Commanders signed Foster Sarrell
The Washington Commanders made one monumental splash on their offensive line this offseason by trading for elite left tackle Laremy Tunsil. This is a game-changer in no uncertain terms. It'll involve some reshuffling for others, but it's a small price to pay.
Cornelius Lucas knew his playing time would be limited and signed for the Cleveland Browns in free agency. The Commanders need to find a dependable swing tackle in his absence. Foster Sarell is getting a chance to fill the void.
Sarell didn't play much for the Los Angeles Chargers last season. He's got the size and some decent athleticism to call upon, but the former undrafted free agent out of Stanford remains something of an unknown quantity. The Commanders saw something that warrants further investigation. Capitalizing on the opportunity is crucial.
This might be nothing more than a camp body signing when it's all said and done. However, there is an opening in a backup role behind Tunsil or whoever is playing right tackle between Andrew Wylie and Brandon Coleman. Of course, this all changes if the Commanders add another edge protector via the draft.
- Signing grade: B-
If Sarell cannot seize the moment, it's hard to envisage a scenario where he's on an NFL roster in 2025. That's how high the stakes are for the lineman this summer.
Commanders reworked Deebo Samuel's contract
The Commanders believe Deebo Samuel Sr. has a lot more to give despite a down year in 2024. That wasn't an opinion shared by the San Francisco 49ers, who couldn't wait to remove the wide receiver from the equation before free agency.
This meant the Commanders got a good deal for Samuel, with a fifth-round pick being enough to rubber-stamp the transaction. Washington also reaffirmed its faith in the versatile offensive weapon by reworking his contract.
Samuel's $17 million salary will be fully guaranteed. There's a chance to earn an extra $3 million through incentives. This removes the need to extend him initially. It keeps urgency high from the player's perspective and also means the Commanders won't be on the hook for any dead money if this relationship becomes short-lived.
It's smart business from Adam Peters' perspective. He knows what Samuel can bring to the table after watching him flourish in San Francisco. At the same time, Washington's front-office leader was right to hedge his bets.
- Signing grade: A
This is a win-win for all parties. Samuel has some extra financial security with the promise of more if the production is as expected. For the Commanders, it keeps one of their new acquisitions happy and firmly focused on football. That's the most important thing.