Commanders re-signed Clelin Ferrell
Adam Peters' lack of conviction in this free agent class worked in the favor of Washington Commanders players looking to get re-signed. There was an emphasis on running it back in the hope that continuity and familiarity would bring similar or better results. Not everyone stuck around, but the large majority did.
Some were more contentious than others. Most fans and analysts thought Clelin Ferrell would be moved on with little fanfare attached after an underwhelming first season in Washington. Peters had other ideas, working out another one-year deal with the defensive end.
The Commanders have added to their trench options with the promise of more on the way during the 2025 NFL Draft. This means Ferrell needs to prove himself all over again in pursuit of making the roster. And looking at his overall body of work last season, these improvements must be drastic.
Ferrell flashed brief promise against the run. He found generating consistent pressure difficult, which saw his snap count diminish significantly down the stretch and into the postseason.
- Signing grade: C
The former No. 4 overall pick has a lot of hard work ahead. Peters gave him another shot, but the margin for error is long gone given the extra competition in Washington's edge-rushing room.
Commanders re-signed Jalyn Holmes
If Clelin Ferrell performed below expectations in 2024, the opposite can be said of Jalyn Holmes. The unheralded defensive lineman wasn't expected to generate any meaningful reps, but some early promise when called upon forced the coaching staff into a change of pace.
Holmes became a gradually influential part of the rotation. It wasn't perfect by any stretch, but the former fourth-round pick was more than deserving of the one-year deal received from Adam Peters this offseason.
Building on this newfound momentum is key. The Commanders released Jonathan Allen but signed Javon Kinlaw. The money given to the new arrival suggests he'll play a significant role alongside Daron Payne and Johnny Newton on the interior. And with a big price tag to justify, he'll need to hit the ground running.
As for Holmes? He'll be hoping to earn a spot on the 53-man roster first. That's the opening objective for anyone on the fringes. After that, it's about accumulating enough trust to get starting reps despite the improvements made to the defensive trenches.
- Signing grade: B
There should be plenty of urgency attached to Holmes and everyone else fighting for depth chart standing. Peters raised the stakes for everyone by fortifying the defensive front. The Ohio State graduate gave himself a fighting chance with some eye-catching performances in 2024. But make no mistake, complacency cannot become an issue.