Determining how Commanders should address defensive backfield

I would not expect the Washington Commanders to go after a premier player in free agency this offseason. Cornerback JC Jackson (NE) and safety Marcus Williams (NO – franchise-tagged in 2021) will be looking for huge paydays.

Given the Commanders uncertainty at free safety, Williams would be a monster signing, but just one year removed from paying big money to Jackson and with more pressing needs at least three other positions, it doesn’t seem like a smart move.

There will be cornerbacks in the mold of Torry McTyer available. Talented, but oft-injured young vets like Mike Hughes and Sidney Jones might be worth a gamble at a modest price. Carlton Davis, who has spent his first his first four seasons in Tampa Bay, is coming off injury, but will probably looking for a chance to regain his starting position either in Tampa or elsewhere. Pittsburgh’s Ahkello Witherspoon may be in the same boat.

At safety, if the Commanders do not re-sign McCain, they will have to decide whether Darrick Forrest is ready to step into a starting role. If he is, they may look to add some depth through free agency. But if they are not comfortable with that, they may have several strategies in play.

Though Marcus Williams may be too pricey, no one is quite certain what will happen with Marcus Maye, who has been one of the best young safeties in the league for the Jets through his career, until injury and a legal issue helped derail his 2021 season. He should recover from both and might be looking to re-establish himself at a discounted price in 2022.

The team has toyed with the idea of moving Fuller to safety and letting St-Juste take over at corner, but I think Fuller is still an effective corner, and I wouldn’t be too quick to move him. Of course, as happened with McCain (and Charles Leno Jr on the offensive line), more solid veterans will become available as the offseason plays out.

As for the draft, Washington may not be eager to spend a high pick on a defensive back with pressing needs at quarterback, wide receiver and linebacker. But they have had good success finding players in the later rounds over the past several years. Curl and former nickelback Jimmy Moreland both came in the seventh round.

Prospects from smaller schools, like long athletic corners Zyon McCollum (Sam Houston State) and Dallis Flowers (Pittsburgh State), should be available late. And ball-hawking safety Tyree Robinson (East Tennessee State – not to be confused with the former Cowboy safety of the same name) is one of many good developmental free safeties who could come late, or as an UDFA.

Provided Bobby McCain is re-signed, the Washington Commanders will not be looking to make major changes to its defensive backfield this offseason. But depth signings will be crucial. Teams routinely have to rely on 10 decent defensive backs to make it through a season.

If both McCain and Danny Johnson are re-signed, Washington will have seven of them in place, with several others as possibilities. They will need to add a couple more reliable players through free agency and the draft to create good competition for the remaining spots.