The Washington Commanders have an awful lot to get through this offseason. General manager Adam Peters will already have a plan in place, which must start by targeting younger players across the board.
Peters ran it back with most of those who made the 2024 NFC Championship game. He once again signed several aging veterans, making Washington the NFL's oldest roster by a considerable margin. The gamble backfired, so a strategic rethink is crucial.
One of these centers on the tight end position. Pro Bowl veteran Zach Ertz is done in Washington after tearing his ACL. John Bates is a blocking specialist, and the young duo of Ben Sinnott and Colson Yankoff remains minimal contributors at best. If the Commanders want to improve their chances of bouncing back next time, they need another stable veteran presence capable of making things happen in the passing game.
Commanders should consider replacing Zach Ertz with David Njoku in free agency
And even though his numbers are down this season, David Njoku could be a risk worth taking if he hits the open market as expected.
Njoku's athleticism and ability to gain yards after the catch remain intriguing. The Cleveland Browns struck gold with rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr., moving the veteran into a more secondary role on offense. The AFC North club is unlikely to offer him the money he wants on another extension, and there should be interest in free agency when the time comes.
According to Spotrac, Njoku is expected to get $10.4 million per season on a two-year $20.8 million deal. The Commanders have sufficient financial resources to make this move, so it's all about how Peters and others in positions of power view the options available to them.
Washington eventually drafted Sinnott to replace Ertz. That might still be the case, but the Kansas State product hasn't shown enough to inspire confidence as he takes on increased responsibilities in Year 3 of his professional career. And considering how vital the former Stanford standout was to quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Commanders need to find an adequate replacement.
Njoku is flying under the radar thanks to Fannin's emergence. But when he is fit and firing on all cylinders, he is a matchup nightmare capable of slotting into Kliff Kingsbury's scheme effortlessly, if he doesn't get a head-coaching gig during the upcoming hiring cycle.
It'll be interesting to see what Peters has planned. But the front-office leader should know that Ertz's imminent departure leaves a gaping hole that must be filled.