Nick Allegretti - Commanders OL
Adam Peters urgently addressed the protection in front of quarterback Jayden Daniels this offseason. It's a revamped unit led by two new offensive tackles in Laremy Tunsil and Josh Conerly Jr. That could provide the spark to ignite this offense to even greater heights moving forward.
The Commanders are shifting Brandon Coleman to the left guard position. His skills are better suited there, which could see veteran Nick Allegretti shift over to the right-hand side to provide a solid insurance policy until Sam Cosmi is ready to return from a torn ACL.
Allegretti is a seasoned professional, so the move over shouldn't be a problem. However, last season's free agency acquisition from the Kansas City Chiefs needs to raise his production levels in no uncertain terms.
According to Pro Football Focus, Allegretti's 57.5 pass-blocking grade ranked 85th out of 136 qualifying guards. Things were moderately better on running plays, with his 63.9 run-blocking grade coming in 59th.
That won't suffice if the Commanders want to get over the hump and into the Super Bowl. Allegretti needs to be more effective, especially considering he'll likely have a rookie right tackle in Conerly next to him on the edge. If he can't, then he becomes a potential cut candidate heading into the final year of his deal.
Clelin Ferrell - Commanders DE
It's no secret that fans have major concerns about the edge rushing room. General manager Adam Peters could still add to the team's options if he chooses, but the front-office leader hasn't been in any great rush.
The Commanders are taking a big risk. They are right on the cusp of something special, but that could change if Joe Whitt Jr.'s unit cannot generate pressure consistently and set better edges against the run.
Clelin Ferrell surprisingly got a new deal from the Commanders this offseason. The No. 4 overall selection in 2019 will never fulfill his pre-draft promise, and he was taken way too high, but those in power still believe some untapped potential remains.
Ferrell flashed nothing more than brief glimpses of promise last season. He offers almost nothing from a pass-rushing standpoint. He's better versus the run, but the fact that Washington phased him out down the stretch and into the playoffs spoke volumes.
Whether Ferrell can raise his performance levels enough is debatable. He's got 17 sacks in six seasons, which doesn't exactly scream dependability. Making the squad is his first objective. After that, it's about taking chances as a rotational piece when opportunities arrive.
The Commanders won't be as lenient next time around if Ferrell cannot achieve these realistic objectives.