Tag: Mason Brooks

Commanders re-sign a pair of 2023 rookies to the roster

A pair of last season’s UDFAs are returning to the Commanders in 2024.

Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters made his first two signings Tuesday by agreeing to terms with a pair of 2023 undrafted rookies.

Wide receiver Kazmeir Allen and guard Mason Brooks, two of Washington’s priority free agents after last year’s NFL draft, have inked deals with the Commanders.

Allen, who played collegiately at UCLA, is a wide receiver/return specialist who drew praise from former head coach Ron Rivera for his work last summer. However, Allen failed to separate himself and was beaten out by Dax Milne for one of Washington’s final roster spots. Milne would go injured reserve before Week 1 last season, and the Commanders chose to elevate recently signed veteran Jamison Crowder to replace him.

Allen stayed on the practice squad all season, allowing the former college running back to continue to develop as a receiver.

Brooks played offensive tackle at Western Kentucky and transferred to Ole Miss for his final season. He was reportedly Washington’s highest-paid undrafted free agent last spring. Brooks stood out during training camp practices last summer and during the preseason.

The 6-foot-6, 315-pound Brooks has a nasty streak and could figure into the mix with a strong offseason.

Teams normally sign practice-squad players to future deals as soon as the season ends, but Brooks and Allen reportedly explored other opportunities before choosing to return to Washington.

 

Commanders announced 15 players signed to the practice squad

Jake Fromm, Mason Brooks and Kazmeir Allen are among those back.

The Washington Commanders wasted no time in formulating their practice squad Wednesday, announcing they had signed 15 players. Teams can have 16 players on the practice squad, so the Commanders have an open spot. However, that opening is expected to go to linebacker Jabril Cox, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys, per Mike Garofolo of the NFL Network.

For those worrying about Washington losing quarterback Jake Fromm or rookie wide receiver Kazmeir Allen, both are back on the practice squad. Fromm had an excellent preseason and will be Washington’s third quarterback.

Allen, an undrafted rookie from UCLA, was a running back in college before moving to wide receiver in his final season. He proved to be an electric kick returner in college but had no experience returning punts. Washington tried him at returning punts, and while he showed promise, he muffed a punt in the preseason finale.

Of the 15 players announced, all were with the Commanders in training camp and the preseason.

Here is the complete list:

  • QB Jake Fromm
  • RB Derrick Gore
  • RB/TE Alex Armah
  • WR Kazmeir Allen
  • WR Brycen Tremayne
  • G Mason Brooks
  • G/C Nolan Laufenberg
  • T Alex Akingbulu
  • T Jaryd Jones-Smith
  • DE William Bradley-King
  • DT Benning Potoa’e
  • LB De’Jon Harris
  • CB Nick Whiteside
  • CB Tariq Castro-Fields
  • S Terrell Burgess

Mason Brooks waiting to ‘see what happens’ for Commanders’ final cuts

Mason Brooks felt he did everything he could to earn a spot on Washington’s 53-man roster.

It’s not often an undrafted free-agent offensive lineman becomes one of the more popular players in training camp. That’s what happened with Mason Brooks and the Washington Commanders.

After four years at Western Kentucky, Brooks wanted to test his talents in the SEC, using his final season of eligibility to play at Ole Miss in 2022. In a college career where he played guard and tackle, Brooks was an intriguing option in April’s NFL draft.

While Brooks wasn’t drafted, the Commanders gave him one of the largest signing bonuses for an undrafted free agent.

Why was Brooks so popular with Washington fans?

First, let’s start with the obvious. Fans are so hungry for offensive linemen that Brooks became a popular name. Secondly, when Brooks bested second-year defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis twice in drills during training camp, the word made rounds on social media.

Still, Brooks had some work to do to make Washington’s 53-man roster. In Saturday’s preseason finale against the Bengals, Brooks displayed some of that toughness and nastiness on more than one occasion.

When quarterback Jake Fromm was hit out of bounds at one point in Saturday’s game, Brooks was on the scene to defend his quarterback. Those things matter.

After Saturday’s game, Brooks was asked about making Washington’s roster.

“I’m sure it’s going to be hectic,” Brooks said of cutdown day. “At this point, you know, I guess the hay is kind of in the barn, and there’s not much more I can do. Just kinda have to let go, let God, and just see where the chips fall. Worked my hardest every day, every game, every opportunity I got, and now I just got to see what happens.”

Brooks made the most of his opportunities, but unfortunately for him, the Commanders need more help at offensive tackle. It seems almost a certainty that if cut, Brooks would land on Washington’s practice squad if he isn’t claimed by another team.

 

6 Commanders to watch in preseason finale vs. Bengals

Here are six offensive players who could force their way on the 53-man roster with a strong showing in the preseason finale.

The Washington Commanders host the Cincinnati Bengals Saturday in the final preseason game for both teams. The Bengals will not play any of their starters, while the Commanders will play only a select few starters.

Head coach Ron Rivera didn’t confirm which starters would play. Quarterback Sam Howell will not play and veteran Jacoby Brissett will get the start. Brissett will play around a quarter before departing, allowing Jake Fromm the opportunity to finish the game.

This game represents the final opportunity for those players on the roster bubble to impress coaches and either earn a spot on the 53-man roster, or the practice squad.

There aren’t a lot of openings on the 53-man roster. However, the bottom of the depth chart at some positions, such as wide receiver, defensive end and the offensive line remain unsettled.

We’ve identified six bubble players with something to prove Saturday. We didn’t include players like defensive Andre Jones Jr. because we believe he’s already made the roster.

5 standouts from Week 2 of Commanders’ training camp

Which five players stood out in Week 2 of Commanders’ training camp?

The Washington Commanders wrapped up their second week of training camp Friday. After a quiet and easy — but very hot — first week, business picked up in Week 2 of camp.

Washington put on the pads for the first time Tuesday, and business picked up. The Commanders had their first mini-skirmish of camp early in the week when linebackers Khaleke Hudson and Cody Barton took exception to center Nick Gates. It didn’t last.

However, on Friday, multiple battles occurred. First, guard Sam Cosmi and defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis scuffled. Then, cornerback Benjamin St-Juste hit tight end Cole Turner, stood over him, and didn’t help him up, irking wide receiver Terry McLaurin. McLaurin, showing his outstanding leadership, got in St-Juste’s face for not helping Turner up.

Ultimately, cooler heads prevailed, and everyone summed it up as “typical training camp stuff.”

Part of the issue, too, was the offense’s frustration. The defense dominated much of camp last week, particularly when the pads were on.

So as we look back at last week’s standouts, there wasn’t a lot on offense. McLaurin always stands out. Did anyone else stand out?

Here are five players who stood out for various reasons in Week 2 of training camp.

Mason Brooks named Commanders undrafted free agent to watch

Brooks is one of a few UDFAs with a good shot at making Washington’s roster.

The Washington Commanders made no secret of their intentions to improve the offensive line ahead of the 2023 NFL draft. After signing three offensive linemen in free agency, the Commanders added two in the draft, selecting Ricky Stromberg [Arkansas] and Braeden Daniels [Utah] in rounds three and four, respectively.

The Commanders were active in the pre-draft process, interviewing multiple offensive linemen at the Senior Bowl, NFL combine and on top 30 visits. Ultimately, once the top four offensive tackles were off the board when they were on the clock at No. 16, it made the decision to choose Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes that much easier.

When the draft was over, Washington quickly prioritized Ole Miss offensive tackle/guard Mason Brooks as an undrafted free agent, giving him $35K guaranteed, second only to the $40K Minnesota gave Army pass rusher Andre Carter.

Therefore, Brooks will have every opportunity to win a spot on Washington’s roster.

Jeff Risdon of Draft Wire recently named Brooks as the Commanders’ UDFA to watch.

The Commanders shelled out a nice bonus to sign Brooks. He’s something of a tweener after playing guard at Ole Miss in 2022 after being the starting right tackle at Western Kentucky in their go-go offense. He moves well enough to serve as an extra tackle/blocking TE while he adapts to being a versatile reserve lineman.

We say it often, and it’s worth repeating here: Washington head coach Ron Rivera loves “position flex” and Brooks, who can play guard or tackle, can offer that to the Commanders.

Commanders gave Ole Miss OL Mason Brooks one of the larger guarantees for UDFAs

Brooks can play guard and tackle.

While the Washington Commanders didn’t draft an offensive lineman in the first or second round of the 2023 NFL draft, they did add depth and talent to the group.

Washington selected Arkansas center Ricky Stromberg in the third round and Utah guard/tackle Braeden Daniels in the fourth round. Stromberg will compete to start this season, while Daniels will likely begin his career at offensive tackle. Both can play multiple positions and will provide depth in 2023.

After the draft, Washington wasn’t done adding to the offensive line. One of its first moves was signing Mississippi offensive tackle Mason Brooks as a priority undrafted free agent.

According to Mike Garofolo of the NFL Network, the Commanders gave Brooks a $35K bonus, second only to the Vikings’ bonus for Army Edge rusher Andre Carter.

Brooks began his college career at Western Kentucky, where he primarily played right tackle. After transferring to Ole Miss, Brooks played guard, showing the positional versatility Commanders head coach Ron Rivera values so much.

The Commanders view Brooks as a tackle, but he can play guard, too. John Keim of ESPN said the Commanders valued Brooks from the start, as well as Illinois safety Kendall Smith.