4 easiest decisions for Commanders before free agency frenzy

3. Sign Quandre Diggs

The Commanders have a stud strong safety on their hands in Kam Curl, who finished his sophomore season second on the team with 99 tackles. The 2020 seventh-round gem added five passes defended while allowing just a 60.7 completion rate and an 87.6 passer rating when targeted.

Curl was also one of Washington’s strongest tacklers and run defenders, earning grades of 82.4 and 75.6 in those respective categories from Pro Football Focus. In sum, Curl is one of the most promising young safeties in the game. And while that’s all well and good, he needs a proper running mate.

Enter Quandre Diggs, one of the most underrated free safeties the NFL has to offer with superstars like Tyrann Mathieu, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Marcus Williams, Budda Baker and Justin Simmons all garnering more recognition.

While Mathieu and Williams are both free agents, Diggs is the most realistic for Washington given his age (29) and he’s coming off a serious injury (broken fibula). All signs suggest Diggs is ahead of schedule in his recovery. He even tweeted in early February that he’s already shed his cast, so good news there.

As a true deep safety, Diggs is everything the Commanders needs at the safety position. Over the last two seasons with Seattle, Diggs has managed 158 tackles, 10 (!) interceptions and 17 passes defended. He’s also a bull against the run, logging a 78.2 run-defense grade from PFF during that span.

Diggs has notched three INTs in every season dating back to 2017, which is pretty remarkable for a safety, and he can play in multiple schemes. If Washington is serious about anchoring its secondary, Diggs should be the pick.