4 Commanders who don’t deserve another season in 2022

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 03: Jon Bostic #53 and Montez Sweat #90 of the Washington Football Team celebrate after Sweat sacked quarterback Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons in the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 03, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 03: Jon Bostic #53 and Montez Sweat #90 of the Washington Football Team celebrate after Sweat sacked quarterback Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons in the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 03, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
(Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

The Washington Commanders had a disappointing end to what was undeniably a commendable second-half turnaround in 2021.

After starting the season 2-6 while playing some of the worst defense you will ever see, Washington rattled off four straight wins coming out of the bye. That stretch included victories over Tom Brady, Russell Wilson and Derek Carr.

Of course, that was followed with a four-game losing streak, the team’s second of the season, that ultimately knocked them out of the playoff picture.

While extenuating circumstances — the COVID-19 breakout and injuries to key players being chief among them — contributed to Washington’s late-season collapse, the coaching staff and players only have themselves to blame.

Yes, the excuses were applicable, but let’s not hide from the fact that the Commanders were plagued by inconsistency all season. There were several players who didn’t fulfill their end of the bargain, but the Commanders should have zero incentive to bring these four back under any circumstance.

4 Commanders who don’t deserve to be back in 2022

4. Darryl Roberts

Signed as extra insurance at cornerback last offseason, Roberts didn’t live up to expectations for Washington in 2021. The former seventh-round pick was inactive for the first three games of the campaign, returned to the lineup in Weeks 4 and 5, but went back on the shelf after injuring his quad.

Roberts was placed on injured reserve and didn’t play again until Week 12. He saw extended action as a starter in Weeks 14 and 15, but only because Kendall Fuller (COVID) and William Jackson (injury) were on the mend.

The 31-year-old Roberts is a candidate to be re-signed for the veteran minimum, but he didn’t exactly impress in his limited reps, allowing six receptions for 113 yards (18.8 average) and a 71.4 passer rating when targeted.

Not awful numbers by any stretch, but they probably won’t be enough for Roberts to see another season in Washington. If the team is looking for depth at corner, we’d much rather see it pursue a Danny Johnson reunion or take to the middle rounds of the upcoming draft to develop a young prospect.