Commanders signed T.J. Maguranyangab
Not many Washington Commanders fans believe Adam Peters has done enough to solve their pass rush this offseason. The general manager seems pretty confident with the options available, but he's taking a big risk if this is the group he rolls with when Week 1 rolls around.
There is a lack of dynamism and expansiveness. The Commanders should be better against the run, but they don't have anyone to strike fear into the hearts of opposing offensive lines. Their most productive player in terms of sacks last season, Dante Fowler Jr., departed for the Dallas Cowboys in free agency to further raise concerns.
T.J. Maguranyangab is being listed as a defensive end, for what it's worth. The Zimbabwean rugby star joined the Commanders as part of the NFL's international player pathway program. He doesn't count against the roster or the salary cap, so it'll be interesting to see how quickly he picks things up over the summer.
There have been some notable success stories from this initiative in previous years. Maguranyangab is looking to be the next, but establishing himself on a contending team is an almost impossible task.
- Grade: C
It's not costing the Commanders anything to find out whether Maguranyangab's athletic attributes can be molded into something more. But it seems like a long shot, all things considered.
Commanders hired Wes Welker
It's not just the roster where Adam Peters is bolstering the ranks. The Commanders also brought in an accomplished former NFL wide receiver turned coach to help guide the next generation.
Wes Welker is Washington's new personnel analyst. He'll spend time in the front office and with the coaching staff, providing useful insight on developments while also lending his expertise to improving the options at Washington's disposal.
This brings significant intrigue. It also tied directly to Washington's decision to acquire Deebo Samuel Sr. via trade from the San Francisco 49ers.
Welker gained widespread praise for getting Samuel to an All-Pro caliber standard. He installed a sense of professionalism in the player that was supposedly lacking previously. He taught him how to prepare, maintain peak physical conditioning, and become someone others could follow. It had the desired effect, and Peters had a front-row seat as part of San Francisco's front office at the time.
- Grade: A+
If Welker can have a similar impact on Samuel in a different environment, the better Washington's hopes will be. He'll have more responsibilities than just keeping the former South Carolina star on the straight and narrow, but the already developed relationship between the two is only going to help in his quest to seize this fantastic opportunity.