The Washington Commanders are always looking for ways to enhance their roster. But with all the focus and talk about the need for offensive line reinforcements, general manager Adam Peters instead focused on the opposite side of the football.
According to ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler, the Commanders are signing versatile defensive lineman Boogie Basham to a one-year deal. He worked out for the team on Monday, and those in power were impressed enough to give him a chance.
Not the center fans were expecting after another lackluster showing against the Detroit Lions, but the Commanders clearly believe Basham could help solidify their defensive depth.
Commanders give Boogie Basham a last-ditch chance to resurrect his NFL career
Basham has the size and length to operate as a 3-4 defensive end or come a little wider from the 3-4 outside linebacker position. Daronte Jones preaches the importance of versatility and dependability within his creative scheme, so it's not hard to see why the new arrival could make a smooth transition.
Whether he can make a quick enough transition is another matter.
There are only a few days before final cuts are due around the league. The dominoes will begin to fall quickly after the Commanders' final preseason engagement against the Baltimore Ravens. That doesn't make things any easier for Basham to make an impact, but it's a situation he's all too familiar with.
The highly touted prospect out of Wake Forest never met the expectations of a second-round pick with the Buffalo Bills, who traded him to the New York Giants. He bounced on and off the practice squad without making a considerable impression with the G-Men. And despite flashing during brief involvement with the Carolina Panthers in 2025, he was released in November.
Most recently, Basham spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason but failed to make an impact. Time, and probably chances, are running out for the veteran. If he cannot make a go of things in Washington, one has to wonder if another opportunity will arrive with the season so close.
What comes next is down to the player.
The Commanders look well stocked on the defensive line and on the edge, so it already looks as if Basham is fighting a losing battle. But with joint practice and a preseason game against the Ravens upcoming this week, he should get some good work in.
And he must impress.
The chances of Basham cracking the 53-man roster are slim, in all honesty. But if the 28-year-old can do enough to get a place on the practice squad, that should be considered an achievement after arriving in the organization so late in the process.
But this doesn't detract from the need to find more help on the offensive line, which is a much greater concern.
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