Things have not gone according to plan for the Washington Commanders this season. Their chances of making the playoffs have all but evaporated, and the second half of 2025 promises to be a painful one with so many influential figures missing through injury.
Fans had lofty expectations after an aggressive offseason from general manager Adam Peters and reaching the NFC Championship game. They haven't come close to being met, which gave everyone associated with the franchise a brutal reality check about this project.
The cracks were papered over last season. Jayden Daniels masked many of their problems with his exceptional performance. The injury issues haven't helped, but this squad looks a long way off from contending.
Commanders are not in the Asante Samuel Jr. sweepstakes, even though they should be
And despite cornerback being a grave need for the Commanders, they were not on free-agent Asante Samuel Jr.'s long list of meetings once he finally received the all-clear to resume football activities after recovering from spinal fusion surgery.
Samuel is an outstanding performer when healthy. He also recently turned 26, so this represents a long-term investment for willing suitors. And as expected, the list of teams looking to acquire the former Florida State standout is extensive.
The Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, and Pittsburgh Steelers all have meetings set up with Samuel. All of them have a chance of making the postseason. A couple of them fancy their chances of making serious noise. Sadly, the Commanders are nowhere near this level right now.
Whether Peters inquired or not is moot. The fact that Washington isn't being aggressive, standing pat at the trade deadline, and relying on aging veterans down on their luck to plug gaps shows how far they have fallen.
This would have been an outstanding addition if the Commanders were in contention, especially after four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore suffered a torn ACL against the Seattle Seahawks. Aspirations have changed, and although Washington hasn't completely given up on the season, this is about treading water before a monumental offseason in 2026.
Samuel's missed a lot of football. He wants to go somewhere he can compete while gradually rebuilding his confidence. The Commanders are neither of those right now. They were never a viable destination, even if they wanted to be.
Holding on to any carried-over money for next offseason is the primary objective. And make no mistake: what happens when the next recruitment period begins will have big-time ramifications.