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Washington Commanders News & Rumors

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/21/24

March 21st, 2024 at 9:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Thursday’s minor moves:

Green Bay Packers

Las Vegas Raiders

Washington Commanders

A former Vikings starter, Wilson has spent the past two seasons with the Packers. While he started 25 games in Minnesota, the seven-year veteran has worked mostly on special teams in Green Bay. Wilson, 29, did play 121 defensive snaps last season and stands to give the Pack some LB depth post-De’Vondre Campbell.

Pierre will come to Washington from Pittsburgh, where he played out his rookie contract. Pierre started six games with the Steelers, clearing 260-snap barrier in 2021 and ’22. Last season, however, the former UDFA returned to a special teams-only role.

NFC East Notes: Reddick, Eagles, Burns, Giants, Kendrick, Cowboys, Commanders

March 21st, 2024 at 6:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Eagles signed Bryce Huff and reached a reworked agreement with Josh Sweat. Brandon Graham is coming back for what would be a record 15th season with the franchise, and Nolan Smith is going into his second season. This setup would stand to point Haason Reddick out of town, and the Eagles recently made a contract adjustment that could help facilitate a trade. The team moved Reddick’s $1MM bonus, which was scheduled for March 15, to April 1, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler.

Reddick, 29, is due a $14.25MM base salary in 2024; that amount is almost entirely nonguaranteed. The Eagles gave Reddick permission to seek a trade ahead of free agency, and while the Philadelphia native said he did not request to be moved, the team’s other decisions at edge rusher may have made that decision already. Calls have come in, and it will be interesting to see what offers emerge. A team acquiring Reddick would likely be doing so with the intent of extending him, which will impact his value. He of back-to-back double-digit sack seasons and the driving force behind Philly nearly breaking the 1984 Bears’ single-season sack record in 2022, Reddick is tied to a $15MM AAV; that ranks 19th among edge defenders.

Here is the latest from the NFC East:

  • On the edge rusher topic, the Giants‘ Brian Burns extension is not quite as lucrative as initially reported. While the extension can be worth up to $150MM, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes its base value checks in at $141MM with $76MM fully guaranteed. The deal will pay out $90MM over the first three years. In terms of total guarantees, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan places that number at $87.5MM. Burns’ 2024 base salary is fully guaranteed, but his 2025 and ’26 numbers are not. Burns has $10.75MM of his $22.25MM 2025 base guaranteed at signing; his $22.25MM 2026 base is guaranteed for injury. The deal features a surprisingly flat structure that does not involve void years, giving the Giants — who would have Kayvon Thibodeaux eligible for an extension in 2025 — some flexibility down the road. Burns’ $28.2MM AAV tops T.J. Watt for second among edge defenders, but his full guarantee trails the Steelers All-Pro’s $80MM figure.
  • The Giants created some additional cap space Thursday, moving $10MM of Dexter Lawrence‘s base salary into a signing bonus. This will free up $7.5MM in space for New York, ESPN’s Field Yates tweets. The Giants did not move all of Lawrence’s 2024 base into a bonus, potentially leaving some room in case more funds are needed. Lawrence’s $22.5MM-per-year deal runs through 2027.
  • Eric Kendricks agreed to a one-year, $3MM Cowboys deal, and ESPN’s Todd Archer notes he accepted a lesser offer in order to rejoin Mike Zimmer in Dallas. The longtime Vikings starter had agreed to terms with the 49ers, but a lower cost of living — albeit for a player who has made $52MM in his career — and a familiar scheme will await him in Dallas. The 49ers moved on to De’Vondre Campbell.
  • While Devin White‘s Eagles contract can max out at $7.5MM, the33rdTeam.com’s Ari Meirov indicates the deal’s base value comes in at $4MM ($3.5MM guaranteed). This is a staggering drop for White, who had requested the Buccaneers trade him — as he pursued a top-market ILB contract — last year. The former top-five pick will follow the likes of Kyzir White, Zach Cunningham and Nicholas Morrow as low-cost solutions on Philly’s defensive second level.
  • Frankie Luvu‘s Commanders contract can max out at $36MM, but KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes the base value is $31MM. Washington is giving the productive Carolina linebacker $14.6MM guaranteed at signing. Just $2MM of Luvu’s $8.5MM 2025 base salary is fully guaranteed. Another $4.5MM locks in on April 1, 2025. Clelin Ferrell‘s one-year Commanders pact is worth $3.75MM with $3.1MM guaranteed, per Wilson, who adds $1.5MM is also available via incentives. As for DB Jeremy Reaves, Wilson adds he re-signed on a two-year, $6MM contract. The Reaves deal includes $2.7MM guaranteed. Lastly, Jeremy Chinn‘s Washington deal includes a $4.12MM base salary ($3.5MM guaranteed), via Wilson.

Commanders To Re-Sign T Cornelius Lucas

March 19th, 2024 at 10:50am CST by Adam La Rose

Cornelius Lucas is set to continue his time in the nation’s capital. The veteran offensive tackle has agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $4MM, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.

Lucas bounced around to four different teams during the first six years of his career. He played with the Lions, Rams, Saints and Bears between 2014-19, establishing himself as a spot-starter during that time. The 32-year-old primarily played at right tackle before arriving in Washington, but his Commanders spell has also included time on the blindside.

Playing on a two-year contract to begin his time in Washington, Lucas started eight games in 2020 and another seven the following season. He earned his two best PFF grades during that span (78.2 and 75,2), so it came as little surprise when the team re-upped him on another two-year pact. The former UDFA was used exclusively at right tackle in 2022, but last season he saw four starts on the left side (including the final three weeks of the season when he filled in for an injured Charles Leno).

The latter will not return to the Commanders this season, and the team has made a number of changes up front this offseason. That has included free agent deals with center Tyler Biadasz and guard Nick Allegretti, but this Lucas agreement represents the first move with respect to a tackle. A full-time starter on the blindside will likely be a priority during next month’s draft.

With Lucas still in the fold, though, the Commanders will have stability at the swing tackle spot. The Kansas State product has been charged with seven sacks allowed by PFF between the past two seasons, and as a result his overall grades have dipped compared over that time to his best showings. Still, Lucas will be in place as a familiar and experienced spot-start option for 2024.

Commanders Sign CB Michael Davis

March 18th, 2024 at 10:42am CST by Adam La Rose

The Commanders’ efforts to re-tool their defense under new head coach Dan Quinn continue. The team announced on Monday that cornerback Michael Davis has been signed.

[RELATED: Commanders Add CB Noah Igbinoghene]

Davis joined the Chargers in 2017 as an undrafted free agent, and he went on to become a mainstay in the secondary over the course of his seven-year tenure with the team. He started 74 of his 107 games with the Bolts, seeing first-team action at least nine times every campaign since his rookie year.

The 29-year-old has some experience in the slot, but he has primarily been used on the perimeter during his career. Davis’ PFF evaluations have remained relatively consistent and less-than-spectacular, but he drew a career-best overall grade of 72.7 in 2022. Coverage was a sore spot last season, however, with nine touchdowns and a 119 passer rating allowed as the nearest defender.

On the other hand, Davis has posted notable ball production during much of his career. He has racked up eight interceptions across the past five seasons, while adding 60 pass deflections over that span. The BYU alum has reached double digits in the latter category four years in a row, and continuing in that regard while bouncing back from a coverage perspective will be a goal for 2024.

The Commanders have been among the busiest teams on the free agent market so far, something which comes as little surprise. The team entered the new league year with considerable spending power, much of which has been devoted to upgrading a defense which featured major room for improvement compared to the end of last season in particular. Davis will join a CB room which lost Kendall Fuller to the Dolphins in free agency and which features a number of low-cost contributors in the secondary. He will look to earn a starting role alongside recent draftees Benjamin St-Juste and Emmanuel Forbes.

Commanders Sign CB Noah Igbinoghene

March 17th, 2024 at 11:18am CST by Rory Parks

The Dallas-Washington pipeline is still operating at full force. As ESPN’s John Keim was first to report, the Commanders have signed CB Noah Igbinoghene.

Igbinoghene is the fourth player that the Commanders, now coached by former Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, have added in free agency this year. He joins center Tyler Biadasz and defensive ends Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler in making the move from Texas to the nation’s capital.

Unlike his fellow former Cowboys, however, Igbinoghene is unlikely to see a ton of playing time, if he makes the roster at all. A former first-round pick of the Dolphins, Igbinoghene was traded to Dallas during the roster cutdown phase of the calendar last year and failed to make much of an impact. In Week 1, the Auburn product returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown, but that would represent the highlight of his season. He ultimately appeared in just five games and 25 defensive snaps, to go along with 77 special teams snaps.

When Miami drafted Igbinoghene with the No. 30 overall selection in 2020, the club hoped that his size and athleticism would help the converted receiver turn into an effective corner at the professional level. That never happened, and although Igbinoghene appeared in 16 games in his rookie campaign, he started only two of them and appeared in just 28% of the Dolphins’ defensive snaps. He was frequently deactivated over the following two seasons, leading to his trade in advance of the 2023 season.

As Keim notes, Quinn likely views Igbinoghene as nothing more than a depth/special teams addition, but at least he saw enough in 2023 to take a flier on his former Dallas charge on what is almost certainly a veteran minimum pact.

49ers Sign CB Isaac Yiadom, Re-Sign LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles

March 15th, 2024 at 10:55pm CST by Ely Allen

The 49ers continue to secure depth on defense. After losing cornerback Isaiah Oliver to the Jets and potentially watching linebacker Oren Burks depart via free agency, San Francisco has added former Saints cornerback Isaac Yiadom and re-signed reserve linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler brings us the news of Yiadom. Yiadom played a similar role in the Saints’ defense as Oliver did in the 49ers’ last year but to different results. Both graded out extremely well in coverage, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), but Yiadom graded out much better in run defense. Yiadom was also tested more in coverage and delivered by tallying up an impressive 14 passes defensed.

After a season that saw Yiadom grade out as the 10th best cornerback in the league, according to PFF, the 49ers replace one talented corner with another. Fowler tells us that Yiadom explored other options, visiting the Commanders yesterday, but ultimately, the 27-year-old chose to join one of last year’s best defenses instead of helping to rebuild one of last year’s worst.

According to Josh Alper of NBC Sports, Flannigan-Fowles is set to return on a new one-year deal. Flannigan-Fowles has played much the same role in the last four years with the 49ers. Flannigan-Fowles plays mostly on special teams but tends to find his way onto the field around 13 percent of the time. With another season in San Francisco, though, the 27-year-old may be able to carve out a bit more playing time. As of right now, Burks is a free agent, not signed to return for 2024. If that holds true and the 49ers fail to make any other additions, Flannigan-Fowles could find his way into Burks’ role next season.

LB Cody Barton Signs With Broncos

March 15th, 2024 at 7:22pm CST by Ely Allen

The Broncos will have a new man to patrol the middle of their defense, as David Canter, president at Football GSE Worldwide, announces that his client Cody Barton has agreed to terms on a contract that will bring him to Denver. Barton will arrive and attempt to earn a starting job for his third team in as many seasons.

Barton was a third-round pick for the Seahawks in 2019. He didn’t get many chances to contribute over the course of his rookie deal, starting only five games in his first three seasons. During a contract year in Seattle, though, Barton exploded onto the scene. In eleven starts, Barton reached 136 total tackles while tallying two sacks and two interceptions, as well.

Barton’s efforts earned him a one-year, $3.5MM contract with the Commanders. In Washington, he would start 13 games, once again eclipsing the 100-tackle mark with 121 total. While he doesn’t grade out phenomenally, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), he shows good marks in coverage and remains a reliable starter. Mike Klis of 9NEWS tells us that Barton’s contract with the Broncos will also be for one year and $3.5MM.

A Barton re-signing became unnecessary in Washington after the team signed Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu to start alongside Jamin Davis on the Commanders defense. In Denver, Barton will likely be stepping into the shoes of Josey Jewell, who agreed to a deal with the Panthers on Tuesday. Barton completes the linebacker shuffle as Jewell heads to Carolina, Luvu heads to Washington, and Barton goes to Denver. Barton should step in alongside Alex Singleton, who finished 2023 third in the NFL with 177 total tackles, solidifying the middle of the Broncos defense.

Commanders To Trade QB Sam Howell To Seahawks

March 14th, 2024 at 10:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

With Marcus Mariota in place for the Commanders, Sam Howell will indeed be playing elsewhere in 2024. The latter quarterback has been traded to the Seahawks, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Washington will send Howell along with a fourth- and sixth-round pick to Seattle. In return, the Seahawks will send a third- and fifth-round pick. All selections are in the upcoming draft. Mariota’s free agent signing suggested the Commanders would pair him with a rookie selected second overall in April. Doing so would have left Howell on the outside looking in, leading to questions about his future in the nation’s capital.

The Seahawks have (in incremental fashion) committed to veteran Geno Smith as their starter for 2024. The former Comeback Player of the Year earned a new deal last offseason as Seattle’s undisputed starter despite the presence of Drew Lock, a piece of the Russell Wilson trade. Smith will hold down first-team duties again this year, but he will have a new backup in place.

Lock took a one-year deal with the Giants, leaving Seattle in need of a QB2. Howell served that role for all but one week of his rookie year in 2022, but his play to close out the regular season informed the decision to release Carson Wentz. Then-head coach Ron Rivera showed confidence in Howell as the Commanders’ starter this past year, but that decision did not yield the desired results. The 23-year-old led the NFL in sacks taken and interceptions, seeing himself lifted mid-game on more than one occasion late in the campaign.

Still, Howell could profile as an option with some upside. The former fifth-rounder led the NFL in passing yards at one point during the 2023 campaign, one in which Washington fielded a less-than-stellar offensive line and posted a 4-13 record amidst struggles on defense. Rivera was fired, as expected, after the end of the season and Dan Quinn has been brought in to replace him. He and new general manager Adam Peters comprise a different regime than the one which drafted Howell, and they will now commit to whichever passer is added with the second overall pick in April.

Drake Maye – who replaced Howell as the starter at North Carolina – is one of the options Washington will likely have at No. 2 (with Caleb Williams presumed to be hear his name called first). LSU’s Jayden Daniels could also be the Commanders’ selection, but in any case the rookie passer will be positioned as a starter for the present and future given Mariota’s status as a backup during much of his post-Titans career. As a result of this deal, the Commanders will now own six of the top 100 picks in the upcoming draft.

Seattle, meanwhile, will have a Lock replacement on the books for at least two more years given the term remaining on Howell’s rookie pact. Smith is also under contract through 2025, but none of his base salary for that season is guaranteed. The Seahawks may have acquired the 33-year-old’s eventual replacement.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/14/24

March 14th, 2024 at 9:44pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Commanders To Re-Sign DL Efe Obada

March 14th, 2024 at 6:48pm CST by Ben Levine

Efe Obada is sticking in Washington. The Commanders announced that they’ve re-signed the veteran edge rusher.

Obada is now inking his third contract with the organization after signing contracts in each of the past two offseasons. He had 24 tackles and four sacks during his first season in Washington, but he was limited to only five games in 2023 thanks to a knee injury and later a leg fracture.

Born in Nigeria, Obada started his football career by spending time with the British American Football Association National Leagues. He had brief stints with the Cowboys, Chiefs, and Falcons before joining the Panthers via the International Player Pathway Program in 2017.

He ended up spending three seasons in Carolina, including a 2020 campaign where he finished with a career-high 5.5 sacks. He spent the 2021 campaign in Buffalo, adding 3.5 sacks to his resume.

The Commanders have been busy adding DL depth, signing Dorance Armstrong, Clelin Ferrell, and Dante Fowler Jr.. Obada will likely compete for backup reps in 2024.

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