There are still three games for the Washington Commanders to tackle this season, all against their division rivals. However, fans could be forgiven for looking beyond that to a crucial offseason for the organization.
General manager Adam Peters is about to embark on phase three of his master plan to get the Commanders into the mix as challengers. And this all starts with deciding whether those out-of-contract players deserve an extended stay with the club.
Some decisions seem straightforward. Others are hanging in the balance. But there is one key equation that could define Peters' entire offseason.
Commanders have a massive decision to make with Deebo Samuel Sr. this offseason
With the need to find quarterback Jayden Daniels more dependable players in the passing game, the Commanders struck a trade with the San Francisco 49ers for Deebo Samuel Sr. The wide receiver came into the franchise with questions about his conditioning and overall attitude. However, he's answered his critics and more.
This puts the Commanders in a predicament. Samuel is out of contract this offseason, and he wants to be paid. This could be his last chance to secure a lucrative long-term deal, so his representatives will likely drive a hard bargain. Based on his market projection, it could go either way.
According to Spotrac, the former South Carolina standout is expected to get around $19.95 million per season on a three-year, $59.86 million deal. This would place him at No. 24 in the highest-paid wideouts around the league, but there is just no telling if Peters would be willing to offer this sort of financial commitment.
The Commanders already have a lot of money tied to Terry McLaurin. Giving another receiver over 30 years old around $20 million per year might not be on his radar.
Washington only gave up a fifth-round pick for Samuel. He was worth it, even if this turns out to be a one-year rental. The Commanders were correct to push their chips into the middle after reaching the NFC Championship game. It didn't go well, but there is no buyer's remorse with the 2019 second-round pick.
Peters will now take stock and decide on the best path forward. He's got the money to extend Samuel, and there are ways to structure the contract that protect the franchise. At the same time, it's a lot of money, and the Commanders have other glaring needs that might take priority in the end.
Fans won't mind if Samuel sticks around. He's earned that right, but Peters has the business side at the forefront, so it's hard to predict how this critical situation will play out.
Watch this space...