Tag: Braeden Daniels

Eagles sign former Commanders/Ron Rivera draft pick

Two of Rivera’s former draft picks find new teams.

The Eagles felt they needed another offensive lineman under their roof, so they signed a lineman the Commanders released earlier this season.

As the Commanders approached opening day, they released offensive guard/tackle Braeden Daniels.

The Commanders drafted Daniels in the fourth round, 118th overall, in the 2023 NFL draft. It was Ron Rivera’s last draft, beginning what would be his final season in Washington.

Daniels was noticeably behind the other offensive linemen during his rookie training camp, so the Commanders placed him on season-ending injured reserve in hopes that he would develop and be ready to contribute in 2024.

However, Daniels was released on August 27 by the new administration of head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters. Two days later, the Houston Texans signed Daniels to their practice squad; however, he was released after only two weeks.

The following week, the Chargers signed Daniels to their practice squad before releasing him only five days later. Thus, in summary, Daniels was drafted in the fourth round, and now, in his second season, he has yet to make an active roster during the regular season.

Three other former Commanders were also signed to practice squads on Wednesday.

The Cardinals (4-4), tied for the lead in the NFC West, signed former Commanders linebacker Milo Eifler. Playing with Washington in 2021 and 2022, Eifler appeared in 13 games. His biggest moment was tackling the punter in the 2022 season finale against the Cowboys.

The Carolina Panthers (1-7) signed receiver/returner Dax Milne. Drafted in the seventh round (258 overall), Milne played in 28 games for Washington in 2021 and 2022. He collected 15 receptions for 120 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown in a home loss to the Vikings in 2022. Returning 40 punts, he had a long return of 19 yards.

Finally, kicker Riley Patterson was signed by the Jets. Patterson kicked in the preseason for Washington before being released on August 22.

Chargers sign Tony Jefferson to active roster

In wake of Derwin James’ suspension, the Chargers signed Tony Jefferson to the active roster. Here is what it means.

Tony Jefferson is officially on the active roster.

The Chargers announced on Thursday that they had signed the veteran to an active roster contract, moving him up from the practice squad in a permanent fashion. Los Angeles had one roster spot available due to the suspension of safety Derwin James, who does not count against the 53-man roster limit this week while he serves his suspension.

Jefferson will add depth to the safety room with James out. Alohi Gilman and Elijah Molden will be the presumed starters, with AJ Finley coming on when LA brings a third safety onto the field and Jefferson primarily contributing on special teams.

Jefferson had been elevated from the practice squad in Week 2 to fill in for an injured Gilman, so this will be his second game active for the Chargers in the regular season.

To fill Jefferson’s practice squad spot, the Chargers also signed offensive lineman Braeden Daniels, a fourth round pick by the Commanders in last year’s draft. Daniels, a Utah alum, has played guard and tackle and also has experience at center from his time in college. He could potentially be elevated to add depth for Los Angeles given the number of injuries on the offensive line coming into Sunday’s game with the Chiefs.

Steelers signing former Broncos offensive tackle

The Steelers are signing former Broncos offensive tackle Calvin Anderson after losing Troy Fautanu to a knee injury.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing veteran offensive tackle Calvin Anderson, 28, after losing Troy Fautanu to a knee injury, according to a report from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Anderson (6-5, 305 pounds) entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Texas with the New England Patriots in 2019. After being waived by the Patriots, Anderson was picked up by the New York Jets, who placed him on their practice squad to begin the 2019 season.

The Denver Broncos signed Anderson off the Jets’ practice squad to their active roster four games into the 2019 campaign. He went on to spend the next three seasons with the Broncos, serving as a backup swing tackle.

Anderson dressed for 41 games in Denver, earning 12 starts. After his contract expired with the Broncos in 2023, Anderson returned to the Patriots. He appeared in five games last fall, earning two starts. New England released him from injured reserve in August and Anderson will now get a fresh start in Pittsburgh.

After losing Mike McGlinchey to a knee injury, Denver brought in tackles Braeden Daniels and Cameron Fleming for workouts but did not sign either of them. Alex Palczewski started in the place of McGlinchey on Sunday and he played well, so the Broncos seem set at the position for now.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos bring in familiar face for offensive line tryouts

The Broncos brought in Cam Fleming and Braeden Daniels for tryouts following the Mike McGlinchey injury.

After losing right tackle Mike McGlinchey to a knee injury, the Denver Broncos brought in two offensive linemen for tryouts on Thursday, including a familiar face.

The Broncos worked out Braeden Daniels and Cameron Fleming, according to KPRC-TV’s Aaron Wilson. Both players have experience at right tackle.

Fleming (6-5, 320 pounds) played in Denver from 2021-2023. He started 20 games for the Broncos over three seasons, including 15 starts in 2022 (splitting time between right and left tackle). Fleming dressed for six games last fall and had one fill-in start. He has been a free agent since March.

Daniels (6-4, 297 pounds) played left tackle, left guard and right tackle at Utah before being picked by the Washington Commanders in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft. After spending his rookie season on injured reserve with a torn rotator cuff, Daniels failed to make Washington’s 53-man roster this summer.

Daniels then signed with the Houston Texans’ practice squad in August. He was cut on Tuesday and is now a free agent.

If the Broncos add an offensive tackle, they will need to make a corresponding move as the active roster and practice squad are both full going into the team’s Week 3 showdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Commanders OL continues to have some question marks

The final two preseason games are huge for several offensive linemen.

Two weeks ago all the word out of Ashburn was so positive regarding Brandon Coleman.

Coleman had been taking reps at right tackle and left tackle. He was moving better than any of the tackles on the current roster. Everything was said to be going well for him.

Commanders fans were excited, and word was spreading that the Commanders had found their franchise quarterback and franchise left tackle in Adam Peters’ first draft as Commanders general manager.

12 days later, however, offensive tackle has become again a position of uncertainty and concern.

Head coach Dan Quinn stated Coleman was day-to-day or week-to-week with a pectoral/shoulder issue. Coleman will most likely not see action in Miami this week.

As much as we would rather see him in the lineup, what’s more important is to allow Coleman to heal and be ready to get some good reps in preparation for the Sept. 8 season opener in Tampa.

The other four starting spots on the line are pretty much settled. Nick Allegretti, Tyler Biadasz, Sam Cosmi, and Andrew Wylie are still probably upgrades from the 2023 season.

Going a bit further, if the Commanders were to keep nine or ten linemen, seven of the spots seem assured. In addition to the four mentioned above, there are Cornelius Lucas and Coleman at left tackle and then Michael Deiter, the top reserve inside lineman who has been getting the most reps at both guard and center.

This leaves two or three spots about which we can not yet be certain. Last year, we were told that Mason Brooks was really tough and aggressive and might develop nicely. Brooks was cut on Wednesday.

So, this week, watch for the play of reserves Ricky Stromberg (C/G), Julian Good-Jones (G), Chris Paul (G), and J.C. Hassenauer (G) and tackles Braeden Daniels, Trent Scott, Armani Taylor-Prioleau, and David Nwogwugwu.

NFL analyst: Commanders OL will be outmatched in NFC East

Will the offensive line be Washington be a major problem again in 2024?

What does Jayden Daniels have to do to get better every day?

That was the question set forth to ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky on Monday during the “NFL Live” program. Orlovsky did not answer with an answer focused upon the NFL inexperience of a rookie quarterback, as one might expect.

No, Orlovsky aimed his reply at what he sees is going to make things harder for Daniels in his rookie season. “A feel for dominant defensive lines,” opened Orlovsky.

Orlovsky then elaborated, “If we are being honest, in that division (NFC East), every time he plays the teams that are in that division, his offensive line will be outmatched by the defensive line both times by Philly, the Giants and Dallas. This is an offensive line that struggled (2023).“

“One of the ‘flaws’ of Jayden Daniels throughout his last two years at LSU was, is he holding on (to the ball)? Is he trying to do too much? Is he running around a little bit? Get the ball out of your hands, play a little faster.”

More from Orlovsky:

“He is a significantly greater talent than I ever was, but the biggest jump from college to the NFL comes from how fast that defensive line moves on a consistent basis. Just getting an understanding, a feel for how quickly those defensive lines will collapse that pocket on you.”

Orlovsky certainly revealed he does not believe the Commanders’ offensive line will match up well in any of their six NFC East divisional games. If Orlovsky is correct, should there be great concern for the health and confidence of Daniels playing behind this offensive line?

In fairness to general manager Adam Peters, he has made significant changes to the Commanders offensive line. Gone from the 2023 unit are starters Charles Leno Jr, Saahdiq Charles and Nick Gates.

Peters brought in free agents guard Nick Allegretti (Chiefs) and center Tyler Biadasz (Cowboys), who are expected to start. Then Peters also drafted tackle Brandon Coleman (TCU) in the third round.

Two starters return in right guard Sam Cosmi and right tackle Andrew Wylie. Others on the current roster are tackles Cornelius Lucas, Braeden Daniels, Alex Akingbulu, and Trent Scott, as well as guards Chris Paul, Mason Brooks, Michael Deiter, Julian Good-Jones, and center Ricky Stromberg.

Commanders fare poorly in 2023 NFL draft re-grade

The early returns aren’t good for Washington, but a new regime brings hope.

Ron Rivera’s final season in charge of the Washington Commanders was horrendous. The Commanders finished 4-13 and fielded the NFL’s worst defenses, and Rivera was relieved of his duties in January.

Rivera’s final legacy with Washington is his 2023 NFL draft class. The early returns aren’t good. Cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, the Commanders’ first-round pick, was benched twice. Second-round pick Quan Martin showed flashes when he was allowed to play, while third-round pick Ricky Stromberg barely played, made no impact and missed the second half of the season with an injury.

Fourth-round pick Braeden Daniels likely wasn’t making the team out of training camp and was placed on injured reserve. Fifth-round pick K.J. Henry showed promise in the second half of the season, while sixth-round pick Chris Rodriguez Jr. thrived in a limited role. Finally, seventh-round selection Andre Jones Jr. didn’t do much but has tools.

So, if we graded this class after one year, it wouldn’t be a passing grade.

Diante Lee of The Athletic recently regraded the entire 2023 NFL draft, assigning grades to all 32 NFL teams. Lee placed Washington under the final category: A step backward/Incomplete. Only three teams were in this category, and Lee offered the following analysis:

Washington Commanders: D-minus

Emmanuel Forbes (No. 16) had some rough moments, to the point that he was benched during the 2023 season. Safety Quan Martin (No. 47) played in the slot by necessity as a rookie, but it’s not clear if that’s the best spot for him in Dan Quinn’s defense. After trading away two starting edge rushers last year, this team cannot afford to have its early picks sitting on the bench.

That’s a deserving grade. We could make the case you could give Washington an F. The good news here is that new head coach Dan Quinn brings hope. Quinn hired an all-star staff, including new defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., known for his work with defensive backs. That’s good news for Forbes and Martin.

If Forbes and Martin turn out to be hits, while others, like Henry and Rodriguez, can carve out roles, this draft will not look nearly as bad in a couple of years.

After one week of free agency, what is the Commanders biggest need?

The Commanders still need help at different positions, but one stands out.

With the first week of the 2024 NFL free agency cycle winding to a close, what is the Commanders’ biggest area of need?

Washington signed 14 new unrestricted free agents: QB Marcus Mariota, RB Austin Ekeler, TE Zach Ertz, C Tyler Biadasz, G Nick Allegretti, DL Dorance Armstrong, DL Dante Fowler Jr., DL Clelin Ferrell, LB Bobby Wagner, LB Frankie Luvu, LB Anthony Pittman, S Jeremy Chinn, K Brandon McManus and LS Tyler Ott.

The Commanders also signed three of their own unrestricted free agents: DL Efe Obada, S Jeremy Reaves and WR Jamison Crowder.

Adam Peters has done a great job of being able to sign players to meet needs at center, guard, edge rusher and linebacker. With Jacoby Brissett wishing to reunite with offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt in New England, Peters also signed Mariota to be a veteran who has lived under the pressure of being the second overall draft selection (2015).

At this point, there is an area of concern, and that would be at offensive tackle. After all, they will need to protect their quarterback better in 2024. The tackles currently on the roster are Andrew Wylie, Alex Akingbulu, Trent Scott, and Braeden Daniels. Mason Brooks is another possibility right now listed simply as “OL.”

The new administration and coaching staff could choose to re-sign Cornelius Lucas. Lucas has served well as a swing tackle, moving wherever needed.

Interestingly, for those who have not yet noticed, the current Commanders roster lists Sam Cosmi as a tackle. Cosmi was switched inside from tackle to guard for 2023 and was arguably the best offensive lineman on the team last season.

The Commanders really need to find some tackles soon and in the draft as well.

Commanders place rookie OT Braeden Daniels on reserve/injured list

The move allows Washington to keep another offensive lineman who may be able to help in 2023.

The Washington Commanders placed rookie offensive tackle Braeden Daniels on the reserve/injured list Monday, one day ahead of the NFL deadline for teams to trim rosters from 90 to 53 players.

The move means that’s one less cut the Commanders will need to make on Tuesday. In addition to moving Daniels to the injured list, Washington also cut 12 players. As of Monday evening, the Commanders’ roster sits at 77 players, meaning they must cut 24 players ahead of Tuesday’s 4:00 p.m. ET deadline.

A fourth-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft, Daniels struggled this summer. An All-Pac-12 selection during his time at Utah, many believed the 6-foot-4, 294-pound Daniels would be better at guard in the NFL. However, the Commanders said he would begin his career at offensive tackle.

While some initially felt Daniels being moved to the reserve/injured list was curious, Matthew Paras of The Washington Times reported that he had suffered a torn rotator cuff. If that is indeed the injury, that would sideline for his entire rookie season.

The move allows the Commanders to add a veteran offensive tackle, either via another team’s cuts or someone already on the roster, such as Trent Scott. Charles Leno Jr., Andrew Wylie and Cornelius Lucas are roster locks for the Commanders.

5 offensive players to watch for the Commanders in preseason opener vs. Browns

We identified five offensive players to watch for the Commanders Friday.

The Washington Commanders kick off the 2023 preseason Friday with a trip to Cleveland to face the Browns.

Washington’s starters will play. How much? Head coach Ron Rivera wasn’t about to divulge that information this week, but we should assume that starting quarterback Sam Howell and the offense will play at least two series.

One offensive player who will not play is tight end Logan Thomas. The veteran tight end has dealt with a calf injury over the last week. While the injury isn’t believed to be serious, the Commanders aren’t taking any chances with their 32-year-old starter.

Washington has a new offense in 2023 with Eric Bieniemy in charge. What should we expect to see in the preseason opener?

We identify five Washington players to watch in Friday’s preseason opener.