Commanders signed Deatrich Wise Jr.
Adam Peters made his intentions abundantly clear over the early stages of free agency. The Washington Commanders wanted to get bigger in the trenches.
They wanted to meet fire with fire against the NFL's heavyweights. These include the division rival Philadelphia Eagles, who steamrolled their way to another Super Bowl thanks in no small part to their dominance at the line of scrimmage.
Washington secured the services of Deatrich Wise Jr. on a one-year deal that could be worth up to $5 million. The defensive end enjoyed a prolific career with the New England Patriots, coming up the ranks under Bill Belichick and leaving his mark through an impressive eight-year stint in Foxborough.
Wise can generate pressure when the situation dictates. He's got 34 career sacks despite being a rotational presence over the last few years. However, the former fourth-round selection's real strength comes against the run.
He sets a clean edge and is powerful enough to shed blocks in pursuit of the ball carrier. Wise isn't as explosive these days at nearly 31 years old, but his savvy experience more than compensates.
- Signing grade: B+
What the Commanders have planned for Wise remains to be seen. There's a possibility he occupies a similar role and becomes a core rotational piece on the defensive front. The player might also fancy his chances of taking over from Clelin Ferrell in the starting role.
Commanders re-signed K.J. Osborn
The Commanders had to think quickly last season when Noah Brown went down with a serious internal injury. They were presented with a chance and took advantage, scooping wide receiver K.J. Osborn off the waiver wire following his departure from the New England Patriots.
Osborn never reached the heights expected in New England after impressing for the Minnesota Vikings. His arrival in Washington brought intrigue, but it was too late in the campaign to make any real impact.
It was evident from a long way out that Osborn came in as an emergency option and nothing more. The Commanders were right to hedge their bets in the event another injury struck. Although disappointing from the wideout's perspective, being around a strong locker room and a winning mentality will serve him well after getting another one-year extension.
This was somewhat surprising, but Osborn's production during his time with the Vikings warrants another look at the very least. The Commanders have plenty of weapons in the wide receiver room after a busy offseason, so hitting the ground running when team activities begin is crucial.
- Signing grade: B
The extension is unlikely to come with any roster guarantees from Osborn's perspective. However, he's got his foot back in the door and wants to carve out a bigger role for himself.