Adam Peters will leave no stone unturned in pursuit of strengthening the Washington Commanders during the offseason. This includes examining the potential of those deemed surplus to requirements elsewhere.
The NFL works under a hard salary cap. There are ways to manipulate it for short-term relief, but teams always have to pay up eventually. That inevitably brings tough decisions with high earners and the savings from their early departures.
Peters is armed with plenty of salary-cap space. The Commanders are an attractive destination following their memorable run to the NFC Championship game. This is not the NFL pariah of years past. There is ambition and purpose where once there was nothing but abject misery.
Finding the right players who fit into the culture is crucial. Peters won't be overly erratic with his spending. At the same time, there is extra flexibility to be aggressive and acquire proven veterans capable of helping Washington win right away.
Commanders should monitor Jaire Alexander's status with the Packers
One situation the Commanders and others around the league will be monitoring closely centers on Jaire Alexander's future with the Green Bay Packers.
The relationship seems to be fractured. Rob Demovsky from ESPN hinted that signs point to the two parties going their separate ways. This is thanks in no small part to the cornerback's rumored unwillingness to play through the pain barrier according to team sources.
"There are strong indications that [Jaire] Alexander's time with the Packers will end without him playing another down. Multiple team sources have privately expressed their frustration with Alexander's inability to stay healthy and/or play through injuries. He did not play after Nov. 17 -- despite practicing on a semi-regular basis -- went on injured reserve the final week of the season and underwent knee surgery on what he said was a torn PCL. Alexander declined to speak with reporters on the last day of availability at the end of the season, saying he had "nothing good to say" and that he did not know if he would be back with the team in 2025."Rob Demovsky
Alexander was one of the league's best shutdown corners at the peak of his powers. He's a two-time Pro Bowler who recently turned 28 years old. He's dealt with some health concerns over the last two seasons, but one cannot dismiss the quality of his performances when on the field.
The former first-round pick out of Louisville gave up 56.7 percent of his targets in 2024. He secured two interceptions and seven pass breakups in just seven games. Alexander's 78.3 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus ranked 16th out of 223 qualifying cornerbacks. If he's motivated to help a contender, the Commanders could do a lot worse if the Packers released him.
Washington has Mike Sainristil and Marshon Lattimore in its cornerback room. Noah Igbinoghene arguably did enough for a contract extension, but that's not enough. Adding someone with Alexander's credentials gives defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. another accomplished coverage presence capable of turning opportunities into touchdowns.
Alexander has the mentality to fit in well. He should also be highly motivated to prove the Packers wrong in this scenario. Being too similar to Lattimore — a player who also heads into 2025 with a big point to prove — might be offputting from the Commanders' standpoint. But this is a high-risk, high-reward option that could be a significant asset if he puts a consistent run of games together.
It's something to monitor at the very least. Whether it amounts to anything more is up to Peters.