The Washington Commanders created a problem that could have been avoided by releasing starting center Tyler Biadasz. General manager Adam Peters had his reasons, which are being kept in-house, but it does not hide the fact that this is a massive gamble that could go either way.
Washington seems comfortable with the options available. Nick Allegretti received an early extension rather than being released, putting him in pole position for the role. The Commanders also drafted Matt Gulbin in the sixth round. He's got some impressive college production under his belt at Michigan State, but asking him to immediately jump into a starting role seems unrealistic.
It's a fluid situation, and head coach Dan Quinn also wants to see what Brandon Coleman can do from the offensive line anchor role. But if Peters decides more is required, he won't hesitate to make the moves needed with so much at stake next season.
Commanders should monitor Olu Oluwatimi's status as trade buzz builds
And according to a recent report, there may be an intriguing possibility available on the trade market for the Commanders to consider.
Brady Henderson of ESPN highlighted Olu Oluwatimi as someone the Seattle Seahawks may look to move if the right offer arrives. He's entering the final year of his deal and has lost his starting job to Jalen Sundell. Keeping him around as a versatile depth piece is feasible, but getting something in return for him cannot be dismissed either.
"One potential trade candidate to watch this summer will be center Olu Oluwatimi. The 2023 fifth-round pick is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is slated to again back up Jalen Sundell, who beat him out for the job last summer.
"The Seahawks don't seem determined to move Oluwatimi, who has obvious value to them as an experienced depth piece with 13 starts in three seasons. But if they believe Sundell is their long-term center, trading Oluwatimi would guarantee they get something for him."
This should interest the Commanders. It wouldn't cost anything more than a late-round pick to strike a deal for Oluwatimi. Looking at his production since entering the league, he could arguably be an upgrade on anything else Washington has right now.
Trading for veterans is something Peters has actively avoided this offseason. There is now a different approach, focused on long-term planning. It's the right way to go about things, but if Oluwatimi can be had for relatively little, it could provoke a discussion in Washington's front office.
In an ideal world, either Allegretti or Gulbin will do enough to become a consistent presence to fill the void left by Biadasz. If not, Peters may be forced to take more drastic measures to solidify protection in front of quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Whether that would involve trading for Oluwatimi is anyone's guess, but there are far worse routes the Commanders could take.
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