Tag: Kendall Fuller

Stay or go: Previewing Commanders’ top 11 2024 free agents

We look at 11 Washington free agents and determine whether they should stay or go in 2024.

Super Bowl LVIII is over, with the Kansas City Chiefs defeating the San Francisco 49ers. That means the offseason is upon us.

The offseason began for Washington five weeks ago after a Week 18 loss to the Dallas Cowboys handed them their eighth consecutive loss to finish the season with a 4-13 record.

Since then, Washington fired head coach Ron Rivera and hired general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn. And with the most salary cap space in the NFL and five of the top 100 picks in the 2024 NFL draft, including No. 2 overall, the Commanders have a chance to drastically improve next season.

But before Washington gets to free agency, it must decide on its 28 free agents. Some will remain, others will leave. Much of it will depend on the price.

We look at Washington’s top 11 free agents and determine if they should stay or go — and why.

30 free agents Cowboys should try to sign in offseason

After over a decade of passivity, will Jerry and Stephen Jones actually be players on the free agent market? If so, here’s a collection of top talent that fits the Cowboys’ roster holes. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys are going all in, allegedly. That’s what owner Jerry Jones said from Mobile Alabama as the team’s brass is attending the week of Senior Bowl workouts. Now, there’s a lot of wiggle room to what that could mean. With the team staring at three cornerstone pieces ripe for new contracts, Jones’ statement doesn’t have to necessarily refer to bringing in outside talent.

Based on his inglorious track record of double talk, Jones could easily clarify his statement after the first wave of free agency by referring to new deals for Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons as going all in. But let’s pretend that for the first time in over a decade, Dallas decides to be actual players in that first wave and compete for some of the bigger names to hit the open market.

Who has a chance to hit the open market? Who are some of the fits? Here’s a list of the top free agents of 2024 at the positions where Dallas could use an influx of more talent. This is a Cowboys-curated version of Pro Football Focus’ list of top free agents.

2 Commanders ranked among ESPN’s top 50 free agents

Kendall Fuller will be in demand when free agency begins.

The Washington Commanders will look much different in 2024. Washington began its offseason of change at the NFL trade deadline by moving defensive ends Montez Sweat and Chase Young.

The Commanders have nine draft picks in the 2024 NFL draft, including five in the top 100. But before the draft, there is free agency. No NFL team has more salary cap space than Washington. New general manager Adam Peters stressed the Commanders will always prioritize the draft, but use free agency to supplement the roster.

Washington will have numerous free agents in 2024. Among the more notable names are cornerback Kendall Fuller, safety Kam Curl, wide receiver Curtis Samuel, and quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

ESPN analyst — and former Washington safety — Matt Bowen recently ranked his top 50 free agents for 2024. Two Commanders made the list, beginning with Kendall Fuller at No. 19.

A veteran with savvy coverage technique and transition speed out of his pedal, Fuller grabbed two interceptions this season, giving him a total of 16 in his career. He’d be a smart fit for a quarters-based system. And Fuller can set an edge against the run, too, with 79 tackles in 2023. I see a player who can boost the profile of a contender’s secondary.

Fuller has spent six of his eight NFL seasons in Washington. Will a regime change mean he’s elsewhere in 2024? Every coach loves Fuller because he remains a terrific player who is versatile and great in the locker room.

Curl came in at No. 36:

I’d like to see Curl create more on-the-ball production — he hasn’t had an interception since grabbing three in his 2020 rookie year — but he’s a highly instinctive safety with the ability to align at multiple levels of the field. He fits best in a split-safety scheme where he can run the alley and drive top-down on the football. Curl had 115 tackles and forced a fumble in 2023.

Curl is another player Washington always wanted to keep. But with Peters now in town and a new defensive boss coming, will they value the former seventh-round pick the same way?

PFF says Broncos should target CB Kendall Fuller in free agency

PFF says the Broncos should target CB Kendall Fuller during free agency. Would that be a good move?

Following the conclusion of the Denver Broncos’ 2023 season, now is the time to begin looking ahead to 2024 roster moves. 

Pro Football Focus recently published a list of one free agent target for all 32 NFL teams, and they picked cornerback Kendall Fuller for the Denver Broncos. 

Fuller is an eighth-year veteran who currently plays for the Washington Commanders. He also spent two years playing for the Kansas City Chiefs, winning a Super Bowl title with KC. 

Due to Fuller’s grade via Pro Football Focus, PFF believes he would be an ideal slot cornerback for Denver. 

“Fuller has experience as both an inside and outside cornerback in the NFL but has predominantly out wide in recent years,” Gordon McGuinness wrote on PFF’s website. “He’ll be 29 years old when the 2024 NFL season begins, though so this might be the time when a move back to the slot makes sense. 

“The Broncos didn’t roster any cornerbacks who earned a 65.0-plus PFF coverage grade in 2023, so investing in the position is necessary this offseason.” 

The Broncos still posted a winning record (9-8) in 2023. But as the Sean Payton era continues to take shape, PFF believes Fuller could improve Denver’s defense, which could be a good move for the franchise to continue its push toward Super Bowl contention. 

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4 Commanders among PFF’s top 150 free agents

The Commanders have two of the top 25 free agents for 2024.

The Washington Commanders are due for an offseason of massive change. Those changes began two weeks ago when owner Josh Harris fired head coach Ron Rivera. One week later, Harris hired former 49ers assistant GM Adam Peters as the franchise’s new general manager.

Next up for Peters and Harris is hiring a head coach. That process may continue until after the Super Bowl, depending on who the Commanders want to hire.

Peters also has his hands full, remaking Washington’s roster. The Commanders have over 20 free agents this offseason but have the most cap space in the NFL and nine picks in the 2024 NFL draft.

Pro Football Focus recently released its list of the top 150 free agents, and four Commanders were among those players ranked.

Cowboys-Commanders final injury report for Week 18: Illness on Dallas side, IR a plenty for Washington

Washington will be without four players while Dallas has seven designated as questionable ahead of the final matchup of the 2023 regular season. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The final regular season game is less than 48 hours away now, and the Dallas Cowboys are set to fly into the Washington Metro area, better known as the DMV. The team will be greeted by bad weather on Saturday that’s expected to clear out before the game, but the winter vibe hit the Cowboys before they left Texas.

Five players are on the injury report due to illness, including starting center Tyler Biadasz and starting safety Malik Hooker. They are two of seven questionable Cowboys, although none have been ruled out. Dallas will look to clinch their second NFC East championship in three years on Sunday when they take on a Washington club that will be without several key players.

The Commanders placed three players on injured reserve this week, including slot corner Kendall Fuller. DT Johnathan Allen was also ruled out of the contest as both starters are dealing with knee injuries. Washington also has three additional players marked as questionable.

Here’s a look at the week of practice and game designations for all parties entering the Week 18 tilt.

Commanders vs. Cowboys: Week 18 final injury report

No Jonathan Allen or Kendall Fuller for the season finale.

The Washington Commanders will be without veteran captains Kendall Fuller and Jonathan Allen for Sunday’s regular-season finale, the team announced on Friday.

Fuller and Allen are dealing with knee injuries and missed last week’s game against the 49ers. Fuller is in the final season of a four-year contract he signed in 2020. Allen has two years remaining on his contract and hinted at wanting to move on in the offseason rather than going through a rebuild.

Cornerbacks Tariq Castro-Fields (shoulder) and Christian Holmes (concussion) will also miss Sunday’s game. Both players suffered injuries in Week 17 vs. San Francisco.

Safety Kam Curl (quad), right tackle Andrew Wylie (elbow) and defensive end Casey Toohill (shoulder) are all questionable for Sunday’s game. Wylie missed last week’s game.

Cornerback Benjamin St-Juste, who missed last week’s game with a concussion, is cleared to play Sunday. Defensive back Quan Martin (chest) and defensive tackle John Ridgeway (foot) will also play against the Cowboys.

 

Commanders vs. Cowboys: Week 18 injury report for Thursday

Jonathan Allen, Kendall Fuller, Kam Curl and Curtis Samuel missed Thursday’s practice.

It’s Dallas week. Unfortunately, as we discussed earlier this week, that meaning doesn’t have quite the same feel these days. As the Cowboys are playing for the NFC East title this weekend, Washington will be looking to avoid its eighth consecutive loss to finish Ron Rivera’s tenure as head coach.

As the Commanders returned to practice on Wednesday, they were without two key starters, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (knee) and cornerback Kendall Fuller (knee).  Cornerbacks Christian Holmes (concussion) and Tariq Castro-Fields (shoulder), both of whom left Sunday’s loss to the 49ers with injuries, also missed Wednesday’s practice.

None of the four practiced on Thursday, either. And you can add two more starters to that list, too, with wide receiver Curtis Samuel (hamstring) and safety Kam Curl (quad) missing Thursday. Both players were full participants on Wednesday.

With one game remaining, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Commanders sat Allen, Fuller, Samuel and Curl for the meaningless regular-season finale. Allen missed last week’s finale against the Cowboys, while Fuller returned an interception for a touchdown.

The Cowboys also sat several players Wednesday and Thursday ahead of Sunday’s game.

Here is Washington’s full Thursday injury report:

DNP

  • DT Jonathan Allen (knee)
  • CB Kendall Fuller (knee)
  • CB Tariq Castro-Fields  (shoulder)
  • CB Christian Holmes (concussion)
  • S Kam Curl (quad)
  • WR Curtis Samuel (hamstring)

Limited

  • DE Casey Toohill (shoulder)
  • DT John Ridgeway (foot)
  • T Andrew Wylie (elbow)

Full

  • QB Jacoby Brissett (hamstring)
  • CB Benjamin St-Juste (concussion)
  • DB Quan Martin (chest)

Here’s the full injury reports for both teams:

 

3 Commanders named on PFF’s Top-100 free-agents list

Three Commanders ranked among top 100 NFL free agents for 2024.

The Washington Commanders will end their miserable season in less than one week. The Dallas Cowboys come to FedEx Field needing a win to clinch the NFC East title and the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs.

Washington, meanwhile, has lost seven straight games and looks to secure the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft next week.

Under new owner Josh Harris, the Commanders will look a lot different in 2024. In addition to the draft, Washington has over $80 million in estimated cap space, according to Over the Cap. After trading defensive ends Montez Sweat and Chase Young at the NFL trade deadline, that’s two less contracts Washington will need to worry about this offseason.

Still, the Commanders have some key free agents in 2024. Pro Football Focus recently revealed its latest top 100 free-agent list, and three Commanders were ranked.

Which Washington players were among PFF’s top 100?

Commanders’ Week 17 inactive list vs. 49ers

No Jacoby Brissett, Benjamin St-Juste, Andrew Wylie, or Kendall Fuller for the Commanders vs. the 49ers.

The Washington Commanders made a flurry of roster moves on Saturday ahead of their Week 17 game against the San Francisco 49ers. Washington placed left tackle Charles Leno Jr., center Tyler Larsen and safety Percy Butler on injured reserve, ending their season.

In addition to those players missing Sunday’s game, the Commanders also ruled out cornerback Kendall Fuller, with quarterback Jacoby Brissett and right tackle Andrew Wylie listed as questionable.

Brissett was added to Washington’s injury report on Friday with a hamstring injury and will not play vs. the 49ers. Sam Howell is back as Washington’s starting quarterback after head coach Ron Rivera announced the move to Brissett last week. Wylie will also miss Sunday’s game, meaning the Commanders will be without three starters in their secondary and three starting offensive linemen.

Here are all of Washington’s inactives in Week 17 vs. San Francisco:

  • QB Jacoby Brissett (emergency 3rd QB)
  • CB Kendall Fuller
  • T Andrew Wylie
  • CB Benjamin St-Juste
  • DE Jalen Harris
  • TE Cole Turner
  • WR Mitchell Tinsley

Here are the 49ers’ inactives.