The Washington Commanders are narrowing down their shortlist of free-agent possibilities before the legal tampering window opens. General manager Adam Peters must be bold with his acquisitions, and some around the league are expecting this to be the busiest offseason of his tenure to date.
Thanks to a stunning development elsewhere, the Commanders may now have the green light to bolster their second-level defense.
The Green Bay Packers caused a stir by trading for Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin in a rare player-for-player deal. Defensive lineman Colby Wooden is going the other way, which could be a win-win for both clubs.
Packers trade all but confirms Commanders could have a shot at Quay Walker
This also all but confirms Quay Walker will test the open market. Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network revealed that the Packers have worked tirelessly to reach a compromise before free agency, but they have failed to find common ground. And now, it seems as if the former Georgia standout will see what else is out there.
"The Packers wanted to keep LB Quay Walker and made several runs at re-signing him before the Zaire Franklin trade. But it now appears the former first-round pick will hit free agency Monday, and he is expected to have a strong market."
The Commanders have been constantly touted as a potential landing spot for Walker. They have a need at the linebacker position, which will become even greater if Bobby Wagner departs. Daronte Jones talked up Frankie Luvu, and Jordan Magee should continue his encouraging development. Still, Washington has the financial resources to focus on some of the more prominent free agents, should they choose.
Walker is a well-rounded player. He might not be in the same category as Devin Lloyd, who is the consensus best linebacker available right now. However, he will be cheaper, and the athletic measurables suggest this would be a decent enough fit within Jones's schematic concepts.
The 2022 first-round pick needs to improve his discipline in coverage before confidence in his chances increases. Walker is still young enough to keep growing. What Peters must figure out is just how high the ceiling is and how much more Jones could potentially get out of the player in a different environment.
Green Bay wanted to keep him around, but the franchise also didn't want to go over its price point. If Walker is in high demand, that will only drive up the price, so it'll be interesting to see what Peters' cut-off point is if he does make inquiries.
Commanders fans are approaching the upcoming frenzy with nervous excitement. But for Peters, he cannot afford to get his pivotal decisions wrong.