The Washington Commanders' offseason roster building was littered with encouragement. General manager Adam Peters did a good job, and there is still plenty of cash left over to make additional moves, depending on what opportunities or weaknesses emerge.
However, one contentious issue continues to draw criticism months later.
Peters began with a bold choice, releasing starting center Tyler Biadasz. This had no real salary-cap benefits, and considering some respected beat writers were projecting a possible extension for the veteran with one year remaining on his deal, it caught almost everyone off guard.
Commanders' offseason could be defined by Tyler Biadasz's shocking release
Bill Barnwell of ESPN was the latest to be critical of the decision, naming it as Washington's worst move of the offseason. The respected analyst thought Peters misread the center market, leaving him scrambling for answers after Tyler Linderbaum got a market-resetting offer from the Las Vegas Raiders. And looking at the options available, he was not holding out much hope of an upgrade.
It's a fair assessment, one shared by some sections of the fan base. Peters had his reasons for parting ways with Biadasz, but they won't be made public. But if he did this with the intent of acquiring Linderbaum in free agency, it was a major strikeout.
Peters extended Nick Allegretti early, which gives him a favorite's chance of replacing Biadasz next season. The Commanders spent a sixth-round pick on Matt Gulbin, who had a decent college career. Washington seems satisfied enough, but any optimism is at best unstable.
Biadasz found work quickly, signing a deal with the Los Angeles Chargers. Perhaps the Commanders wanted to do right by the lineman, allowing him to choose his next destination. But for a team in desperate need of 2026 draft assets, not getting anything back in return, especially given the New England Patriots got a fifth-round selection for the inferior Garrett Bradbury, only made it more frustrating.
Fans should let things play out. Peters still has their trust, even though last season represented a significant step back. He believes Allegretti can perform better as an anchor within David Blough's new blocking concepts, which is fine. But there is a lot of hard work ahead throughout the summer to ensure this gamble goes as everyone associated with the Commanders hopes.
If Peters isn't satisfied, he's got the cash for another capable performer. Good options don't tend to come on the market at this time of year, but you never know. There is an option to trade for someone, but the Commanders need to retain their draft capital and start building the right way.
Trust the process. But if things fall flat and Biadasz shines under Jim Harbaugh in Los Angeles, this decision will go from contentious to egregious in a hurry.
Add us as a preferred source on Google