Commanders could sign Brandon Scherff
The Washington Commanders gave their offensive line another major boost by selecting Josh Conerly Jr. at No. 29 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. This was surprising to some, but Adam Peters took the highest-rated player on his board without a second thought.
Conerly has potential. Adding some play strength would be smart, but his technique and footwork already look NFL-ready. With a smooth transition this offseason, he could form a potential bookend tackle tandem with five-time Pro Bowl blindside enforcer Laremy Tunsil.
This will involve some shuffling around for others. Nick Allegretti, Brandon Coleman, and Andrew Wylie will fight it out for the starting guard spots. But if Peters isn't entirely convinced with the options available, especially with right guard Sam Cosmi on the shelf with a torn ACL, settling is not an option.
Brandon Scherff could be a nice stopgap for the Commanders that would take the pressure off Cosmi's recovery. This would also be an emotional reunion for the lineman, who was drafted by Washington and earned All-Pro honors before departing for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022 free agency.
Scherff didn't give up a sack last season. He's still performing at a decent level. One could even argue that he'd be an upgrade on anything the Commanders have on the interior currently.
Commanders could sign Julian Blackmon
The Commanders don't have enough at the safety position right now. There's a chance one of the team's young hopefuls can surge more than anticipated, but guaranteeing this would be foolish looking at the options available.
This all started when the Commanders opted to let Jeremy Chinn walk in favor of the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. Most fans were convinced he'd sign an extension after impressing in 2024. Peters had other ideas, signing Will Harris to fill the void instead.
Washington placed a significant amount of faith in Harris (and those further down the depth chart) by ignoring some outstanding safety prospects in the draft. That will encourage them, but Peters won't stop looking for improvements.
Some intriguing options are remaining on the market. Julian Blackmon complements what the Commanders already have. He lacks consistency against the run on occasion, but his coverage support is first-class. He's also got the versatility to operate on the backend or in the nickel if the situation dictates.
The Commanders could do a lot worse than check in on Blackmon. He recently visited the Carolina Panthers without securing a deal immediately. If Peters identifies him as a player of interest — one who is young enough to potentially become a long-term piece of the puzzle — he must act quickly.