baldinger had some high praise for multiple members of the Washington Commanders’ 2024 draft class.

While Baldinger is a huge fan of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, he highlighted the performance of both of Washington’s third-round picks in last week’s win over the Cleveland Browns.

Left tackle Brandon Coleman made his first NFL start, splitting half the snaps with veteran Cornelius Lucas. Both played well. But most impressive is that Coleman’s assignment was defensive end Myles Garrett, arguably the NFL’s top defensive player.

Baldinger came away impressed with the rookie tackle.

On one play, Baldinger highlights how the Commanders’ other third-round pick, wide receiver Luke McCaffrey chipped Garrett, allowing Daniels to hit Dyami Brown for a 41-yard touchdown. It was a beautiful play from start to finish.

Baldinger also highlighted McCaffrey’s receiving and blocking, but most importantly, his willingness to do whatever it takes. Baldinger praised McCaffrey’s route-running.

McCaffrey helped spring running back Jeremy McNichols on his touchdown run last week.

It’s early, but it looks like first-year general manager Adam Peters hit a home run with the 2024 draft class. Daniels, McCaffrey, Coleman, Mike Sainristil, Ben Sinnott and Johnny Newton all showed flashes in five games.

As Baldinger said, there is “lots to be excited about in the capital city.”

Commanders honor London Fletcher after tragic loss of his wife

Commanders honor London Fletcher after Sunday’s win.

London Fletcher should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. We’ve made his case countless times and will continue to do so. These days, the former 16-year NFL veteran is part of the Washington Commanders’ radio broadcast team alongside Bram Weinstein and Logan Paulsen.

Sadly, Fletcher recently suffered a tremendous personal loss. His wife, Charne, died of cancer at only 50 years old. The Fletchers were married for 18 years and had three children together.

Fletcher was away from the Commanders for the last couple of games but returned to the broadcast booth during Sunday’s 34-13 win over the Cleveland Browns.

After the game, Washington head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters honored the team legend and his children with the game ball.

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The Commanders are riding high on the field with a 4-1 record, but they are doing everything else right, too. Fletcher is not only a team legend, but he’s also a current employee. It’s good to see the Commanders honoring him during such a difficult time.

Commanders make roster moves after players signed from practice squad

The Commanders announce multiple roster moves after two players signed away from practice squad.

When you’re having a good season, others notice. That’s the case for the 3-1 Washington Commanders, who sit alone in first place in the NFC East.

Other teams don’t often sign players away from Washington’s practice squad, but that’s what happened this week. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed guard Max Scharping to their roster from the Commanders’ practice squad. Scharping initially signed with Washington on Aug. 28.

That wasn’t the only player leaving the Commanders’ practice squad. Linebacker Jalen Graham, also signed in August, was signed to the San Francisco 49ers’ 53-man roster. The 49ers released Graham during their final roster cuts, and Washington GM Adam Peters, who was in San Francisco when the 49ers drafted Graham in 2023, quickly added him to the practice squad.

The Commanders announced two new practice squad signings to replace Scharping and Graham: Offensive lineman Marquis Hayes and safety Sheldrick Redwine.

Hayes, 25, played collegiately at Oklahoma and was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2022 when Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury was the head coach.

Redwine has ties to Commanders head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. and spent time this summer with Washington before he was released during final cuts.

What is the Commanders’ biggest roster need ahead of Week 3?

What have we learned is the Commanders’ biggest roster need through two games?

Entering the NFL offseason, you could argue that no NFL team — outside of the Carolina Panthers — had more roster holes than the Washington Commanders.

General manager Adam Peters had his hands full this offseason, added over 20 free agents and drafted nine players in the 2024 NFL draft. While Peters couldn’t address every Washington need, he did address the most important one: Quarterback.

Jayden Daniels has played well through two weeks, often putting the team on his back. However, other positions remain a problem for Washington.

What are the Commanders’ most significant needs? Some would say cornerback, edge rusher, offensive tackle, or wide receiver.

Josh Edwards of CBS Sports recently analyzed all 32 NFL rosters after two weeks, including naming each team’s biggest roster need. For Washington, Edwards said it was offensive tackle.

After taking LSU’s Jayden Daniels as the quarterback of the future, the Commanders also need a left tackle of the future after releasing Charles Leno. Cornelius Lucas and Andrew Wylie saw most of the action as the starting offensive tackles. Each player ranks among the 30 highest beaten rates, according to TruMedia, which essentially illustrates how often the opposition wins the rep.

Edge rusher would be the other area at which they should throw future assets after sacrificing Chase Young and Montez Sweat in the rebuild.

Offensive tackle remains a major need. Even if rookie Brandon Coleman proves to be a future starter, the Commanders will need another starting offensive tackle next offseason. Wylie and Lucas are free agents after the season.

While CBS said offensive tackle, we believe it’s either edge rusher or cornerback. Have you seen Washington’s defense through two weeks? The Commanders may need two starting outside cornerbacks next offseason and certainly need a game-wrecker on the edge.

It’s early, and sometimes, your need list looks much different in January than in September. Over the next few months, it will be interesting to follow the development of some of Washington’s young players at these key positions.

Report: Commanders ‘would love to add’ a wide receiver by trade deadline

Would the Commanders make a move for a veteran receiver?

The Washington Commanders wide receiver position remains a question mark. There is Terry McLaurin and plenty of questions. Of course, through two games under new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, McLaurin has only eight receptions for 39 yards.

McLaurin’s lack of big plays isn’t an indication that he’s done — far from it. Kingsbury’s plan through two games has been for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels to get rid of the ball quickly, which includes a lot of screens and shorter passes to the wide receivers.

There is a troubling statistic regarding Washington’s wide receivers through two games, though.

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That number will obviously change in the coming weeks, but the Commanders could use help at receiver. General manager Adam Peters was not sold on former first-round pick Jahan Dotson, and he was traded within the division to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Before the regular season began, Washington signed Noah Brown, who caught three passes in Sunday’s Week 2 win. Rookie Luke McCaffrey has yet to make an impact, but his time could be coming.

In his Friday column, Dan Graziano of ESPN mentioned that the Commanders are one of five teams that would love to add a wide receiver before the trade deadline.

The two receivers he mentioned were Diontae Johnson (Panthers) and Davante Adams (Raiders).

Adams, of course, would be the splashier acquisition, but it would come with risk. He will be 32 in December. However, Adams’ salary would be no problem for Washington. Since entering the NFL in 2014, Adams has caught 886 passes for 10,950 yards and 96 touchdowns. Graziano named the Jets, where his former quarterback Aaron Rodgers is currently, as Adams’ potential landing spot.

Johnson, who was traded to the Panthers this offseason, spent his first five NFL seasons in Pittsburgh. Johnson has five receptions in two games for the struggling Panthers in 2024.

It will be interesting to see if Peters decides to part with draft compensation for a veteran player. Thus far, he has been unwilling to do that, but if the Commanders are in contention by the start of November and still lacking production at wide receiver, a trade could be an option, but it may not be a star player.

New Commanders kicker Austin Seibert has an unusual way of training

Seibert discussed how he got ready for his opportunity with Washington.

How do kickers practice in the offseason? For most kickers on a team or looking for a team, you’ll find them at a practice field somewhere, launching as many kicks as possible through the uprights.

Not new Washington Commanders kicker Austin Seibert.

The new Washington kicker, signed last week, was busy on his first day for his new team. Seibert attempted seven field goals — making them all — in the Commanders’ 21-18 win over the New York Giants on Sunday. Seibert scored all 21 points for his team, including a game-winning 30-yard field goal as time expired to give Washington its first win.

Seibert revealed after the game that to prepare, he kicked at a pine tree next to his house as he awaited a call from an NFL team.

“In the offseason, I have a lot next to my house, and there’s a pine tree,” Seibert said. “And I go out and kick at this pine tree; I don’t go to a field anymore; I kick at this pine tree. I tell myself, ‘Hit the tree.’ Go out there and trust my technique, and it’s been working for me.”

Seibert then discussed how his preparation is a family affair.

“Well, we go three days a week,” Seibert said. “My wife will film me, and my daughter will be out there with us, too. And we’ll hit like 25-30 balls. It’s fun. It’s a family event.”

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Don’t be surprised if more kickers don’t follow Seibert’s unusual approach. Like most kickers, the 27-year-old Seibert has bounced around some since entering the NFL in 2019. However, during the summer, when Seibert was kicking for the Jets, Washington general manager Adam Peters took notice, placing Seibert on the team’s emergency kicker list.

The Jets released Seibert, sticking with veteran Greg Zeurlein.

You couldn’t have scripted a better debut as Seibert broke the franchise record for field goals made in a game, kicked the game-winner, and ended the game on the shoulders of his new teammates.

Perhaps Washington has finally found its kicker of the present and future.

Would the Commanders pursue Raiders star WR Davante Adams in 2024?

Don’t count on it.

Depending on who you ask, the Washington Commanders could still use some help at wide receiver. Even before last month’s trade of 2022 first-round Jahan Dotson to the Philadelphia Eagles, there were questions about Washington’s receivers not named Terry McLaurin.

Until he finally signed an extension with the San Francisco 49ers, Brandon Aiyuk’s name was a popular match for Washington due to his connections with quarterback Jayden Daniels.

General manager Adam Peters resisted the urge to trade away part of the franchise’s future for a veteran wide receiver, who would also need to sign a massive new contract.

Peters and head coach Dan Quinn have said all the right things about the current wide receivers. Dyami Brown appears poised for a breakout season, while rookie Luke McCaffrey is also a name to watch. Last week’s signing of Noah Brown gave the group some added depth and versatility.

However, some believe Peters may still add a big-name veteran to Washington’s receivers room. In an appearance on “The Domonique Foxworth Show,” ESPN’s Mina Kimes said she could see the Commanders making a move for Raiders star Davante Adams.

Here’s Kimes.

Kimes makes some great points. Adams’ salary isn’t an issue for Washington. She thinks the Commanders will have won enough games by midseason to want to add more around Daniels, which is a fantastic point. Another positive on this front is as great as Adams is, it shouldn’t take quite as much to acquire him as it would have Aiyuk due to their respective ages.

Washington is an unknown heading into the season. Many believe the Commanders will be an improved team but not a contender. Nothing can be ruled out if they are hanging around in the NFC East race by late October and the receivers outside of McLaurin aren’t producing. This just doesn’t seem like a Year 1 move for Peters.

Adams is still a phenomenal player, but he’ll turn 32 in December. It is difficult to see Peters parting with valuable draft commodity for an older player when the team is not yet in Super Bowl contention.

 

Sam Cosmi discusses why he wanted to remain with Commanders

Sam Cosmi thrilled to be protecting Jayden Daniels for years to come.

The Washington Commanders secured a big part of their future on Wednesday, agreeing to a four-year deal with right guard Sam Cosmi. Cosmi, 25, is entering his fourth NFL season and the final year of his rookie contract.

A second-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft, the Commanders moved Cosmi from tackle to guard before last season. The move not only changed the course of Cosmi’s career, but he embraced the move. He started all 17 games for the first time in his career in 2023 and played at an All-Pro level in the second half of the season.

Cosmi’s free-agent status came at a busy time for Washington. In January, the Commanders fired Ron Rivera — the man who drafted him — and replaced him with general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn. However, the new regime quickly identified Cosmi as an extension target.

“We talked early on, I think sometime in February,” Cosmi said on Wednesday. “And we didn’t get the ball rolling; there’s a lot of stuff they had to work on here. So, we didn’t get the ball rolling until three weeks ago or something like that.”

Cosmi never worried a deal would get done. And he never wavered that he wanted to be in Washington, especially after speaking with Peters, Quinn and managing partner Josh Harris about their goals for the future.

“I really like what AP and DQ are doing,” he said. “Obviously, Mr. Harris is putting a lot of money and investing into the team and doing all that, and we see that as well. I just feel like we have a lot of tools to the belt now and people that really care about this football team, and this is a place that you want to be.”

Cosmi is also excited about protecting his new young quarterback (Jayden Daniels) for years to come.

“I think we got a special, special dude that I got to protect and very talented. And that makes me excited to be here for hopefully for the next four years, or five years.”

Cosmi’s four-year deal is reportedly worth $74 million with $45 million guaranteed, making him one of the NFL’s highest-paid guards. It’s an excellent deal for both sides.

 

How to buy Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Washington Commanders NFL Week 1 tickets

Tickets are now available for the #Buccaneers home opener against the #Commanders. Get yours before they’re gone:

The start of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ regular season is just a few short days away.

The Bucs and Washington Commanders will kickoff their respective seasons with a Week 1 matchup on Sept. 8, 2024, at 4:25 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium.

This opener features two NFC sides with raised expectations heading into the 2024 NFL season, which should make for an exciting early-season matchup.

Only limited tickets remain for this first game in Tampa.

SHOP: Tampa Bay Bucs vs. Washington Commanders tickets

In terms of the Buccaneers are still in the area of hoping for a bright future in post-Tom Brady life. But much of that involved re-signing big names this offseason, such as Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans and Antoine Winfield Jr.

On the flip side, the Commanders, it’s a complete turnover after a whirlwind offseason. New ownership hired general manager Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn. They went on to select Jayden Daniels at No. 2 overall at the 2024 NFL draft.

Can the Commanders or Bucs take this Week 1 battle between two teams that want to start off on the right foot? Tickets for this contest start as low as $38.

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