Commanders' center mess gets more infuriating after Tyler Linderbaum revelation

The Washington Commanders have a self-inflicted problem brewing at center. Releasing veteran starter Tyler Biadasz was a massive call to make just before free agency, but general manager Adam Peters' next move didn't go as he hoped.

Tyler Linderbaum was the primary target when the legal tampering window opened. Peters didn't land his man, but one Commanders insider revealed just how close Washington came to signing the prolific offensive line anchor.

Lake Lewis Jr. of ESPN Radio, during his latest appearance on the Ramblin' with Rio podcast, revealed via a source that there was reportedly a gentlemen's agreement with Linderbaum before the Las Vegas Raiders came in with a market-resetting offer that shook the NFL to its foundations.  

Commanders had agreement in place for Tyler Linderbaum before Raiders came over the top

Peters opted not to match it, and the Commanders have been scrambling for answers ever since.

“I was told by somebody that I do trust that they had an agreement, like a handshake agreement, pretty much with (Tyler) Linderbaum. I just think that when the Raiders came in and made you the highest-paid center in history, you can't turn that money down."

Linderbaum was clearly intrigued by the Commanders. He also wanted to see what else would come along.

As Lewis stated, the Raiders' three-year, $81 million, fully guaranteed contract for Linderbaum was impossible to turn down. It was a blow to the Commanders, but what came next was Peters' most critical mistake.

Peters did not attempt to sign any of the other centers on the free-agent market, and there were several good ones. The Commanders waited until the sixth round to draft Matt Gulbin, who is clearly in need of significant development before logging starting reps in the regular season. They pinned their hopes on Nick Allegretti, who's missed almost the entirety of training camp with a calf strain.

Not great.

This report will only add to the frustration around the Commanders striking out on Linderbaum. They could have upped their offer, and if Peters had the chance to go back knowing what he does now, he probably would.

Commanders have to find a better center solution before Week 1

But there is nothing the Commanders can do about it now.

They have to find a better solution. That isn't up for discussion at this point.

Allegretti should hopefully be back in time for Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles, but he's missed vital reps this summer. He's also inexperienced at center and failed to lock down one of the guard positions over his first two seasons in Washington, further raising concerns.

Developing a contingency plan in case Allegretti cannot produce the goods is imperative. Everyone, including Peters, should be acutely aware of this by now.

Good players are about to be released around the league, so there could be an intriguing addition or two on the waiver wire after final cuts. If Peters wants to be a little bolder, examining a potential trade can't be ruled out either.

Either way, something has to be done.

Having Linderbaum would have been a game-changer for the Commanders, but Peters decided the money wasn't worth it. The ripple effects of this decision are enormous, and if this impacts quarterback Jayden Daniels' ability to be impactful in Year 3 of his professional career, it won't take long for the finger-pointing to go in the front-office leader's direction.

This has already begun, in all honesty.

Julian Good-Jones is not an NFL-caliber performer. Gulbin is a work in progress, and nobody knows if Allegretti can make a success of things at center.

Things would be different had Peters broken the bank for Linderbaum. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be.

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