The Cowboys signed a former Commanders DE for depth after injuries to Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.
The Dallas Cowboys are 2-2 and one game behind the Washington Commanders for first place in the NFC East. The Cowboys have struggled defensively at times and were hit hard with injuries in last week’s win against the New York Giants.
The Cowboys lost both of their top pass rushers last week, as Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence are expected to miss time.
Dallas is short at defensive end/edge rusher, so it made a move Monday to add some depth. The Cowboys signed defensive end KJ Henry from the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad.
If that name sounds familiar, Henry was a fifth-round pick of the Commanders in the 2023 NFL draft. He played in 10 games for Washington last season, recording 19 tackles, including four for loss and 1.5 sacks in three starts. Washington waived Henry during final cuts in August, and he signed with the Bengals.
He appeared in two games for Cincinnati before he was waived last month and signed to the practice squad.
Henry was a popular player during his short Washington tenure. When he was drafted, his father revealed an old Jeremiah Trotter No. 54 Redskins’ jersey. His father, a former college football coach, is a longtime Washington fan.
There weren’t a lot of surprises for the Washington Commanders on Tuesday when they trimmed their roster from 90 players to 53. However, if there was one surprise, it was the release of second-year defensive end K.J. Henry.
Henry, 25, was a fifth-round pick out of Clemson in the 2023 NFL draft. As a rookie, he played in 10 games, making three starts. Henry finished with 19 tackles, including four for loss and 1.5 sacks. However, Washington has a new regime, which includes a new general manager and coaching staff. So, it was a completely new start for Henry.
Henry had a solid training camp, picking up sacks in two of the Commanders’ three games and even received some snaps at defensive tackle in Sunday’s preseason finale. On Wednesday, the Cincinnati Bengals claimed Henry off waivers.
Overall, Washington released 34 players, but only two were claimed by other teams. Henry and third-year cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields. The Carolina Panthers, who were ahead of the Commanders in the waiver priority, picked up Castro-Fields and two other cornerbacks.
Castro-Fields had been with Washington since August 2022, when he was claimed off waivers. A sixth-round pick out of Penn State, Castro-Fields played high school football at Riverdale Baptist in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Castro-Fields appeared in 10 games for the Commanders over the past two years.
Here are five freshly-cut players the Panthers should look to add on Wednesday.
You might’ve heard, but the Carolina Panthers (and the rest of the NFL) were very busy on Tuesday.
Every team cut down to their initial 53-man rosters this afternoon, shaping the early stages of the 2024 campaign. For Carolina, the big move left the locker room looking a bit different than expected, and even reopened some areas of concern from the offseason.
But with the team possessing the No. 1 wavier wire priority, they’ll have an upper hand in acquiring some meaningful depth at positions of need.
Here is a handful recently-cut players the Panthers should consider adding to its roster tomorrow afternoon.
WR Noah Brown
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Brown was one of many standouts for Houston during their worst-to-first surge in 2023—recording 567 yards and two scores off 33 grabs. But in 2024, he was a bit buried on a depth chart that featured Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell.
The 28-year-old is a smooth-handed player who knows how to get open and make competitive plays after the catch. He would provide more quality depth to Carolina’s wideout room.
TE Brayden Willis
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Carolina’s release of veteran Jordan Matthews has left the door open for some youth at the tight end spot, specifically for some athleticism and receiving skills.
The 49ers waived Willis on Tuesday due to his lack of consistent blocking ability in a deep room of their own. The former Oklahoma Sooner would provide Carolina with another receiving option at tight end behind rookie Ja’Tavion Sanders.
EDGE Andre Carter II
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A former draft community darling, Carter II fell to the numbers game in Minnesota despite a strong preseason.
The Panthers, who are carrying out just four outside linebackers from Tuesday, need more depth off the edge. At 6-foot-6, 256 pounds, Carter could provide steady depth as well as some presence on special teams.
EDGE K.J. Henry
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Henry was once a five-star recruit and former standout with the Clemson Tigers. Coming to Carolina would make a lot of sense, particularly for a team in need of help within the position group.
Henry offers some special teams experience and could provide some explosiveness and pass rush prowess to the defense.
CB Darnay Holmes
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Once a standout defensive back at UCLA, Holmes has had an up-and-down pro career.
Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero is known for getting the best out of his players, no matter the talent or skill level. Holmes fits the bill as a competitive player who brings some ball production and athleticism to the table, and is worth kicking the tires on.
The top-graded Commander was 2023 fifth-round draft pick edge rusher K.J. Henry. He led the Commanders with five pressures off 21 pass rush snaps, which helped him record an 89.0 rating. Henry took advantage of a depleted pass rush group with outside linebackers Keandre Jones, Dante Fowler Jr, and edge rusher Clelin Ferrell out of the lineup.
The next three players on the list are safety Percy Butler, offensive guard Julian Good-Jones and cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields. Butler made a touchdown-saving deflection, which redirected a pass heading directly into Dolphins wide receiver Braxton Berrios’ hands.
Despite a name misspelling on the back of his jersey, Castro-Fields was the Commanders’ best cornerback against the Dolphins. Among other high grades was defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis, with a 79.6 rating.
Tee Higgins wants a trade. One former college teammate wants him with the Commanders.
On the day before the 2024 NFL draft, Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Tee Higgins informed his team he wanted a trade. The Bengals placed the franchise tag on the 2020 second-round pick and haven’t had contract negotiations with Higgins in over a year.
With the Bengals needing to pay fellow wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase soon, it’s long been expected that Cincinnati would eventually trade Higgins. However, the Bengals have remained adamant that he is part of their plans—with Chase.
Once news of Higgins’ request went public, a former college teammate at Clemson made a pitch for the star wideout to come to the Washington Commanders.
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Washington defensive end K.J. Henry played two years at Clemson with Higgins. Henry sent Higgins the following message on X — formerly Twitter.
If the Bengals trade Higgins, the new team will need to surrender draft compensation and pay him at the top of the market. In four seasons, Higgins has gone over 1,000 yards receiving twice. Higgins battled injuries in 2023.
Washington is expected to draft LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL draft. Higgins would give the Commanders a big wideout, something they currently lack.
However, don’t expect the Bengals to move Higgins, and it’s doubtful Washington parts with the required draft compensation.
The Commanders will host a raw but talented pass rusher next week.
The Washington Commanders are using several of their 30 pre-draft visits on specific positions, such as offensive tackle and defensive end. Outside of Penn State’s Chop Robinson, none of the edge rushers the Commanders are bringing to Ashburn ahead of the 2024 NFL draft are considered potential first-round picks.
Washington general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn are bringing in players with high-quality athletic traits on visits. The latest is Kansas edge rusher Austin Booker.
According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Booker will visit Washington next week.
Kansas edge Austin Booker — a potential Day 2 draft pick — is visiting the #Panthers today.
After beginning his college career at Minnesota, Booker transferred to Kansas. In his one season with the Jayhawks, the 6-foot-4 1/2, 240-pound Booker played in 12 games with one start and finished with 56 tackles, including 12 for loss and eight sacks. He was named first-team All-Big 12 Conference and was the Big 12 top newcomer.
There was some buzz around Booker entering the NFL combine, where he ran a disappointing 4.79 seconds in the 40-yard dash. The good thing for Booker is teams love his film. He plays much faster than his speedwatch time. However, his lack of overall snaps may concern some. He is extremely raw and could be a boom-or-bust pick.
The Commanders signed Dante Fowler Jr., Dorance Armstrong and Clelin Ferrell this offseason, and re-signed veteran Efe Obada. Washington returns second-year players K.J. Henry and Andre Jones Jr.
Booker is expected to go sometime in the second or, most likely. the third round. The Commanders currently have three third-round picks.
More depth to the defensive end room for the Commanders.
The Washington Commanders added more depth to the defensive end rotation Tuesday morning by agreeing to terms with 49ers defensive end Clelin Ferrell.
Ferrell, 26, was the Las Vegas Raiders’ No. 4 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft out of Clemson. He played four seasons with the Raiders, appearing in 58 games with 30 starts and recording 105 tackles, 15 for loss, and 10 sacks.
The Raiders declined Ferrell’s fifth-year option, making him a free agent last offseason. He signed with San Francisco, where he started all 17 games. Ferrell played in a rotation for the 49ers and finished with 28 tackles, including six for loss and 3.5 sacks.
2019 first round pick Clelin Ferrell is expected to sign with the Commanders, per sources.
Ferrell is Washington’s seventh expected signing and second defensive end, following Dorance Armstrong (Cowboys). A Richmond native, Ferrell played for Washington defensive line coach Darryl Tapp with the 49ers last season.
He will likely play in a rotation for Washington. Ferrell and Armstrong join second-year defensive ends K.J. Henry and Andre Jones Jr. as the defensive ends on the Commanders’ roster.
Washington will still likely search for a high-upside edge rusher in next month’s 2024 NFL draft.
Commanders DE trying to recruit one of the NFL’s best to Washington.
After trading away Montez Sweat and Chase Young at the NFL trade deadline in October, outside of one game, the Washington Commanders failed to apply pressure on opposing passers throughout the second half of the season.
Young and Sweat’s departures did allow younger players, such as rookie K.J. Henry and Andre Jones Jr., to receive significant reps last season. Henry, a fifth-round pick from Clemson, had some impressive moments. He appeared in 10 games, making three starts. He finished his rookie season with 19 tackles, including four loss and 1.5 sacks.
But while Henry looks to have a nice future in Washington, the Commanders need some help to apply pressure on opposing passers under new coach Dan Quinn.
The good news for Washington is there is some depth at edge rusher in free agency. The two top pass rushers, Josh Allen (Jaguars) and Brian Burns (Panthers), are expected to be franchise tagged. Both will cost a lot, but the Commanders have the cap room — if one becomes available.
Carolina has been trying to come to an agreement with Burns on an extension but stopped contract talks at the NFL combine as the two sides remain far apart.
I’m told the #Panthers informed Brian Burns during the Combine this past week that they aren’t continuing contract talks—at this time, per source. pic.twitter.com/8xArkbTBeQ
Burns never acknowledged Henry’s tweet, which is not a surprise. There’s a good chance Burns becomes available this offseason but via trade. It’s doubtful Washington GM Adam Peters parts with multiple draft picks for a veteran player who he still must sign to a top-of-the-market deal.
Burns would solve several problems for the Commanders, though.
We grade Washington’s 2023 NFL draft after one season. The early returns, well, they aren’t good.
The Washington Commanders finished the 2023 season with a 4-13 record. Head coach Ron Rivera was fired after four consecutive non-winning seasons.
The 2023 was a disaster from start to finish. Sure, there were some cool moments in September, but Washington’s flaws were evident beginning in Week 1.
The 2023 NFL draft class’s lack of production was a big reason for Washington’s struggles. First-round pick Emmanuel Forbes’ performance reflected the team’s season.
How did each of the Commanders’ seven picks grade out?
Can K.J. Henry lock down one of Washington’s starting defensive end spots in 2024?
The Washington Commanders have some holes to fill in 2024. The good news for incoming general manager Adam Peters is the Commanders have plenty of salary cap room and some premium draft picks to fill those holes.
While much of the offseason talk surrounding Washington will be on the quarterback position, the Commanders need plenty of help on defense. Washington was terrible defensively in 2023, and the new coaching staff will need to find some pass-rush help.
Perhaps some of that help is already on the roster. K.J. Henry was a fifth-round pick from Clemson in 2023. When the Commanders traded Montez Sweat and Chase Young at the NFL trade deadline in October, Henry’s role increased.
Overall, Henry would play in 10 games as a rookie, including making three starts. He finished his first season with 19 tackles, including four for loss, 1.5 sacks and two quarterback hits.
Could Henry contend for a starting position in 2024?
Pro Football Focus recently named one early breakout candidate for next season, and Henry was that player for Washington.
The Commanders traded away Chase Young and Montez Sweat mid-season, and they are slated to lose both Casey Toohill and James Smith-Williams to free agency, leaving a once stellar edge group rather barren. Henry — a fifth-round pick out of Clemson — will be one of the remaining names this offseason and while he didn’t get a ton of opportunity as a rookie, his final year at Clemson was encouraging, where he posted an 84.0 pass-rush grade, 53 pressures and five sacks. Henry could be called upon to play a much larger role in 2024 for the Commanders.
