Tag: Andrew Wylie

Commanders re-sign offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas

Cornelius Lucas is returning for his fifth season in Washington.

The Washington Commanders have finally signed an offensive tackle. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Commanders are bringing back Cornelius Lucas on a one-year deal worth up to $4 million.

Lucas, who will turn 33 in July, is entering his 11th NFL season and fifth in Washington. Before signing with the Commanders in 2020, Lucas spent time with the Lions, Rams, Saints and Bears.

Since coming to Washington, Lucas has been a valuable addition. He has appeared in 62 games with 31 starts, making starts at both right and left tackle.

As of now, Lucas would be at the top of Washington’s depth chart at left tackle after the release of Charles Leno Jr. Andrew Wylie remains atop the depth chart at right tackle — for now. The Commanders are expected to address the offensive tackle position high in the 2024 NFL draft. The offensive tackle class is deep, and Washington could target at least two tackles with its nine picks.

Commanders to host Yale offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie on top 30 visit

The Commanders will host one of the draft’s most intriguing prospects on a top 30 visit.

We know the Washington Commanders need help at offensive tackle. The Commanders entered the offseason, possibly needing to upgrade at both tackle positions. Washington then released left tackle Charles Leno Jr. ahead of free agency, meaning the Commanders needed a new left tackle in 2023.

Washington has yet to sign an offensive tackle in free agency. As of now, Andrew Wylie, who struggled at right tackle last season, is slated to start again on the right side

The Commanders will address the offensive tackle position in the draft. They’ve already scheduled a top-30 visit with Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan. Now, we can add another name to that list.

According to Justin Melo of The Draft Network, the Commanders will host Yale offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie on a visit.

Amegadjie is a fascinating prospect. He has tremendous size (6-foot-5, 326) with over 36″ arms. With a background in basketball, Amegadjie also possesses excellent footwork. The FCS All-American told Dane Brugler of The Athletic that he was the “most interesting prospect in the draft.”

Amegadjie is an exciting prospect due to his size, athleticism and pedigree. He is also still relatively new to football, meaning he could be one of the more undervalued prospects in this class.

Commanders agree to terms with Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti

Do the Commanders have their new left guard?

For the second consecutive season, the Washington Commanders are expected to sign a member of the Kansas City Chiefs starting offensive line.

Last offseason, the Commanders signed Andrew Wylie to a two-year deal to be their right tackle. On Monday, Washington general manager Adam Peters agreed to terms with Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti on a three-year deal worth up to $16 million.

Allegretti, 27, entered the NFL as a seventh-round draft pick of the Chiefs in the 2019 NFL draft. For his career, the 6-foot-4, 310-pound Allegretti has appeared in 74 games with 13 starts.

Mostly a backup in his career, Allegretti started in the AFC championship game and the Super Bowl in place of the injured Joe Thuney. It was in the Super Bowl that Allegretti tore the UCL in his elbow and played through it for his third championship ring.

Allegretti will presumably become Washington’s new left guard.

5 potential salary cap casualties for the Commanders in 2024

We look at five players who could be salary cap casualties for the Commanders in 2024.

The Washington Commanders could look a lot different in 2024. After finishing 4-13 and losing their final eight games, Washington fans will welcome change.

The Commanders have nine picks in the 2024 NFL draft, including the No. 2 overall pick and three of the top 40 selections. Washington will most likely find its quarterback of the future between Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels at No. 2.

The draft isn’t the only way to rebuild Washington’s roster. The Commanders have over $73 million in salary cap space in 2024. That’s No. 1 in the NFL, according to Over the Cap. Of course, Washington has numerous free agents it must decide on, including cornerback Kendall Fuller, safety Kam Curl and wide receiver Curtis Samuel.

While new GM Adam Peters stated the Commanders would build through the draft, he said Washington would use free agency to supplement the roster.

While the Commanders currently have an estimated $73 million in available cap space for 2024, that number could grow significantly if they decide to move on from some veterans.

We preview five veterans who could be cap casualties this offseason.

All contract numbers are courtesy of Over the Cap.

Where are the Commanders in the Week 14 offensive line rankings?

The Commanders continue to fall in the offensive line power rankings.

It hasn’t been a good year for Washington’s offensive line. Last offseason, it was no secret that the Commanders needed to upgrade the offensive line. Washington did sign two offensive line starters early in free agency, but center Nick Gates, who signed a three-year deal, was benched several weeks ago.

Andrew Wylie, who signed a two-year to start at right tackle, has struggled badly with opposing pass rushers all season. Quarterback Sam Howell was once on pace to shatter David Carr’s NFL single-season record of 76 sacks and has been sacked 58 times.

Howell has done a much better job of getting rid of the ball quicker over the last six weeks and is taking fewer sacks. However, as we saw in last week’s loss to Miami, he remains under constant duress.

Howell gets a break in Week 14 as the Commanders finally have a bye week.

So, where is Washington in Pro Football Focus Week 14 offensive line power rankings?

The Commanders fall to No. 26, down two spots from Week 13. Here’s what PFF had to say about Washington’s offensive line:

Projected starters entering bye:
  • Giving up 14 total pressures — including three sacks — on 29 dropbacks, the Washington offensive line ranked just 24th out of 26 teams in pass-blocking efficiency in Week 13.
  • Chris Paul’s 29.6 pass-blocking grade this season ranks just 72nd out of 76 guards in the NFL.
Best player: Sam Cosmi
  • Cosmi earned an 88.4 pass-blocking grade against the Dolphins, which led all offensive linemen — regardless of position — in Week 13.

Paul entered the lineup at the same time as Tyler Larsen. Larsen replaced Gates, who was struggling, while Paul replaced Saahdiq Charles, who was injured. Regardless of who has played, it’s been a struggle.

Currently 4-9, the Commanders are likely to have a top-five pick — perhaps even higher — in the 2024 NFL draft, which could put them in a position to select elite left tackle prospect Olu Fashanu of Penn State.

WATCH: This sack highlights the Commanders’ protection issues

This one sack perfectly explains Washington’s pass-protection issues.

The Dallas Cowboys had just kicked a field goal to go up 23-10 on the Washington Commanders early in the fourth quarter of their Thanksgiving Day matchup Thursday at AT&T Stadium.

With how the Commanders had moved the ball during the game, holding the Cowboys to a field goal felt like a win and kept Washington within two scores.

However, as soon as the Commanders got the ball back, disaster struck, and the game changed.

Quarterback Sam Howell dropped back to pass on first-and-10, but was met with immediate pressure to his right from Dallas star linebacker Micah Parsons. Parsons had driven right tackle Andrew Wylie into the backfield. Howell initially avoided the sack, but Parsons didn’t give up.

Once he pushed Wylie aside, only right guard Sam Cosmi was in his way on his quest to bring down Howell.

Here’s the play:

What a disaster.

What comes to your mind when you see this? Obviously, seeing Wylie beaten so badly is difficult to unsee. However, what was right guard Sam Cosmi doing here?

This is pathetic on every level. When you want to criticize Howell, look no further than this play, as it encapsulates all of Washington’s pass protection issues.

Why didn’t Cosmi immediately help Wylie with Parsons? Instead, it’s like, “Here’s a clear path to my quarterback.”

Whoever is Washington’s new coach and general manager next year will have a busy offseason retooling the offensive line. While replacing all five current starters would be difficult, a case could be made that it should be done.

It should be an interesting offseason.

Week 11 picks: Who the experts are taking in Eagles vs. Chiefs

Philadelphia and Kansas City are just days away from a Monday night showdown and we’re looking at who the NFL experts are picking in Eagles vs. Chiefs

After a bye week that should allow both teams a renewed freshness, the Eagles and Chiefs are set for a semi-Super Bowl rematch at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on ESPN’s Monday Night Football.

The two teams last met on Feb. 12 in Super Bowl LVII.

Kansas City defeated Philadelphia 38-35 in that matchup to earn their third Lombardi Trophy in franchise history. The Chiefs enter Monday’s matchup on top of the AFC with a 7-2 record after defeating the Miami Dolphins 21-14 in Germany on Nov. 5.

Kansas City is looking to lock up an eighth-straight AFC West title.

Philadelphia is 8-1 and on top of the NFC East after a 33-28 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9.

With kickoff fast approaching, we’re looking at who the NFL experts are picking.

Commanders RT Andrew Wylie: ‘It’s on us five up front’ to protect QB Sam Howell

Commanders RT Andrew Wylie says the OL must do better in protecting Sam Howell.

Andrew Wylie is in his first season with the Washington Commanders. The former Kansas City Chief signed a two-year deal with the Commanders in the offseason and has started the first seven games at right tackle.

Wylie has struggled at times, but he isn’t alone. Washington has allowed 40 sacks through seven games. David Carr set an NFL record by being sacked 76 times in 2002, a record quarterback Sam Howell is on pace to shatter.

After Sunday’s loss to the New York Giants, Wylie spoke to the media after the game, and he was visibly upset after the Commanders allowed six more sacks in the loss.

“Very frustrating seeing 14’s jersey at the end of every game,” Wylie said.

“It’s on us five up front, plain and simple, and it’s something we need to correct.”

Wylie is right. The offensive line needs to be better. Washington head coach Ron Rivera went into the offseason knowing how bad the offensive line was last offseason, so the Commanders signed Wylie and Nick Gates and moved Sam Cosmi and Saahdiq Charles to guard.

For his part, Howell has shouldered the blame for many of the sacks, correctly saying he needs to get rid of the ball faster. He’s also correct, but Howell didn’t stand a chance on Sunday.

The sacks are a collective effort. The offensive line, Howell and the coaching staff all need to do better.

Bills pressured Commanders QB Sam Howell on 69% of his dropbacks

At one point it was even higher.

Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell said all the right things after a humiliating 37-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Howell was sacked nine times and threw four interceptions in the game after winning his first three NFL starts.

Howell took responsibility for the sacks, acknowledging he held the ball too long. As for the turnovers, he was trying to make plays, which sometimes led him to force the ball.

Never once did Howell blame anyone else.

The truth is Howell is responsible for some of those sacks. But it’s also true that Washington’s offensive tackles have also struggled in pass protection, particularly right tackle Andrew Wylie.

According to Next Gen Stats, Howell was pressured on 69.2% of his 39 dropbacks, the second-highest pressure rate ever recorded in the NGS era.

At one point in the game, the Bills pressured Howell on nearly 80% of his dropbacks.

The offensive line was a hot topic throughout the offseason. Did head coach Ron Rivera do enough to improve a unit that struggled last season? The Commanders have four new starters on the offensive line and, through three games, look improved in the three interior positions. Left tackle Charles Leno Jr. isn’t perfect, but he’s not the complete liability many believe him to be.

It’s Wylie at right tackle that’s been the biggest concern. Will he improve? Will offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy scheme him more help on the right side?

One thing is certain: Howell can’t continue to take hits like this every week. Some of that is on him, and some is on the offensive line. This is a big week for Washington and its coaching staff.

Studs and duds from Commanders’ loss to Bills

The list of studs is an extremely short one.

The Washington Commanders fell to 2-1 on the season after Sunday’s embarrassing 37-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

If you’re looking for positives from this one, you came to the wrong place. The Commanders were sacked nine times, had five turnovers, including four Sam Howell interceptions and the defense did not sack Bills quarterback Josh Allen one time in 32 dropbacks.

Football is indeed a team sport, and Washington’s loss on Sunday was a team loss. Plenty of blame to go around for the Commanders.

Now it’s time for our weekly edition of studs and duds, but this one will be a bit different. There’s only one stud this week — and we were being generous.