Tag: Nick Gates

Commanders sign 3rd-round pick Ricky Stromberg

The Commanders signed rookie center Ricky Stromberg Friday.

The Washington Commanders continue locking up their 2023 NFL draft class. On Friday, the Commanders agreed to terms with the third-round choice, Arkansas center Ricky Stromberg.

The 6-foot-3, 306-pound Stromberg was the No. 97 overall selection, the compensatory pick Washington received for losing Pro Bowl guard Brandon Scherff in free agency.

Stromberg was a four-year starter for Arkansas in the rugged SEC, beginning his career starting 11 games at guard [two at left guard and nine at right guard].

As a sophomore in 2020, Stromberg started eight games, all at center. In 2021, Stromberg started all 13 games at center, earning second-team All-SEC honors. The Razorbacks averaged over 227 yards rushing per game, which led all Power 5 teams.

In his senior season, Stromberg started all 12 games, did not allow a sack, was named first-team All-SEC and was an honorable mention All-American. Stromberg also won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, given annually to the SEC’s top offensive lineman.

Stromberg will compete with free-agent signee Nick Gates to start at center in 2023. Those two, combined with veteran Tyler Larsen, give Washington some outstanding depth at center after being forced to play at least four centers due to injury in each of the last two seasons.

 

Commanders release center Chase Roullier

Washington designates Roullier’s release as a post-June 1 cut.

The Washington Commanders released veteran center Chase Roullier Friday with a post-June 1 designation, saving $8.37 million, per Ben Standig of The Athletic.

The move also carries a $4.05 million dead cap for 2023. Roullier signed a four-year, $40.5 million extension in Jan. 2021 but unfortunately had each of his last two seasons cut short due to significant injuries.

In Week 8 of the 2021 season at Denver, Roullier fractured his fibula and was lost for the remainder of the season. He returned last summer completely healthy ahead of the 2022 season and resumed his role as Washington’s starting center.

However, toward the end of Washington’s Week 2 loss at Detroit, Roullier injured his knee and was again lost for the season. With Roullier injured, the Commanders shuffled through at least four centers in each of the last two seasons and made building depth at the position a priority this offseason. Washington signed Nick Gates from the New York Giants to a three-year deal in March and selected Arkansas center Ricky Stromberg in the third round of last week’s NFL draft.

Roullier was a sixth-round selection from Wyoming in the 2017 NFL draft. It didn’t take long for him to enter the starting lineup. He played in 13 games as a rookie, making seven starts. Over the next three seasons, Roullier missed just two games, starting 46 out of a possible 48 games at center. He was the first Washington veteran to earn an extension under head coach Ron Rivera.

Roullier, 29, is healthy and should be able to land with another team. He is a popular player in Washington for not only his play but his efforts off the field. Roullier actively supported the Hogfarmers Charitable Foundation, a non-profit in the DMV supporting families impacted by pediatric cancer.

 

Instant analysis of Commanders picking Ricky Stromberg in the third round

What does he add to the team? Was he the right pick?

Washington fans wanted the Commanders to take an offensive lineman in the 2023 NFL draft. Some fans would’ve been OK with Washington selecting multiple offensive linemen in an effort to improve one of the NFL’s worst offensive lines.

After picking defensive backs with their first two picks, the Commanders were back on the board at No. 97 overall, one of the final picks of the third round.

What did Washington do?

The Commanders selected Arkansas center Ricky Stromberg, a first-team All-SEC selection in 2022. The 6-foot-3, 306-pounder won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the SEC’s top offensive lineman.

Stromberg joins a crowded position in Washington. The Commanders signed Nick Gates to a three-year deal. Gates can play center or guard but said he expected to play center for Washington. Longtime starter Chase Roullier, who is coming off back-to-back major injuries and has a high cap number, remains on the roster. Finally, there is reliable veteran backup Tyler Larsen.

Stromberg can also play guard.

Here is Lance Zierlein of NFL.com’s scouting report on Stromberg:

Center prospect with enough athleticism and strength to be considered scheme independent. Early impressions could leave evaluators unimpressed with his lack of control at times; however, his process and results should quickly grow on them. Stromberg generates decent movement at the point of attack and is well-schooled with landmarks as a zone blocker. His waist-bending causes inconsistencies with his mirror and recoveries in protection. He has an innate feel for angles and positioning that leads to some unexpected block wins. Stromberg has a chance to become a starting center with the flexibility to play guard if needed.
If Stromberg emerges as Washington’s starting center, Gates could play left guard.

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Commanders’ decision on center Chase Roullier could come soon

It sounds like we may have clarity regarding Chase Roullier’s future soon.

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera quickly identified center Chase Roullier as one of the building blocks by signing him to a four-year extension in Jan. 2021.

Washington’s offensive line would be built around Roullier, the reliable center who was a sixth-round pick in 2017.

Unfortunately, no one could envision how the next two years would unfold for Roullier. After missing just five games in his first four seasons, Roullier fractured his fibula in a Week 8 loss to Denver in 2021, forcing him to miss the remainder of the season.

Roullier returned last summer, ready to put that devastating injury behind him. Sadly, on Washington’s final offensive play in a Week 2 loss at Detroit, Roullier injured his knee and again was lost for the season.

Roullier, a respected team leader, has now missed 24 games in the last two seasons. With Washington cycling through at least four centers over the previous two seasons, the Commanders struck early in free agency, signing former New York Giant Nick Gates to a three-year deal. Washington also re-signed veteran Tyler Larsen.

Roullier remains under contract but will count $12.4 million against the salary cap in 2023. He won’t remain in Washington under that number, but the Commanders would clearly like Roullier back.

Commanders general manager Martin Mayhew discussed Roullier Monday at the NFL owners meetings.

“I can’t really speak to that right now,” Mayhew said of Roullier, courtesy of Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post. “We’ve talked with Chase; he’s on our roster. We’ll kind of see where it goes. But what we did in free agency, I think, gives us flexibility. You’re talking about Nick Gates. He’s the guy who’s played all three interior positions, and he played right tackle.”

Mayhew didn’t necessarily say he wanted Roullier back. But perhaps it’s part of the negotiation process, hoping he’ll agree to a pay cut and return.

There was perhaps a reason why Mayhew appeared noncommittal. Jhabvala notes a source indicated to her that Roullier was expected to have an MRI on his knee Tuesday. That could clear up Washington’s decision, one way or another, regarding Roullier’s future with the team.

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Projecting Commanders’ offensive line depth chart after 1st week of free agency

We project Washington’s offensive line depth chart after the first wave of free agency.

While much of the talk surrounding the Washington Commanders is about the quarterback position, head coach Ron Rivera made it clear he was giving Sam Howell a shot to win the starting job in 2023. Last week, the Commanders added perhaps the best available veteran on the market to compete with and mentor Howell in Jacoby Brissett.

The more pressing concern heading into this offseason was the offensive line. Washington met with multiple offensive line prospects at the Senior Bowl and the NFL combine. And the Commanders will bring some prospects in for top 30 visits to Ashburn.

During the early stages of the legal tampering period last week, Washington brought in two potential starters, Nick Gates and Andrew Wylie. The addition of Gates and Wylie, combined with the defections of Wes Schweitzer and Trai Turner, are putting Washington’s offensive line plans more into focus.

The Commanders are still likely to add at least one offensive lineman early in next month’s 2023 NFL draft but will not feel forced to pick one in the first round.

Who would start for Washington on the offensive line if the season began today? Let’s take our best shot by projecting the Commanders’ offensive line depth chart after the first wave of free agency.

Breakdown of new Commanders OL Nick Gates’ contract

A closer look at the contract of new OL Nick Gates.

When the Washington Commanders opened up the legal tampering period last week, they quickly targeted the offensive line. First, Washington agreed to terms with former New York Giant Nick Gates. Shortly thereafter, the Commanders agreed to a deal with former Kansas City Chief Andrew Wylie.

Thanks partly to Washington’s long-term deal with defensive tackle Daron Payne last Sunday, the Commanders freed up extra cap space for 2023. Instead of Payne playing on the franchise tag for almost $19 million, he’d only cost around $10 million next season.

Those moves led to Washington being a bit more active on the free-agent front during the early days.

We’ve viewed the terms of Jacoby Brissett and Wylie’s contracts, so let’s examine Gates’ three-year pact, courtesy of Over the Cap.

  • 3 years, $16.5 million total potential value
  • Salary cap charge for 2023: $3.27 million
  • Percentage of salary cap for 2023: 1.4%
  • Average annual value: $5.5 million
  • 2023 cash payout: $6.91 million
  • Fully guaranteed: $8 million
  • Contract ranking among centers: No. 15 of 71
  • Salary cap charge for 2023: $5.46 million

Gates is expected to begin his Washington career at center. The Commanders have Chase Roullier under contract and recently re-signed Tyler Larsen. Due to injuries to Roullier and Larsen in each of the last two seasons, Washington has been forced to start at least four centers. Those issues have led head coach Ron Rivera to build more experienced depth at the position ahead of 2023.

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Giants have taken a small hit in the leadership department

The New York Giants have taken a minor hit in the leadership department, losing two former captains in Nick Gates and Julian Love.

The New York Giants continue to turn over their roster this offseason and there simply wasn’t enough room to keep all of their key players.

They managed to keep most of their leadership group but two of their 10 captains from last year signed elsewhere this week in free agency.

The Giants were able to retain three captains who were eligible for free agency this offseason — quarterback Daniel Jones, running back Saquon Barkley and long snapper Casey Kreiter — but lost offensive lineman Nick Gates (captain in 2021) and safety Julian Love to Washington and Seattle, respectively.

Their other six captains from 2022 — left tackle Andrew Thomas, defensive linemen Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams, safety Xavier McKinney, linebacker Cam Brown and kicker Graham Gano — are all still under contract.

Gates was poached by the Commanders earlier this week, signing a three-year, $16.5 million contract.

Love, the Giants’ leading tackler in 2022, was inked to a two-year, $12 million deal by the Seahawks on Friday.

Those are two very well-respected players and their absence will have an impact on the locker room. Luckily, the Giants have enough leadership that they’ll be able to overcome it.

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It sounds like Nick Gates will be the Commanders’ center in 2023

Nick Gates expects to begin his Washington career at center.

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera loves “position flex.” How often have we heard Rivera praise a player with position flex over the last three years?

So, with multiple holes along the offensive line, it was no surprise that Rivera and the Commanders targeted offensive linemen who could play multiple positions.

Former New York Giant Nick Gates agreed to a three-year deal with Washington. Gates had spent most of his time in New York playing guard and center. With the Commanders needing help at all three spots, where did coaches see Gates in 2023?

Gates met with the media Thursday after signing his contract and was asked about his role. It sounds like he’ll be Washington’s center, or at least competing for the position next season.

“I think center, where I will be taking most of the reps, I assume,” Gates said. Center/guard, that’s where I play usually. I definitely felt more comfortable at center; I feel like it’s my natural position.”

Why is Gates more comfortable at center?

“I just like being in control of everything, making calls and telling everybody what to do,” he said. “It holds me accountable because you got to know everything.”

In some news that will make quarterback Sam Howell smile:

“I think I can help the young quarterback out, be there to protect him and let him know nothing is going to happen.”

With Gates expected to begin at center, it begs the question: What happens with Chase Roullier? Tyler Larsen and Gates are under contract for 2023. Roullier is, too, but with a cap hit of $12.4 million. The Commanders love Roullier, but you must consider he missed half of the 2021 season with a leg injury and almost all of the 2022 season with another leg injury. If Roullier is back, it’s likely under a different cap number.

A returning Roullier would also ensure that Washington is much better prepared at center in 2023 with Gates, Roullier and Larsen on the roster.

Gates’ versatility gives the Commanders options.

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Commanders re-sign center Tyler Larsen

Veteran center Tyler Larsen is returning in 2023.

The Washington Commanders are welcoming veteran center Tyler Larsen back for another year in 2023. Larsen, who joined Washington in 2021, had each of his last two seasons end prematurely with a severe leg injury.

Larsen, 31, first entered the NFL in 2014 as an undrafted free agent from Utah State.

Larsen initially signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent but was cut before the season. Larsen joined Washington in 2015 and was again released before the season. His first break came in 2016 when he landed with Ron Rivera and the Carolina Panthers. Larsen spent five seasons with the Panthers.

In 2021, Larsen replaced Washington center Chase Roullier when Roullier suffered a broken leg in Week 8. Unfortunately, Larsen would suffer an Achilles injury after nine games and three starts.

In 2022, Roullier would go down in Week 2 and again be lost for the season. Larsen hadn’t yet been cleared for his return but made his debut in Week 5. He returned to the starting lineup in Week 6, and Washington’s offensive line significantly improved with Larsen at center.

Sadly, history repeated itself in a Week 13 game against the Giants as Larsen suffered a significant knee injury and was again lost for the season.

Early in free agency, the Commanders signed center/guard Nick Gates from the Giants and tackle/guard Andrew Wylie from the Chiefs. Roullier also remains under contract but would need to take a pay cut to return. Washington would prefer going into the season with three players who could play center to avoid the disaster of the last two seasons.

Larsen is a good player who, like Gates and Wylie, offers the position flex that Rivera loves. Injuries in back-to-back seasons were an unfortunate break for Larsen, who would have likely earned a bit more money if not for bad luck.

 

Report: Giants nearly released Nick Gates prior to Week 1 in 2022

The New York Giants reportedly intended to release Nick Gates prior to Week 1 of the 2022 season which led to an emotional locker room scene.

On Monday, NFL Network’s Mike Garofolo reported that New York Giants center Nick Gates agreed to terms with the Washington Commanders.

Shortly thereafter, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News shared word that the Giants previously intended to release Gates before the 2022 season.

Gates suffered a severe leg injury in 2021 and nearly lost his leg. After seven surgeries, a lot of physical therapy and a ton of hard work, he returned to the field in a Giants uniform in October 2022.

In a TikTok video, Leonard tells how he learned that Gates was slated to be released prior to September 6, 2022, before he had a chance to show that he could play in the regular season.

@plonnfl

A previously unreported story about Nick Gates as he leaves #Giants for Washington #nfl #talkinball #talkinballwithpatleonard #fyp #foryou #commanders

♬ original sound – PLonNFL

“I noticed Nick Gates was tearing up and very emotional in the Giants practice locker room,” Leonard said. “Then I saw Daniel Jones, the franchise quarterback, cross the locker room and give Gates a hug, say a few words to him and go back.

“Eventually, I gathered that Gates had been told that day that he was going to be released. He was going to be cut by the Giants before ever receiving a real chance to prove that he could play in a regular season game in the 2022 season. Obviously, that news wasn’t received well but he was not cut that day.”

That the Giants considered releasing Gates prior to his return last season could help explain why he was so willing to sign with a team that will play his former mates twice per season. Of course, the money and starting job didn’t hurt, either.

After signing with the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2018, then nearly losing his leg in a horrific injury, the odds have been stacked against Gates.

Gates appeared in 10 games for the Giants in 2022, starting in eight of them. Now he’ll suit up for a division rival in the Commanders and start the next chapter of his career.

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