As the Washington Commanders stay busy during the NFL's legal tampering period before the official start of free agency, they'll have one more need to fill than expected.
That would be their starting strong safety position, as Jeremy Chinn departed for the Las Vegas Raiders on a two-year, $16 million deal.
This is not ideal news for Washington, but understandable on Chinn's end. He saw his market value increase during his lone campaign with the Commanders. The former second-round pick signed a one-year, prove it deal worth just over $4 million after his previous two seasons with the Carolina Panthers had been riddled by injuries. He capitalized on it by recording a career-high in tackles (117), while additionally earning two sacks and a pair of fumble recoveries in 2024.
Commanders must pivot quickly after Jeremy Chinn's shock departure
Chinn, the runner-up to Washington's Chase Young in the 2020 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year battle, will join a rebuilding Raiders team that new head coach Pete Carroll wants to jump-start with aggressive offseason moves, the same way the Commanders functioned last spring and summer. Las Vegas has already brought in Geno Smith as its new quarterback, while giving star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby a major extension.
Now, the Raiders will add Chinn for some secondary depth, ideally to start alongside returning free safety Isaiah Pola-Mao. That will leave Washington with 2024 undrafted free agent Tyler Owens as the only listed strong safety currently on its roster, so expect a move to be made there soon to correct that.
The Commanders have meanwhile been busy in other areas of the roster, most notably making a blockbuster deal to acquire left tackle Laremy Tunsil from the Houston Texans. The 2016 first-round pick has been selected to the Pro Bowl five times in the past six seasons, all in Houston after spending his first three years with the Miami Dolphins.
Washington also added Javon Kinlaw from the New York Jets on a three-year deal worth $45 million, giving the Commanders an interior defensive lineman who will ideally replace the production of Jonathan Allen. Additionally, they already re-signed veterans Zach Ertz and Bobby Wagner, the latter of whom was courted by Carroll and Las Vegas. They're almost certainly not done adding new pieces either, as they remain with nearly $50 million in cap space flexibility as of this story's submission.
Losing Chinn is an unfortunate blow, but it's one that Adam Peters and company can overcome. Time will tell how Washington's brass responds throughout the remainder of free agency.