The Washington Commanders sat back and watched the Philadelphia Eagles sign veteran edge rusher Za'Darius Smith after their regular-season curtain raiser against the Dallas Cowboys. That left fans feeling disappointed, but general manager Adam Peters could have some other cards to play.
Much will depend on how things unfold in Week 1 against the New York Giants and the Thursday Night Football showdown at the Green Bay Packers. The mini-bye would be a good time to implement changes if they're required, and Peters won't hesitate to pull the trigger if he feels like it could benefit the franchise.
The Eagles aren't waiting. Neither should the Commanders.
Commanders should keep Jadeveon Clowney on speed dial with pass-rushers facing questons
There is one aggressive move Peters could make that would flip the NFC upside down. He's been reluctant up to now, but the fact that Smith is no longer available makes Jadeveon Clowney a much more enticing proposition.
Clowney is still searching for alternative employment after his shocking release from the Carolina Panthers following the 2025 NFL Draft. The NFC South club traded up twice on Day 2 for Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen, signaling that a distinct youth movement was underway. Unfortunately, this didn't include the former No. 1 pick out of South Carolina.
That left Clowney feeling aggrieved. He was one of the better players on Carolina's historically bad defense last season. He's a solid enough pass-rusher and an exceptional force against the run. The Panthers felt like the savings attached were too tempting to ignore, but his comments after being cut left no doubt that there is still some good football left.
Nobody has taken the bait with Clowney as yet. He might be looking for the right fit, which hasn't arrived. But if the Commanders gave him a call, the seasoned pro would likely jump at the chance to join this ambitious project.
Whether the Commanders are looking for more edge help remains to be seen. Peters seems pretty content with what he has for now. But if the group cannot raise performance levels over the opening few weeks of the campaign, the front-office leader must react with conviction.
He needs to act quickly if Clowney is a target of interest. He's comfortably the best defensive end or 3-4 outside linebacker remaining on the market after Smith joined the Eagles. That won't go unnoticed by other potential suitors who need more or suffer an injury issue along the way.
The Commanders have the money to make Clowney a decent offer. They are also in win-now mode, so the benefits far outweigh the negatives if others around don't meet their end of the bargain.