How will the two recent bombshell trades within the NFC East impact the Washington Commanders and their chances in 2023?
It was a quiet start to free agency across the NFC East. But that all changed on Tuesday when two bombshell trades sent shockwaves through the division.
First, the New York Giants struck a deal for stud tight end Darren Waller, sending the pick acquired from the Kadarius Toney trade to the Las Vegas Raiders. This is another outstanding weapon for quarterback Daniel Jones, who signed a lucrative contract last week to stick around after making significant strides under head coach Brian Daboll.
Not to be outdone, the Dallas Cowboys also got in on the act by acquiring All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore from the Indianapolis Colts. A move that strengthens a defense that was further bolstered by Leight Vander Esch and Donovan Wilson signing extensions.
The Washington Commanders have been relatively quiet throughout free agency so far. They’ve strengthened key positions with cheap veterans and took the plunge on Cameron Dantzler Sr. off the waiver wire for another cornerback option.
These divisional trades won’t have gone unnoticed by those in power. Whether it’s enough for them to shift their approach regarding recruitment is another matter.
With that being said, we took a look at both trades and how they might impact the Commanders in 2023.
Commanders have a big problem with Darren Waller
The New York Giants took a monumental leap forward during their first season under Brian Daboll in 2022. Reaching the postseason and securing a memorable road playoff win at the Minnesota Vikings was just the start, so acquiring Darren Waller was another strong declaration of their intent next time around.
Waller’s had his problems with injuries of late. But few would deny he isn’t one of the NFL’s best pass-catching tight ends when fit and firing on all cylinders.
Make no mistake, this is a big problem for the Washington Commanders. The Giants aren’t blessed with much quality at the wide receiver position, but having Waller represents a matchup nightmare unless the front office finds a big, physical cornerback to counteract this threat.
Despite having Cameron Dantzler Sr., Kendall Fuller, and Benjamin St-Juste, this doesn’t solve their newfound problem where Waller is concerned. And the team’s lack of coverage capabilities within their linebacking corps is another potential complication.
Thankfully, there are some exciting prospects from the college ranks that the Commanders could select in the first two rounds. This would give them a fighting chance of keeping Waller quiet.
Washington also has the prolific safety tandem of Kamren Curl and Darrick Forrest – two players who’ll be integral to stopping Waller from gaining yards after the catch. Even if this is something they could have done without.
Commanders have the firepower to offset Stephon Gilmore
Few have provided more accomplished cornerback production than Stephon Gilmore over the last decade. Despite brief stays with the Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts over the last two seasons, the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year remains an elite shutdown presence that could be the Dallas Cowboys’ missing piece on their already potent defense.
Gilmore gave up just 54.9 percent of targets in 2022 and a 73.9 passer rating. The one-time South Carolina standout conceded 6.8 yards per attempt and was a hugely influential figure on and off the field.
While this makes things more difficult for the Washington Commanders, they have more than enough firepower to offset Gilmore’s arrival in the NFC East. Terry McLaurin gave the cornerback a hard time in 2022 when going up against each other, which is a positive ahead of their two matchups next season.
Curtis Samuel, Jahan Dotson, and perhaps even Dyami Brown will help. It’s also worth remembering that the Commanders’ offense is being spearheaded by Eric Bieniemy – one of the shrewdest minds in the business who’ll have full control.
This is a tremendous addition for the Cowboys – there’s no getting away from that. But the Commanders have more than enough in their locker at the skill positions if quarterback Sam Howell meets his end of the bargain.