Everyone within the Washington Commanders seems to be in agreement about what the most pressing offseason need is to get this franchise back among the contenders. General manager Adam Peters must fix the pass rush, and he must do it urgently.
Peters took heat from fans last year for not prioritizing the defensive edge. He kept faith with the options available while adding aging veterans to one-year deals. The gamble backfired, and the Commanders generated almost no consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks throughout the campaign.
This is a mistake Peters cannot make again. Fortunately, he maintained future financial flexibility and could have around $100 million to utilize in free agency. Much will depend on who hits the open market, but an NFL analyst thought an upgrade could arrive from one of Washington's bitter division rivals.
Commanders could strike a blow on the Eagles by signing Jaelan Phillips in free agency
Douglas Fritz of Clutch Points named Jaelan Phillips as someone who could bring some much-needed juice to Washington's defensive edge. While the sack numbers didn't jump off the screen following his trade to the Philadelphia Eagles before the 2025 deadline, his flashes dictate more could be on the way in a featured role elsewhere.
"There’s a clear-cut reason to pursue [Jaelan] Phillips. He fits a major need for the Commanders. They should sign him and still draft an edge rusher at No. 7. Phillips’ 77.1 pass-rush grade [PFF] was the second-highest of his career. His pass-rush win rate ranked in the top 20 of the NFL among qualifying edge defenders. There’s still a lot to like about Phillips, a former first-round pick who is only 26 years old."Douglas Fritz
Phillips is a proven performer. He's dealt with some injury problems throughout his career, but the 2021 first-round pick is athletic, aggressive, and can bend around the edge effortlessly. His ability to generate pressure is solid, and his positional awareness makes him impactful against the run.
Adding Phillips, who is still 26, won't be cheap. Spotrac projects the Miami product to generate $17.33 million per season on a three-year, $52.01 million deal. The Eagles have $20.55 million in available cap space, so they could extend him. If not, the Commanders have more than enough cash to absorb this sort of financial commitment.
Adding Phillips to the edge — or any other available option in free agency, for that matter — is not going to solve all of Washington's pass-rushing woes. This needs to be a multi-hit approach, especially with new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones aiming to make his unit more aggressive and creative. But make no mistake; the Redlands East Valley High School graduate would get them a lot closer.
And sticking it to Howie Roseman and the Eagles only sweetens the pot.