Tag: Brandon Coleman

Could the Commanders reunite with a familiar face before training camp?

Could the Commanders look to reunite with a familiar face?

Everyone on the outside believes the Washington Commanders must still address the offensive tackle position.

Ahead of this offseason, the Commanders released veteran left tackle Charles Leno Jr. — their left tackle for the past three seasons. Washington already needed help at the position, so releasing Leno ensured that the new general manager, Adam Peters, would be busy adding a new starter through free agency or the NFL draft.

Peters was busy in free agency, including adding new starters at center and left guard. However, Washington’s only free-agent move at offensive tackle was re-signing veteran Cornelius Lucas. Lucas has been with Washington since 2020 and has been a reliable swing tackle for the past four seasons, often filling in at both tackle positions.

Surely, the Lucas signing was to retain him for depth purposes.

In the 2024 NFL draft, Washington selected quarterback Jayden Daniels at No. 2 overall. No surprise there. Many assumed the Commanders would use some of their draft capital to move back into the first round to select an offensive tackle. They tried but to no avail.

Instead of reaching on a tackle in the second round, the Commanders stuck to their board and selected TCU’s Brandon Coleman with the No. 67 overall pick.

Both Coleman and Lucas worked with the first team throughout the offseason program. Washington believes Coleman has big-time potential at offensive tackle.

With a rookie quarterback, though, do the Commanders have enough?

Lorenzo Reyna of Pro Football Network recently named one free-agent signing every team should make before training camp. Reyna said the Commanders should re-sign Leno.

Like the Tennessee Titans, the Washington Commanders have a young passer to keep intact in Jayden Daniels. Charles Leno Jr. can be brought back for experience and depth reasons, having spent the last three years in D.C., starting in 47 total games.

On paper, this sounds plausible. But, remember, one week after he was released, Leno underwent hip surgery. How is Leno these days? Does he still want to play? He will be 33 in October.

Washington’s offensive line struggled in recent seasons, and Leno often received too much blame. He was much more solid than some fans realized. However, a reunion doesn’t appear to be in the cards. The Commanders seem content to head into camp and see how the current roster shapes up before adding another veteran.

2025 NFL mock draft: Commanders land star left tackle in Round 1

Washington finds its left tackle in this way-too-early 2025 mock draft.

The Washington Commanders had a massive hole at left tackle heading into the 2024 NFL draft. However, with the No. 2 overall pick and needing a quarterback, Washington selected Jayden Daniels.

Understanding the need to protect the new quarterback, the Commanders attempted to move back into the first round and select an offensive tackle in what was a deep class for the position. Feeling the cost was too high, Washington traded down in the second round, meaning it would have three second-round picks and two third-round picks.

With its three second-round picks, the Commanders selected Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton, cornerback Mike Sainristil and Kansas State tight end Ben Sinnott.

With their first third-round pick, Washington selected offensive lineman Brandon Coleman. The goal is for Coleman to compete with veteran Cornelius Lucas at left tackle.

But what if Coleman can’t beat out Lucas? That means the Commanders will once again be looking for a left tackle in the 2025 NFL draft.

Speaking of the 2025 NFL draft, Matt Miller of ESPN recently unveiled a new mock draft. He has Washington picking fifth (Miller used ESPN’s Football Power Index for the potential draft order) and finally finding its left tackle.

The player: Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr.

If the draft were tomorrow, we’d be talking about left tackle and edge rusher as massive needs for the Commanders. That could change between now and April, but general manager Adam Peters could definitely address the blind side of the line; Washington has to protect quarterback Jayden Daniels after allowing 65 sacks last season (tied for second most). Banks is a prototypical left tackle with a powerful 324-pound frame, and the junior has allowed just two sacks over his two full seasons starting for the Longhorns.

If Washington struggles again this season, you can bet drafting a tackle would be a high priority. Even if Coleman proves to be an answer at offensive tackle, the Commanders will need two tackles next offseason. Banks could prove difficult to pass up. The 6-foot-4, 324-pound Banks is a smooth athlete with excellent footwork who Washington could pair with Daniels for the next decade.

The Commanders hope Coleman proves he’s the answer so they can focus on other positions, such as adding a dynamic edge rusher.

Commanders have one of the NFL’s most glaring roster holes ahead of training camp

The Commanders still have one glaring question mark ahead of training camp.

New Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters knew he needed to fix the offensive line during his first offseason. The good news is Peters had around $90 million in salary cap space and nine picks in the 2024 NFL draft to improve a unit that allowed 65 sacks last season.

The Commanders signed many players, including two starting offensive linemen, and spent one of their nine picks on a lineman. Yet, here we are, three weeks from training camp, and Washington’s offensive line remains a big question mark.

Tyler Biadasz and Nick Allegretti are the new starters at center and left guard, respectively. Biadasz was a solid center for Dallas over the previous four seasons, while Allegretti was Kansas City’s top reserve, who thrived when called upon. Both represent upgrades for the Commanders, even if they aren’t Pro Bowl-level players.

Washington re-signed Cornelius Lucas at left tackle. He has started 31 games for the Commanders at right and left tackle over the last four seasons. He’s been solid, but he struggles once he’s required to start several games.

The Commanders used a third-round pick on Brandon Coleman. Some NFL teams viewed Coleman as a guard, but his measurables favor him playing tackle.

Will this offensive line be good enough to protect a rookie quarterback (Jayden Daniels)?

According to Kevin Patra of NFL.com, Washington’s offensive line remains one of the league’s 10 most significant roster holes ahead of training camp. In fact, Patra ranked the Commanders’ O-Line at No. 4.

Jayden Daniels’ blind side sits in a precarious spot. Washington didn’t address left tackle in free agency and waited until the draft’s third round before taking a tackle. Thirty-two-year-old journeyman Cornelius Lucas, who’s started double-digit games once in 10 seasons, and third-round pick Brandon Coleman are in line to compete for the gig. Guard Nick Allegretti was a backup in Kansas City for the past five years and will be tasked with locking down the left guard spot. RG Sam Cosmi is a stud and C Tyler Biadasz is solid, but the rest of the group has significant question marks. The hope is that Daniels’ elusiveness can mitigate some of the issues, but that’s asking a lot of a rookie.

Each of Patra’s are valid. Cosmi is a stud and needs to be extended soon. Allegretti is a bit of a mystery, while Biadasz will be just fine. Both tackle spots, including right tackle (Andrew Wylie), represent some concern.

There aren’t many moves Peters can make this close to training camp. When he took the job, he had a laundry list of issues to fix, and he has done an outstanding job of filling those needs. Peters always knew he couldn’t fix every hole in one offseason. But, if Peters is right about the moves he has made, Washington’s offense has a chance to be much better than people expect in 2024.

Rookie OT Brandon Coleman glad to be with the Commanders

Rookie OT Brandon Coleman thankful it was the Commanders who drafted him.

“It’s been great feeling. It’s exciting to see the other guys and coaches. Really able to feel what this place is ahout,” said new Commanders offensive tackle Brandon Coleman.

Coleman sat down last week with Bryan Colbert Jr. for an episode of Raising Hail with the Rookies. Early on, Coleman conveyed his excitement to get here (Ashburn) and to get to work.

When receiving Adam Peters’s draft night phone call, Coleman said he was walking around, not knowing what to do. When the call ended, he suddenly became emotional. “I was really happy that a team believes in me like they do. I’m at a place where I am wanted, and I’m able to compete.”

Coleman was not surprised when the Commanders made the call, citing he had been chosen to be one of the 30 the Commanders invited to come for a visit, and he thought it had gone well. The former TCU lineman insists he has been asked several times, and he really believes his best visit was here with the Commanders.

It is definitely worth noting that Coleman was not asked by Colbert about the facilities and that it was Coleman who volunteered, that he didn’t need to go to the place with the best facilities as long as he had a place where you could compete and a place where you can grow in.”

Translation: During his visit here, Coleman was not impressed with the Ashburn facilities. He did, however, like how his meetings with Peters and Quinn developed.

Watch here for the entire Brandon Coleman interview.

Alvin Kamara’s 74-yard touchdown dash is our Saints Play of the Day

Alvin Kamara’s 74-yard touchdown dash is our Saints Play of the Day. It’s one of the best moments from his dynamite rookie season:

There are 74 days left until the New Orleans Saints open their 2024 season against the Carolina Panthers, making Alvin Kamara’s 74-yard touchdown the play of the day. Kamara set a personal-best in midseason game against the Los Angeles Rams back in 2017, doing more than his fair share to keep the Saints alive after an impressive 8-2 start pitted them against one of the NFC’s better teams.

Facing a 10-0 deficit late in the first quarter, Kamara took matters into his own hands to make the game more competitive. He cut through the Rams defensive front following a lane opened by right guard Larry Warford, then dodged a tackle by Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree to dash into the secondary. A good block from Brandon Coleman sprung him free to the open field and from there it became a footrace. Safety Mark Barron nearly had him at the 15 yard line but Kamara chopped his feet to escape the tackle, strutting into the end zone for a huge touchdown.

The Saints still lost this game — both sides traded field goals until Kamara linked up with Drew Brees on a 15-yard touchdown grab late in regulation, cutting the finally tally to 26-20 — but 2017 proved to be a big season for New Orleans. Saints fans were energized by an 11-5 finish and home playoff win against longtime rival Cam Newton, kicking off the winningest era in team history. And as was the case in this Rams game, Kamara was a key piece to their success.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Free agent offensive tackle David Bakhtiari eager to remind teams how much he has left in the tank

David Bakhtiari claims he’s healthy. Should the Commanders be interested?

In case you haven’t heard, the Washington Commanders could use some help at left tackle. The Commanders released former left tackle Charles Leno Jr. ahead of free agency, but Leno was unlikely to be in the team’s plans in 2024.

Many assumed Washington would be aggressive in landing a left tackle in the 2024 NFL draft. After the Commanders selected quarterback Jayden Daniels at No. 2 overall, Washington was aggressive in attempting to move back into the first round but was unable to strike a deal.

Instead, the Commanders used the second pick in the third round — No. 67 overall — on TCU offensive tackle Brandon Coleman. While some believe Coleman will be better at guard, the Commanders believe he’s an NFL tackle with an untapped upside.

Even with Coleman, who is no sure thing to start early, the Commanders could use more help. As of now, veteran Cornelius Lucas will start Week 1 at left tackle. While Lucas has proven to be a capable short-term option for years, the Commanders would probably be more comfortable with him in his normal swing tackle role.

However, Washington’s options are limited. One potential option, though, is quite intriguing. Former Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari, who has dealt with injuries since 2020, is healthy and ready to return to finish his career on a strong note.

Before he was hit with multiple knee injuries, Bakhtiari was a five-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler.

“A lot of other people wanted me to just kind of grit through it, but no one experiences what you truly experience,” Bakhtiari told Adam Schefter on his podcast via ESPN. “Look, I’ve been gritting through it for three years. I’m in constant pain. I’m so happy now to be on the other side of it and get the actual surgery that I needed because my knee was not in a good place.”

Bakhtiari isn’t looking to sign with someone in December and help for a playoff push. He wants to play all season and possibly more.

“My goal right now is just to make sure that I not only fully recover but I can withstand and play the game that I want to play but also play and be there for a team no matter what,” Bakhtiari said. “I’m not a reliever guy; I am your cornerstone guy. Someone that’s not only going to play in September but in December and into February and obviously hopefully for another couple of years.”

How does that sound for Washington? We’ve written about the possibility of Washington signing Bakhtiari before but admitted it was unlikely due to his age and health. Now, Bakhtiari doesn’t believe his health will be an issue.

Does this change things for the Commanders?

Bakhtiari said he wants to win a Super Bowl in his short playing window, but that’s unlikely to happen in Washington right now. Still, if the Commanders come calling, Bakhtiari is unlikely to turn down the opportunity if other teams aren’t interested.

 

How can the Commanders solve their biggest remaining hole ahead of training cap?

What should the Commanders do at left tackle?

It was a foregone conclusion entering the offseason that the Washington Commanders would make a move at offensive tackle. The Commanders were busy during the early stages of free agency, signing over a dozen players within the first week.

However, none of those players were an offensive tackle. That’s not to say Washington didn’t address the offensive line. The Commanders signed center Tyler Biadasz and guard Nick Allegretti, both of whom will likely start. Washington did re-sign veteran tackle Cornelius Lucas, bringing him back for his fifth season with the franchise.

The Commanders still had the 2024 NFL draft, and many believed they would move back into the first round for one of the offensive tackles in what was a deep class. The first round came and went, and Washington did not move back into the first, although there were attempts to do so.

The Commanders did use a high third-round pick on TCU offensive lineman Brandon Coleman. Washington said Coleman would be a tackle, and while others view him as a guard, his film and athletic profile is promising.

We’ve discussed multiple veteran options for the Commanders. While none would be long-term solutions, there just aren’t many players who could come in and start Week 1 at left tackle.

Bleacher Report recently looked at seven teams that didn’t address their major holes in the 2024 NFL draft and suggested what these teams could do to improve.

Washington’s tackle problem was listed.

Here’s what B/R said about the Commanders’ tackle need:

New center Tyler Biadasz and third-year guard Sam Cosmi are the only offensive linemen on the squad proven to be at least average starters. The rest—left tackle Cornelius Lucas, left guard Nick Allegretti and right tackle Andrew Wylie—are all replacement level or worse.

The blindside commands priority. It always has and it always will. With a rookie quarterback in the building, especially one with some of the pocket-management concerns Jayden Daniels brings, the priority on sorting out the position is raised even higher.

As we sit here in June, the Commanders’ options at left tackle are Lucas, Cosmi and third-round rookie Brandon Coleman.

Lucas is hardly a serious consideration. He’s been a fine spot starter for the Commanders for half a decade now, but if he was good enough to be locked into a starting job, he would be by now.

Cosmi is an intriguing option but not a surefire answer. He played both left and right tackle in college, as well as right tackle for most of his time with the Commanders. However, he has yet to play left tackle in the NFL, in part because he lacks the range and length you see from the best blindside protectors. It’s why he’s kicked inside to guard.

Even if Cosmi does OK at left tackle, that just makes the guard spot worse in turn. Being better at left tackle is probably more valuable, but the Commanders would just be moving one quality lineman to a different position rather than adding another good player to the line. That doesn’t solve much.

Then there’s the rookie Coleman. Right off the bat, it’s hard to trust any third-round tackle to be an immediate positive presence on the left side. He is also coming from an Air Raid-style offense that doesn’t really pass protect with the same rules or spacing as the NFL. That’s going to create a steep learning curve. Chances are Coleman won’t be ready for the spotlight Week 1.

The Commanders should be in the market for the handful of remaining left tackles out there.

D.J. Humphries, Donovan Smith, and David Bakhtiari were all named as potential signings for Washington. We’ve discussed each. Humphries tore his ACL at the end of the season and will not be ready for the early part of the season. He may not be able to play at all. Bakhtiari has been injured for much of the past three seasons. Smith would be a potential option for one season.

As far as the potential of Cosmi moving back to tackle, that would be a horrible move for him and the team. He has All-Pro potential at guard and is heading into a contract year. Peters and Quinn see Cosmi’s future at guard, too.

Coleman and Lucas both worked at left tackle during OTAs and minicamp. Washington’s ultimate outcome would be Coleman winning the job.

Commanders sign rookie offensive tackle Brandon Coleman

All of Washington’s rookie class is now signed and ready for training camp next month.

The Washington Commanders have now locked up their entire 2024 NFL draft class. On Friday, Washington signed the No. 2 overall pick, quarterback Jayden Daniels, the No. 53 overall pick, tight end Ben Sinnott, and the No. 67 overall pick Brandon Coleman.

With that, all of the Commanders’ rookies are signed and ready for training camp, which begins later next month.

Coleman, the third pick in the third round, was Washington’s last rookie to sign. The Commanders entered the week with five members of their rookie class unsigned. Second-round picks Johnny Newton (36th overall) and cornerback Mike Sainristil (50th overall) signed earlier this week.

Some teams scouted Coleman as a guard, but the Commanders believed he could be a starting offensive tackle. He played both positions in college, and during this week’s minicamp, Coleman and veteran Cornelius Lucas rotated with the first team at left tackle.

Commanders rookie OT Brandon Coleman working with the first-team offense

The rookie getting in some work with the first team at left tackle.

On the second day of the Washington Commanders’ minicamp, rookie Brandon Coleman worked with the first-team offense at left tackle.

What does this mean? Well, nothing for now.

When Washington opened minicamp on Tuesday, veteran Cornelius Lucas worked with the first team. Lucas is the presumed starter, but that’s not a given. Head coach Dan Quinn has stressed competition multiple times since taking over. That goes for the left tackle position, too.

Here’s what Zach Selby of commanders.com observed on Wednesday regarding Coleman:

We have more movement on the offensive line. On Tuesday, it was Cornelius Lucas who spent most of his time as the starting left tackle. On Wednesday, it was third-round pick Brandon Coleman’s turn at the position. It’s worth noting that the Commanders have tried multiple players at that spot, so Coleman getting the reps does not mean he is guaranteed to win the job outright. Still, it was a good opportunity for the rookie to see how he stacked up against starting NFL defensive linemen.

Selby is correct; this is an excellent opportunity for Coleman. While the Commanders don’t have an elite edge rusher to practice against, they have multiple veterans who know how to win one-on-one. That’s precisely what Coleman needs to practice against to improve.

The Commanders were criticized for not doing more at offensive tackle. General manager Adam Peters improved the interior of the offensive line by signing center Tyler Biadasz and left guard Nick Allegretti. However, Peters chose to roll with Andrew Wylie at right tackle again and re-sign Lucas to compete with a rookie at left tackle. Lucas is an excellent backup tackle. He has proven that his effectiveness lessens the longer he plays.

If Coleman wins the job and becomes Washington’s long-term starter at left tackle, that would be a massive feather in Peters’ cap.

Commanders NFL Draft grades: Brandon Coleman, OL, TCU

Commanders NFL Draft grade for selecting Brandon Coleman, OL, TCU in the third round

The Washington Commanders trotted out one of the worst offensive lines in the entire league every week last season. With the addition of new quarterback Jayden Daniels being drafted in the first round, the team made it a priority to improve the protection around their newfound signal caller. They took a step towards that improvement here with the selection of TCU offensive lineman Brandon Coleman.

Coleman does not quite project as an immediate starter and will instead be locked into camp battles for either the backup tackle spot or potentially even as a starting guard. With plenty of experience at either spot, Coleman should see the field eventually on this uneven offensive line.

Versatile, fundamentally sound, and possessing good athleticism and quickness, Coleman possesses plenty of traits of an ideal depth piece along the offensive line. Though Coleman has physical limitations that may keep him from being a long-term starter, it’s hard to find such pieces in the third round.

Grade: B-