The Washington Commanders had the most pending free agents of anyone in the league. Fans are expecting major changes to the playing personnel, but not every out-of-contract veteran will leave the franchise.
General manager Adam Peters kicked off his offseason by re-signing Pro Bowl punter Tress Way. This was swiftly followed by another extension, which was a little bit more surprising but makes a ton of sense all the same.
According to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, the Commanders have re-signed veteran offensive lineman Andrew Wylie to a two-year deal. It's worth $7.5 million, which could rise to $10.5 million with incentives. That is a big boost for Washington's depth behind the starting protection, but it has raised a few eyebrows.
Commanders tying down Andrew Wylie is good business for everyone
Wylie clearly loves it in Washington. One could have forgiven him for seeking alternative offers with a better chance to start elsewhere, but he's comfortable being a capable backup who can slot in almost anywhere.
The Super Bowl winner was much-maligned at right tackle. Wylie spent two years as the starter, but when Josh Conerly Jr. was drafted, it was only going to end one way. He went to the bench for two games before being installed at the right guard position after Nick Allegretti fluffed his lines.
This provided the Commanders with some much-needed stability. Wylie served a purpose, but he returned to the bench once Sam Cosmi recovered from a torn ACL. He saw some action late in the campaign. Still, the jury was well and truly out on an extended stay.
It is a decent deal for both parties. It strengthens backup options when injuries inevitably occur. It also keeps Wylie in familiar surroundings in a lesser role, which is the sort of comfort players are always seeking. And the deal is pretty cost-effective in the grand scheme of things.
There is a lot of hard work ahead; make no mistake about that. Peters is getting a head start by deciding which players to keep and which to let go. Keeping Wylie around was feasible if he wanted a new contract. After that, it's just a case of making the money work.
Wylie is a solid pro with significant experience. He won't be tasked with starting-caliber reps if everyone is healthy. At the same time, this isn't a bad contingency plan to have if things start to go wrong.
The Eastern Michigan product can step up at a moment's notice to prevent momentum from being lost. And now, he's been rewarded accordingly.