Tag: Casey Toohill

PFF grades the Bills’ work in free agency

PFF grades the #Bills’ work in free agency:

The Bills have been active in the first wave of NFL free agency, addressing roster needs with players who can be valuable contributors and rotation players in all three phases.

Similarly, letting some players walk in free agency while releasing and trading others has created cap relief and added draft capital while freeing up money to add cost-efficient talent.

Headlined by the additions of WR Curtis Samuel and LB Nicholas Morrow, a mix of new and familiar faces have been signed and re-signed.

While it’s worth noting that additional signings have taken place, including DE Casey Toohill and S Mike Edwards, with more potential moves on the way as the team has reportedly met with S Julian Blackmon and DE Austin Johnson on free agency visits, and still have a number of their own free agents available as well.

Had they been factored in, Toohill, who’s had solid numbers as a depth and rotation player, and Edwards, who has the second most defensive TDs in the NFL since 2021 (5) and two Super Bowl championships with Tampa and Kansas City to his name, may have affected the grade.

Nonetheless, here is the Bills 2024 free agency grade prior to those additions, according to Pro Football Focus…

BUFFALO BILLS

Epenesa has two straight seasons with strong production as a pass rusher, notching pressure rates above 10% and pass-rush grades above 70.0. He’s a big edge who has gotten faster off the ball as he’s developed, and he’ll still be just 25 in Week 1 of 2024, so there could be more improvement ahead.

Jones came out of the gates of the 2023 season on fire as an interior pass rusher, and the continued growth of Ed Oliver has enabled the two to work off each other and weaponize twists and stunts on the interior more effectively. Oliver still has a quick get-off and a bursty second step in his 30s, and Buffalo needed to add more defensive linemen, so why not retain a player you know is a fit as a three- to five-technique?

Buffalo looks ready to move on from the dynamic duo of Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde, who had an incredible run as the starting safety tandem for years. Rapp is a good box defender, and the Bills structured this deal in a way that they can approach it year to year while also buying out two additional years from Rapp.

PFF FREE AGENCY GRADE: B-

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Former Commanders DE Casey Toohill signs with the Bills

Casey Toohill follows Curtis Samuel to Buffalo.

When the Washington Commanders opened last season, their top five defensive ends were slated for free agency after the season. At the NFL trade deadline in October, Washington traded starting defensive ends Montez Sweat and Chase Young.

The trades of Sweat and Young left the Commanders with James Smith-Williams, Casey Toohill, and Efe Obada atop the depth chart, with rookies K.J. Henry and Andre Jones Jr. as the backups.

This offseason, new GM Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn have been rebuilding the position, using free agency to sign Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler Jr. and Clelin Ferrell. Washington did bring back Obada on a one-year deal.

Toohill found a new home on Tuesday, signing a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills.

 

A 2020 seventh-round draft pick of the Eagles, Toohill was claimed off waivers by the Commanders in October of his rookie season. He became a consistent part of Washington’s rotations over the past four seasons, playing in 16 games in each of the past three seasons, making 14 starts.

Toohill had a career-high five sacks in 2023. Toohill has played in 57 games for his career, recording 80 tackles, 20 QB hits, and seven sacks.

Smith-Williams remains a free agent.

 

Commanders DEs Casey Toohill, James Smith-Williams ready for opportunities after trades

Casey Toohill and James Smith-Williams have a massive opportunity in front of them for the remainder of this season.

Heading into the 2023 NFL season, the Washington Commanders had their top five defensive ends headed for free agency in 2024. Chase Young, Montez Sweat, James Smith-Williams, Casey Toohill and Efe Obada were all playing in the final year of their respective contracts.

Now, Young and Sweat are gone after the Washington traded the duo earlier this week ahead of the NFL trade deadline.

Fortunately for the Commanders, they have some depth at defensive end. While no one will confuse Toohill, Smith-Williams, or Obada for Sweat and Young in regards to talent and athleticism, the trio has plenty of experience and has each experienced success.

Toohill, despite limited snaps this season, is third on the team with four sacks, just one behind Young. The fourth-year defensive end from Stanford is eager for an increased role.

“It’s always, in this business, it’s always sad to see people you spend a lot of time with, people you have a lot of respect for, go,” Toohill said. “Obviously, Chase and Tez are incredible players, good friends of both (Smith-Williams) of ours, so that was, sad to see them go. It always is, and that’s a part of the business that never gets easier. So that was a hard day for everyone involved.”

While Toohill will miss Sweat and Young, he understands he and Smith-Williams have a job to do, and they’re prepared.

“I don’t think anything changes in terms of, like James and I, our preparation,” Toohill said. “We’ve been here before, our rookie year, when they were both hurt. Nothing changes; I don’t think you make it a bigger deal than it is. And you just come to work every day and do your absolute best to prepare.”

Toohill is certainly ready for the increased role, but his preparation will not be any different.

“It’s always exciting, but you can’t focus too much on that,” he said. “I don’t think, like I said, much changes, like, I don’t think my preparation changes, whether I was playing 10 reps, or 30 or 40, whatever it is. So, just keeping that same mindset, just enjoying every day here and preparing the best I can, and that’s all I’m focused on.”

What about his good friend Smith-Williams?

“You always want to play as much as you possibly can, right?” Smith-Williams said. “Looking forward to that and preparing the same as I have all year.”

Much like Sweat and Yuong were close, Toohill and Smith-Williams are also close friends. Now, both players have a chance to show the Commanders they should be around in 2024.

5 takeaways on Commanders trading DE Montez Sweat to Bears

Five thoughts on the Montez Sweat trade.

After weeks of speculation, the Washington Commanders did make a move ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline. Washington sent defensive end Montez Sweat to the Chicago Bears for a 2024 second-round pick.

The trade should give the Commanders three picks in the top 50 of the 2024 NFL draft.

Sweat leads Washington with 6.5 sacks in 2023 and is on pace to shatter his previous career-high of nine sacks set in 2020.

While we’ve seen what others think of the move, here are five takeaways from Sweat’s trade to Chicago.

5 takeaways from Commanders’ win over Falcons

Some of our biggest takeaways from the Commanders’ win over Atlanta.

Games like Sunday’s win over the Atlanta Falcons don’t often go the way of the Washington Commanders. Washington defeated Atlanta 24-16 despite being behind in almost every statistical category.

The two key stats where the Commanders were ahead were the most important: The scoreboard and turnovers. Washington forced three turnovers; all three were second-half interceptions from Atlanta quarterback Desmond Ridder, including one from Commanders linebacker Jamin Davis with less than 30 seconds remaining to seal the win.

The win improves Washington to 3-3 with a road game against the New York Giants in Week 7.

Let’s take a look back at the Commanders’ win over the Falcons. Here are five takeaways from Washington’s win.

Studs and duds from Commanders’ win over the Falcons

Who shined in the Commanders’ win over the Falcons? Who struggled?

The Washington Commanders defeated the Atlanta Falcons 24-16 Sunday to end their three-game losing streak. Washington improves to 3-3 on the season.

The Commanders started fast, ending their first drive with a field goal. The Falcons answered, and after the two teams traded punts, wide receiver Jamison Crowder returned a punt 61 yards to set up Washington’s first touchdown.

The Commanders forced a turnover on downs near midfield, and quarterback Sam Howell led another scoring drive, finding Curtis Samuel to take a 17-7 lead. Atlanta kicked a field goal, and the lead was 17-10 entering halftime.

Falcons QB Desmond Ridder was intercepted on the first possession of the second half by Kendall Fuller, and two plays later, Howell found Brian Robinson Jr. for his third touchdown pass.

That would be it for Washington’s scoring. While it looked like the Commanders could run away with the game, they got nothing from their offense, and the defense forced three second-half turnovers to help seal the win.

Who played well for the Commanders? Who struggled?

Here are the studs and duds from Week 6.

Commanders DE Montez Sweat questionable to return with thumb injury

Casey Toohill filling in quite well for the Commanders thus far.

The Atlanta Falcons received the second-half kickoff down 17-10 against the Washington Commanders in Week 6 of NFL action. With the Falcons facing a second-and-7 from their 45-yard line, they handed the ball to the versatile Cordarrelle Patterson. What initially looked like it could be a big play was stopped by defensive end Montez Sweat.

Unfortunately,  Sweat injured his thumb, and the team called him questionable to return.

Sweat’s loss is a big one for Washington, but fortunately for the Commanders, Casey Toohill relieved him and immediately made a play, bringing down Atlanta quarterback Desmond Ridder for a key sack on third down.

Toohill also had another pressure on Ridder.

Studs and duds from Commanders’ Week 17 loss to the Browns

Which players stood out for the Commanders? Which ones did not? Our list of studs and duds from Week 17.

The Washington Commanders had multiple chances to lock down a playoff spot over the last month but failed at every turn, going 0-3-1 in their previous four games before Sunday’s 24-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

The loss officially eliminated the Commanders from the playoffs.

Why did Washington lose? Where do we begin? It was a long day for the Commanders, who led 7-3 at halftime before completely falling apart on both sides of the ball in the second half.

Washington was missing several key players on defense, particularly in the second half when Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jonathan Allen was out. Still, it doesn’t excuse the Commanders’ woeful performance on offense.

WATCH: Commanders celebrate win in Philadelphia with ‘The Griddy’

Casey Toohill celebrates his first NFL touchdown in style.

The Washington Commanders picked up their biggest win of the season Monday night by defeating the previously unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles, 32-21, to improve to 5-5 on the season.

The win is Washington’s fourth in its last five games, who are now 3-1 with Taylor Heinicke as the starting quarterback. Last week, the Commanders held a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter but ultimately failed to do anything offensively in the fourth quarter, allowing Kirk Cousins to lead a game-winning drive in the final seconds to steal a win.

Back to Monday night. The Eagles had one last shot with around five seconds remaining deep in their own territory. Quarterback Jalen Hurts completes a short pass, and the laterals began.

Philadelphia wide receiver Quez Watkins caught the initial pass and then tossed the lateral to DeVonta Smith. Smith was looking for help and found none, tossing the ball behind him where Washington defensive end Casey Toohill happily picked it up for his first NFL touchdown to make the final score 32-21.

The Commanders went nuts. Toohill celebrated with “the Griddy.”

Final injury report for Commanders vs. Eagles, Week 3

Two defensive linemen are out for the Commanders Sunday.

The final injury report for the Washington Commanders’ Week 3 game against the Philadelphia Eagles is in, and they’ll be without two starters for Sunday.

Defensive end Casey Toohill [concussion] and defensive tackle [Daniel Wise] are both out. Toohill and Wise were injured in last week’s loss to the Detroit Lions.

Linebacker David Mayo [ankle[ was listed on the injury report for the first time Friday and is questionable. Also questionable is defensive end James Smith-Williams. The Commanders cannot afford another injury on the defensive line, as Smith-Williams starts opposite Montez Sweat.

Things look brighter for the Eagles. After listing several players on Thursday’s injury report, mostly rest-related, only guard Landon Dickerson missed practice Friday with a foot injury.

If Smith-Williams is unable to go Sunday, expect Washington to activate someone from the practice squad.