Pro Football Focus loves the Commanders’ free agency haul

More love for Washington’s free agent class.

The Washington Commanders signed two more players this week, bringing their total to 19 since free agency opened last week. The Commanders have signed 16 outside free agents and re-signed three of their own.

Washington entered free agency with over $80 million in effective cap space. Even with these signings, the Commanders still have plenty of room to make additional moves. After signing two cornerbacks, Washington still has not added an offensive tackle. While that will be addressed in next month’s NFL draft, the Commanders should still consider adding a veteran or two at some point.

Overall, though, everyone has praised Washington’s free-agency moves. General manager Adam Peters has improved the 2024 roster without sacrificing future financial flexibility.

Commanders Wire graded each of Washington’s moves over the weekend.

Now, Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus weighs in on free agency, grading all 16 NFC teams. Spielberger gave four NFC teams an “A-” for their work in free agency. He gave Washington the highest grade — an “A.”

(Dorance) Armstrong is a proven perfect fit with new Commanders head coach Dan Quinn, who immediately helped him take his game to new heights upon arriving in Dallas three years ago. Washington could still stand to make another move at edge rusher, with Armstrong more a rotational piece than a top guy, but linebacker Frankie Luvu also adds another pass rush element.

Ekeler brings the pass-catching element to Washington, which lost Antonio Gibson in free agency to the New England Patriots. Ekeler’s pairing with Brian Robinson is a perfect complement of skills in the backfield.

The Washington Commanders join the New England Patriots as a team picking in the top three of the draft that probably doesn’t want a young player backing up a top draft pick, with Jacoby Brissett and Mariota now serving as bridges to the future. Mariota was the No. 2 overall pick back in 2015 and can now mentor the No. 2 pick in 2024. In addition, his athleticism and mobility, paired with a big arm, is the profile of quarterback Kliff Kingsbury likes to work with.

There has been a lot of discussion about what Washington will do with the No. 2 overall pick. Regardless of what the Minnesota Vikings want to do in the first round, the Commanders have control once Caleb Williams comes off the board at No. 1. And Washington is taking a quarterback.

Whether it’s Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels, Washington’s next quarterback will have plenty of help thanks to the Commanders’ strong free-agent class.

PFF says Mason Graham would be the best DT in draft this year

He’s so freaking good. #GoBlue

When Michigan football dipped into Anaheim (Calif.) Servite to nab a then-three-star prospect in Mason Graham, it knew it had pulled off something of a coup.

The wrestler-turned-football star was somewhat off the radar, but it didn’t last long. After flipping from Boise State to the Wolverines, Graham started getting some attention from the recruiting services and ended up as a four-star prospect. And once he arrived on campus as an early enrollee, it was obvious he’d be an early contributor, and he made good on his potential by having a solid role as a backup in his freshman year.

But in year two, he truly shined. So much so that PFF believes that Graham is the best player at his position — right now, even going back to last year.

Graham has another year before he’s eligible for the NFL draft, but if he were able to have declared as a sophomore, PFF analyst Max Chadwick says that he could have been the first defensive tackle selected in April.

That’s pretty high praise. PFF does have him as the top returning defensive tackle across the sport with his frontline compatriot Kenneth Grant listed as the No. 7 returning DT. The duo was so dominant that otherwise well thought of interior linemen — such as Washington’s Joe Moore Award-winning group — looked pedestrian against them.

Former Commanders linebacker Cody Barton signs with Broncos

Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu are in, while Cody Barton and others are out.

It’s been a good week for Washington fans hoping for improved linebacker play. The Commanders signed former Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu to a three-year deal to kick off free agency and followed that up by signing future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner to a one-year deal.

On Friday, Washington’s starting inside linebacker from 2023, Cody Barton, found a new home. Per his agent, Barton signed a one-year deal with the Denver Broncos for $3.5 million. It’s the same terms he signed for in Washington last March.

Barton started all 13 games in which he played for the Commanders, recording 121 tackles, including three for loss and one interception. But don’t mistake that number of tackles for effective play. While Pro Football Focus can sometimes be controversial with its grading, PFF’s grade of 53.9 for the 2023 season was accurate.

Washington’s linebackers were a weakness during all four seasons under Ron Rivera, but it was particularly bad last season.

PFF says the Saints should pursue this DL on Day 2 of free agency

Pro Football Focus says the New Orleans Saints should sign former Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle D.J. Reader on the second day of free agency:

The first day of free agency was quiet for the New Orleans Saints, who lost a couple of backups on defense to other teams — but things could pick up as we enter the second day of the NFL’s legal negotiating window. Could the Saints finally make a move to improve their team?

Pro Football Focus analyst Brad Spielberger has a suggestion, pointing to the Saints’ mediocre run defense as an obvious problem. Spielberger writes that former Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle D.J. Reader would make sense for New Orleans:

Only injuries slowed Reader down in Cincinnati. Otherwise, he was a dominant force on the interior of a talented defensive line that was able to control the line of scrimmage and win big games up front over the past few seasons. The eighth-year veteran was the anchor in the middle. Reader is as stout as they come and nearly impossible to displace by just one blocker. And while he’ll never fill up the stat sheet with sacks, he can push the pocket and free up teammates as well as any nose tackle. Reader, unfortunately, suffered a torn quadriceps injury in Week 15 that knocked him out for the remainder of the season. We will await more details on the recovery process before changing his projection, but the injury could obviously impact his market.

Reader’s ability to stop the run would be a welcome addition to a team that ranked in the middle of the pack in PFF run-defense grade.

Reader hasn’t played a full season since 2018, back before the NFL expanded to a 17-game regular season. But he wouldn’t be asked to play as many snaps in the Saints’ rotation with Bryan Bresee, Nathan Shepherd, and Khalen Saunders as he has been in Kansas City. Reader has averaged 51.8, 39.3, 37.1, and 38.2 snaps per game through four years with the Bengals.

Here’s how many snaps per game the Saints’ top four defensive tackles averaged last year:

  • Nathan Shepherd: 34.9 (51.1% on running downs)
  • Bryan Bresee: 31.7 (27.5% on running downs)
  • Khalen Saunders: 30.8 (52.9% on running downs)
  • Malcolm Roach: 24.2 (47.9% on running downs)

Roach is a free agent himself, so if he’s on the way out then there’s a clear void for Reader to fill. He’ll turn 30 this year and can clearly still play at a high level when healthy, so limiting his snaps in the rotation would help protect him from injury and keep everyone fresh. Bresee was a liability against the run last year, which is why the Saints focused on playing him against the pass, so Reader could shore up that weakness, too.

The move would make sense, but the money would need to check out, and it’s unclear what Reader’s seeking in a new contract. We’ll have to wait and see if anything materializes here but it’s a good suggestion.

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Christian Darrisaw recognized as a top tackle in PFF 101

Christian Darrisaw is seen as a top tackle in the NFL according to PFF

PFF released their top 101 players in the league ahead of this year’s highly expected free agency period. The fun of rankings such as this one is seeing the top players at each position, including those that may sometimes get overlooked by the casual viewer. On their list, PFF listed out the top eight offensive tackles in the NFL, including Minnesota Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw.

Darrisaw ranked as the seventh-best tackle and the 92nd-best overall player.

Only Tyron Smith and Tristan Wirfs earned better PFF pass-blocking grades than Darrisaw this season, and injuries causing him to play in only 15 games also didn’t help his cause. He has nevertheless solidified himself as one of the best left tackles in football.

Despite missing two games, Darrisaw was the star of a Vikings offensive line that has been revered as one of the top lines in the NFL, especially in pass protection.

Another cornerstone of this young Minnesota offense, Darrisaw becomes a free agent after next season.

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Will the Commanders pay more than expected to meet urgent needs?

The Commanders have multiple needs heading into free agency. Will they overspend on any positions?

Pro Football Focus (PFF) Friday suggested the top 10 players they feel will make more than earlier expected in free agency signings.

So, with the Commanders having a substantial need for edge rushers, a center, offensive tackle, left guard, and tight end, would they sign a player for perhaps too much money?

So often, in NFL free agency, the first two days result in players being extremely overpaid. Then, the price tag significantly reduces, and players are signed to contracts that make much more sense according to their actual value.

In their first four seasons in the NFL, Detroit Lions guard Jonah Jackson was quite durable the first two seasons starting all 16 games. In the last two seasons, he has missed four and five games, respectively. Is this a trend of his durability waning? It may be nothing of the sort. It’s the type of questions that Adam Peters and others must consider and sometimes it is much harder to know which decision to make.

Bengals tackle Jonah Jackson has spent time at both left and right tackle in his first four seasons. According to PFF, in his 2023 season, he earned only a 59.1 grade. So, again, a general manager like Peters must consider what to make of such a low grade this past season. Was it an anomaly? Is it part of a downward trend?

The Jets Bryce Huff is an edge rusher who has been speculated to be coveted by the Commanders. PFF reported that Huff “ranks first among 73 qualifying edge defenders with a pressure rate of 20.9% since 2022, and his 90.4 pass-rushing grade over the span places him sixth at the position.”

Dolphins guard Robert Hunt enjoyed perhaps his finest season in 2023, scoring a 76.4 PFF grade. In his four seasons, Hunt ranks 14th among NFL guards with a 73.2 pass-blocking grade. Hunt did, however, miss seven games during the 2023 season.

Will the Commanders be able to meet a couple of needs during this free agency period next week without overspending?

Paulson Adebo ranked in PFF top 101 players from the 2023 season

After his breakout season in 2023, Paulson Adebo found himself on PFF’s top 101 players list. He’s an important piece moving forwards:

Paulson Adebo’s breakout season has been heavily respected by Pro Football Focus. He has been labeled as the Saints most improved player and secret superstar. Adebo turned into a number one cornerback and elevated his play after his first two seasons.

In his end of season rankings, PFF analyst Sam Monson ranked Adebo as the 90th best player of 2023, writing:

Adebo had occasionally flashed impact ability over his first two years in the league, but this season he did it far more consistently. And for a month in the middle of the year, he was the best cornerback in football. Adebo finished with 11 pass breakups and four picks, allowing a 69.9 passer rating when targeted.

The biggest transformation in Adebo’s game was the ability to get his hands on passes. He reached double-digit passes defensed for the first time in his career (though PFF credited him with 11, ESPN and Pro Football Reference both had him with 18 of them), while also hitting a career-high in interceptions. He also excelled in limiting yards after catch. He was tasked with defending the best receiver on the opposing team. Just as he was consistently targeted, Adebo consistently delivered.

2023 was the season where the third year corner put it all together. He stepped up in Marshon Lattimore’s absence to become not only the lead corner for New Orleans, but a true number-one corner. Lattimore will step back into his lead role if he returns to New Orleans next season, and Adebo cements the Saints secondary as a No Fly Zone.

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Chargers’ Khalil Mack named to PFF’s top 101 players from 2023

Pro Football Focus released their top 101 players from 2023.

Despite a dud of a season, the Chargers still had a few key contributors.

Pro Football Focus released their top 101 players from 2023, and Khalil Mack made the list, checking in at No. 40.

Mack bounced back in 2023 and posted his best performance since at least 2020. He tallied 88 quarterback pressures, headed by 18 sacks, on his way to an elite PFF grade that showed well in every facet of play.

After considering retiring following the Chargers’ playoff collapse to the Jaguars, Mack had one of the best years of his career in his 10th NFL season.

He set a career-high in sacks for a season with 17 and became the 43rd player in NFL history to hit the 100-sack mark. A menace off the edge, Mack not only got after the quarterback at a high level, but he was also a key contributor at defending the run.

In a season where the defense struggled, Mack remained a bright spot that shined on a weekly basis. For his efforts, he was named to his eighth Pro Bowl.

Chargers named potential landing spot for pair of linebackers

Kenneth Murray is a free agent and Eric Kendricks could be a cap casualty.

The Chargers will be retooling their linebacker room this offseason. Kenneth Murray is a free agent and Eric Kendricks could be a cap casualty.

To fill a void, Pro Football Focus listed two pending free-agent linebackers that Los Angeles could target.

The first is Commanders’ Cody Barton.

After four seasons with the Seahawks, Barton was traded to Washington. He was plagued by an ankle injury that caused him to miss four games. However, Barton still finished with 121 tackles.

His best season came in 2022 when he posted a career-high 136 tackles, six passes defended and four tackles for loss.

At 27 years old, Barton is still young, he has plenty of production and would come at a low price tag.

The next linebacker PFF mentions is Eagles’ Zach Cunningham.

They highlight how defensive coordinator Jesse Minter was the defensive coordinator for Vanderbilt, the same school Cunningham attended.

Cunningham’s strength is run defense, which he posted grades of 70 or higher in six of his seven seasons.

He should also be come cheap.

Patriots veteran one of four highest-graded linebackers by PFF in 2023

Turn on the tape, and you’ll see why Jahlani Tavai was the most underrated defensive player in the NFL in 2023

New England Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai was the fourth-highest graded linebacker in the NFL in 2023, per Pro Football Focus.

Tavai was one of the unsung heroes of a Patriots defense that ranked in the top-10, despite the 4-13 finish by the team. The unit held up its end in keeping things competitive on the field, but they failed to overcome one of the worst offenses in the league.

Tavai was a game-changer and constant disruptor when he was on the field. Former coach Bill Belichick clearly noticed it due to the sudden uptick in snap count. Tavai’s usage rate jumped 24 percent from the previous season to him being used in 74 percent of the Patriots’ defensive snaps.

He finished the season with 110 total tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and five pass deflections. His 86.6 PFF grade only ranks behind Tyrel Dodson, Fred Warner and Demario Davis.

Tavai is entering the peak of his career, and he’ll have added motivation playing in a contract year in 2024. The veteran linebacker is positioned to make some serious noise for a Patriots defense that is never mistaken for a pushover.

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