3 former Commanders who won’t live up to their new contracts in 2024
Could these former Commanders players end up being overpaid?
By Dean Jones
Which former Washington Commanders players could have a hard time living up to their new deals after departing the franchise throughout the offseason?
Adam Peters wasted no time in stamping his mark on the Washington Commanders. After four straight losing seasons and one default playoff appearance under Ron Rivera, something drastic was needed. The new general realized this too, implementing a significant roster overhaul in double-quick time and ensuring there was a more cohesive thought process across the football operation.
This was a necessity. The Commanders acquired capable veterans to upgrade starting positions. Depth has improved and the special teams unit was reinforced. This is a good start and there is also the small matter of Washington's nine draft selections - six in the top 100 - to further bolster the ranks.
Of course, not everyone got the benefit of the doubt. Not exactly surprising, so it'll be fascinating to see how they fare in different environments as the Commanders move forward with their exciting new era.
With this in mind, here are three former Commanders players who might not live up to their new contracts.
Cody Barton - Former Commanders LB
Cody Barton's free-agent move was an unmitigated disaster. The linebacker looked a yard or two off the required pace. His tackle numbers were decent when on the field, but these came after runners had gained significant yards more often than not. This was also recognized by the Washington Commanders, who made solidifying their defensive second level an urgent priority throughout the early stages of free agency.
Frankie Luvu, Bobby Wagner, and Anthony Pittman came into the Commanders. Jeremy Chinn also has proven production as a linebacker and box safety. Once considered a weak link, the linebacking corps should be among Washington's real strengths in 2024 unless injury strikes.
Barton wasn't out of work for long, signing a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Denver Broncos as a potential replacement for Josey Jewell. He'd need to surge his performance levels to justify even this modest financial commitment based on last season.