The Washington Commanders were dealt a hammer blow with the injury to left tackle Laremy Tunsil. He'll miss most, if not all, of the 2026 campaign with a torn triceps that requires surgery, but head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters opted not to bring in outside help.
But after Washington's preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins, they might want to rethink this strategy.
Interior offensive lineman Chris Paul's time on the field wasn't great. He's operating at the left guard position with Brandon Coleman on the edge, but the frailties were there for all to see at Northwest Stadium on this side of the line.
Commanders should think about signing Taylor Decker before the 2026 season
Coleman looks better suited to the interior. He'd also be a better option than Paul, who seems to be reverting to type after performing well enough during the 2025 campaign.
This won't be going unnoticed.
Peters and Quinn wanted to give those around a chance to fill the void, but the stakes are too high not to examine other possibilities with one of the remaining free agents on the market. And there would be nobody better than Taylor Decker.
While Decker's 2025 campaign with the Detroit Lions was a down year by his typically high standards, he's experienced and accomplished on the blindside. At a time when the margins will be finer than ever for Washington this season, he'd also be an upgrade.
This would allow Coleman to switch inside, leaving Paul as a valuable backup piece capable of slotting in if another injury strikes. And given the money it cost to retain the former Tulsa standout after his market wasn't as hot as some expected in free agency, nothing but performance levels will enter Peters' thought process.
Taylor Decker would provide stability to Commanders after Laremy Tunsil injury
If Decker still wants to play, the Commanders could do far worse. He also knows offensive coordinator David Blough from their time together with the Lions, which should make the transition to his system seamless.
The Commanders have more than enough salary-cap space to make Decker a decent offer, which would give Tunsil all the time he needs to recover. Switching Coleman back to guard is unstable for the player, but Washington won't hesitate if those in power believe it will help the franchise.
This indifferent outing from Paul, and the fact that reports suggested Coleman was starting to move clear in the left guard battle before Tunsil's injury, is concerning. What the Commanders need to figure out is the possible ripple effect this could have when the regular season gets here.
Decker would help; there's no getting away from that. And if Paul cannot step things up, the Commanders may have no option but to identify someone else to fix what could be a glaring problem in front of quarterback Jayden Daniels.
After all, the time for half-measures is over.
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