The Washington Commanders made an unbelievable start to their ambitious long-term project. Adam Peters won't be resting on his laurels heading into another pivotal offseason for the franchise in 2025.
Peters is an accomplished team builder. He'll know where this roster stands right now and what more is needed to take the next step. And make no mistake, the general manager will not be settling at any position group.
One of their biggest failures during an NFC Championship loss against the Philadelphia Eagles centered on the trenches. The Commanders were outmatched on both sides of the football. Not having Sam Cosmi or Daron Payne represented a body blow this fledgling contender couldn't counteract.
Expect Peters to rectify this complication throughout the recruitment period. The Commanders cannot settle if they want to enter perennial contention. They also have to enhance the edge protection for quarterback sensation Jayden Daniels.
Commanders tipped to enter Ronnie Stanley sweepstakes in free agency
One NFL analyst believes they could be in the mix for Ronnie Stanley. The premier left tackle is a free agent after another standout campaign with the Baltimore Ravens. They'll likely push hard to keep him around, but much will depend on the money involved.
Dakota Zientek from Clutch Points named the Commanders as one team who could be in the mix for Stanley if he tests the market. The analyst thought he'd be an upgrade on third-round rookie Brandon Coleman, who'd switch positions in this scenario. Washington also has the spare cash to make the edge enforcer a decent offer if they went down this route.
"Another team that's likely to be a participant in the [Ronnie] Stanley sweepstakes is the Washington Commanders. After a disappointing end to their playoff run with Jayden Daniels in 2024, the Commanders showed they're a dangerous team as long as they can keep their core pieces together. In 2024, current left tackle Brandon Coleman was relatively unimpressive, posting a 64.1 overall PFF grade, ranking 59th among tackles in the NFL, per PFF. Along with a major need at the left tackle position, the Commanders are a team that can meet his projected value."Dakota Zientek
Coleman did well overall. That shouldn't prevent the Commanders from examining upgrades. Stanley ticks those boxes thanks to his elite pass protection and previous experience working in front of a mobile quarterback.
This would likely see Andrew Wylie's future come under a cloud. The right tackle is a salary-cap cut candidate with $7.75 million in savings attached to his early departure. Signing Stanley would see Coleman switch over to the right-hand side or even onto the interior depending on what acquisitions arrive via the 2025 NFL Draft.
It'll be fascinating to watch things unfold during the offseason. Peters is blessed with more resources than most after a measured approach to his first year at the helm. With the Commanders ahead of schedule and Daniels providing his worth as a franchise-caliber presence under center, there's more flexibility to be aggressive this time around.
Peters will always keep the bigger picture in mind, but the need to maximize Daniels' rookie contract is there for all to see. Stanley is the sort of immediate difference-maker who can improve a key area. However, the Ravens won't be letting him go without a fight.