6 free agents Commanders can sign after losing out on James Bradberry
By Jerry Trotta
The Washington Commanders‘ approach to the offseason has been more conservative than anyone could have envisioned. While there’s nothing timid about trading draft picks to acquire a new starting quarterback, everything else about the offseason has been passive. Almost at an alarming rate.
As of this writing, Andrew Norwell’s two-year, $10 million contract represents Washington’s biggest free agent splash to date. To make matters worse, the team’s foremost rivals (the Eagles) have moved the needle to upgrade their roster.
On Wednesday, things became personal with the NFC East foes, as Philly poached James Bradberry, a supposed Washington target, signing the former Ron Rivera disciple to a reasonable one-year, $10 million deal.
Though it’s unclear if the Commanders were in the mix for Bradberry, it’s reasonable to assume they’re looking to bolster the roster before offseason workouts kick into high gear and they break before training camp in July.
Here are some free agents who come to mind.
6 free agents Commanders can sign after losing James Bradberry
6. Akiem Hicks
It’s honestly a surprise Hicks is still braving free agency. Though he’s far removed from his prime and injuries have started taking a toll, Hicks is still one of the most versatile interior defensive lineman in the league.
A capable pass rusher and a human vacuum against the run, Hicks thrives when lined up over the guard or tackle. He’s not as effective as a nose tackle and fans shouldn’t expect star production, but Washington can do a lot worse than adding the 32-year-old vet to its DL rotation, which lost a ton of depth this offseason.
5. Justin Houston
The Commanders have one of the most promising edge rushing tandems in the league. Last offseason, Chase Young and Montez Sweat aimed to set the combined sack record for teammates before injuries crushed those aspirations.
The pass rush really struggled without the former first-round picks, so it would behoove the front office to be proactive in preventing another doomsday scenario. While Efe Obada is an intriguing signing and James Smith-Williams flashed as a rookie, plucking Houston off the market would be a great culture move.
Houston didn’t sign with Baltimore until late last offseason and he was more productive than most of their young edge rushers. The 11-year veteran no longer boasts elite quickness at age 33, but he’s living proof that technique and football acumen are imperative traits for a pass rusher.
In 2021, Houston earned a 77.8 pass rush grade from Pro Football Focus after compiling six sacks, 22 hurries and 40 pressures. Given Young and Sweat will only log between 75-80% of the snaps, there’d be plenty of playing time to go around for the four-time Pro Bowler.