Potential Commanders free-agent targets with connections to Ron Rivera

As of this writing, the Washington Commanders have enough final flexibility ($30.35 million), to go out and make myriad additions this offseason.

While most of that will hopefully be used on a franchise quarterback, other areas of the roster could stand to be upgraded, too.

In other to preserve some of that $30 million, Ron Rivera could look to add some players whom he’s coached  in the past. Ever since he was hired as Washington’s head coach prior to the 2020 season, Rivera has made a habit out of bringing former Panthers players to Landover.

Off the top of our heads, Curtis Samuel, Taylor Heinicke, Kyle Allen, Corn Elder, Alex Armah, Joey Slye, Tyler Larsen, David Mayo Jared Norris and Jordan Kunaszyk are just some (maybe all?) former Panthers who’ve made the short trip from Charlotte since Rivera took over as head coach two years ago.

Given it seems to be a foolproof strategy, don’t be surprised if Rivera deploys it again this offseason. While there aren’t many free agents with ties to the two-time AP Coach of the Year, we’d keep tabs on this group of players.

These NFL free agents could join the Commanders based on their connections to Ron Rivera.

Mike Remmers/Gerald McCoy

Rivera coached in Carolina for a long time and was fired in 2019, so there’s not going to be many players in their so-called prime on this list. After all, most of those players — DJ Moore, Brian Burns, Taylor Moton and Shaq Thompson — are still under contract with the Panthers for obvious reasons.

However, not every signing Washington makes has to be a starter. Depth is paramount in today’s NFL and the two players mentioned here, Mike Remmers and Gerald McCoy, would provide serious depth in the trenches.

Remmers spent three years under Rivera in Carolina. For two of those, he was a full-time starter at right tackle. For someone who’ll turn 33 in April and is coming off a knee injury that limited him to just four games in 2021, Remmers could be signed on the cheap as a backup swing tackle for Charles Leno and Sam Cosmi.

With Cornelius Lucas, who appeared in 29 games (15 starts) the last two seasons, hitting free agency, the Commanders have some work to do.

When healthy, Remmers is an elite backup, akin to the sixth-man in the NBA. He was an underrated piece of the Chiefs’ run to the Super Bowl in 2020 and has experience at right tackle, a full season at right guard and left guard. In 2016 with the Panthers, he even kicked outside and filled in at left tackle in a pinch.

McCoy, on the other hand, would be a bigger gamble. At 33 years old and having suffered major injuries in consecutive seasons — a ruptured quad in training camp with the Cowboys in 2020 and a torn ACL in his first game for the Raiders this year — McCoy is clearly nearing the end of his career.

It’s unclear whether McCoy wants to play a 12th season or if he’ll simply retire, but he still gives off the energy of someone who’d like to continue playing. In his last full season in 2019 for Rivera’s Panthers, McCoy was a force to be reckoned with, racking up five sacks, seven tackles for loss, 43 pressures and 24 run stops while accruing a 72.4 player grade from Pro Football Focus.

If Washington is encouraged by his medical, McCoy could be a sneak-good get with the futures of Tim Settle and Daron Payne up in the air.