Commanders checking in on Patrick Peterson could foreshadow future moves

If you wanted to summarize the Washington Commanders‘ free agency activity, you could simply say they’ve either re-signed a handful of their own free agents or signed players whom have previous ties to head coach Ron Rivera.

It’s a simple approach, but one that’s been effective, as the likes of JD McKissic, Bobby McCain, Cornelius Lucas, Joey Slye and Danny Johnson are all back after they played a major role for the Commanders last season.

In terms of outside signings, Andrew Norwell, who will step in for the released Ereck Flowers at left guard, came at a discount and David Obada is a quality addition to the defensive line given his ability to play on the edge or interior.

Having said all that, Commanders fans would like to see the front office show more urgency as far as adding talent before the draft. While talented, this roster is rough around the edges so a couple reinforcements couldn’t hurt.

We’ve heard little in terms of players Washington’s been interested in, but that changed Wednesday night, as it was reported the team checked in on Patrick Peterson before he re-signed with the Minnesota Vikings.

The Commanders kicked the tires on Patrick Peterson in free agency.

Hard to be disappointed when a player signs with his former team, but missing on Peterson is still a tough pill to swallow.

An 11-year veteran who’s made eight Pro Bowls and was named to the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade Team, Peterson would’ve added needed leadership to Washington’s defense, which was susceptible to communication breakdowns and was among the worst in the league defending the pass in 2021.

As one of the better free agents left standing on the defensive side of the ball, the Commanders keeping tabs on Peterson’s market throughout the offseason basically communicates they’re looking to add depth at cornerback.

That’s not a bad idea.

After all, Kendall Fuller is really the only sure thing on the roster. While William Jackson III came on in the second half, he has a lot to prove before we can say he was deserving of the $26 million guaranteed on his three-year contract.

Regardless, he’s still a solid No. 2. Behind Fuller and Jackson, it starts getting a little dicey, as Danny Johnson and Benjamin St-Juste, who was limited to nine games as a rookie due to concussions, represent the team’s only depth.

Luckily for the Commanders, there’s still plenty of viable cornerbacks waiting to be signed. Between Stephon Gilmore, Joe Haden, AJ Bouye, Jason Verrett and Xavier Rhodes, there’s a ton of experience available on the market.

There’s at least several more attractive names you could include in that list, too, including old friend Fabian Moreau, so don’t be shocked if Washington dips its toes back into the cornerback pool after missing out on Peterson.