Commanders must target Josh Sweat
One of the biggest problems that eventually led to the Washington Commanders' undoing centered on the trenches. Both sides of the football were found wanting against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game. Considering the newly crowned Super Bowl champions reside in the same division, rectifying these issues should be among Adam Peters' biggest priorities in the coming months.
Fortifying the pass rush is crucial. The Commanders trod water with the options available, but they needed a legitimate game-wrecking force capable of turning the tide. Especially considering the strength of Philadelphia's vaunted offensive line.
This is a deep draft class for defensive linemen and edge rushers, so Peters could go down the college route for reinforcements. The Commanders are also being linked with a bold trade for Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett. Whether this amounts to anything more than speculation is debatable.
If the Commanders opt to invest in free agency, Josh Sweat comes into the equation. His performance in the Super Bowl was outstanding, causing constant havoc and making life extremely uncomfortable for All-Pro quarterback Patrick Mahomes. This won't go unnoticed by teams looking for edge help this spring.
Acquiring Sweat won't be cheap. However, the Commanders have more than enough spare financial resources to pull this off.
Commanders must target Justin Reid
The safety position wouldn't be a significant need for the Commanders heading into the offseason. That will change depending on Jeremy Chinn's future with the franchise.
Washington took a chance on Chinn in free agency last year. He was down on his luck after being relegated to an afterthought with the Carolina Panthers. Linking up with Dan Quinn in a scheme that suited his athletic attributes saw the defensive back galvanize his outlook.
Chinn was explosive and instinctive. It wasn't perfect, but the improvements were encouraging. His partnership with Quan Martin on the back end comes with a long-term upside attached. It would be surprising if Washington and the former second-round pick out of Southern Illinois didn't work out an extension.
If Chinn gets a better offer from elsewhere, the Commanders must pivot accordingly. Justin Reid would be on the pricey side, but one could argue he'd be a substantial upgrade on anything Washington has at its disposal currently.
The Kansas City Chiefs were never in the game as their historic three-peat fell short. Reid was among the very few to emerge with credit, trying valiantly to turn the tide. It wasn't enough thanks to the failings of others, but his performance is only going to increase interest if the AFC champions let him test the market.