Tyler Biadasz was never going to be out of work for long after being released. But where he ended up, he completely eviscerated the theory behind why the Washington Commanders parted ways with the starting center in the first place.
And hopefully, it doesn't come back to haunt them.
Fans, experts, and even Biadasz's own teammates were stunned when the Commanders cut him with one year remaining on his deal. Team insiders were touting a possible extension in advance, not to be entirely discarded. Adam Peters took drastic action, and the fact that Washington is eating an $8.1 million dead cap hit suggested this was performance-based.
Commanders will face serious questions if Tyler Biadasz thrives with the Chargers
Biadasz was in high demand immediately. He visited the Chicago Bears. Then it was a trip to speak with the Los Angeles Chargers, and head coach Jim Harbaugh would not let him leave the building without an agreement.
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Chargers have signed Biadasz to a three-year, $30 million deal before free agency. This locks down a key part of the quarterback position after Bradley Bozeman's retirement. It's also a significant upgrade that will only help the Bolts' chances of mounting an AFC West title challenge.
It also caused questions about why Biadasz was let go. Some thought this might be down to schematics and his fit within David Blough's zone-blocking concepts. However, the fact that he's joining Mike McDaniel's offense — a system renowned for spacing, misdirection, and zone blocking adaptability — puts that notion firmly to bed.
If the Commanders used this reasoning to release Biadasz, it's clear the Chargers held a very different opinion.
Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network also confirmed that Biadasz had several other visits scheduled before the Chargers got aggressive to seal the deal. That's a sign of the esteem in which he is held around the league. It also heightens the Commanders' urgency to get their next decision right.
Washington surprisingly gave Nick Allegretti a two-year extension ahead of time, which indicates he could get a shot at the starting job. There could be a center from the draft who is taking the Commanders' eye, and free agency has some intriguing options if more experience is required.
If Peters cannot find the right solution and Biadasz goes on to thrive with the Chargers, serious questions will be asked about this move. It looks questionable now. It'll look nothing short of abysmal if this scenario comes to fruition.
Biadasz will probably meet his end of the bargain. The Commanders need Peters to do the same.