3 key Washington Commanders objectives after 2024 minicamp

Minicamp is in the books, but there are still a few things on the to-do list for the Washington Commanders. Three things to be exact.

The first should involve plundering the remainder of free agency to find help at left tackle and cornerback. Both positions could use an infusion of proven, marquee talent.

It's arguably a more pressing need at left tackle, where journeyman Cornelius Lucas or third-round pick Brandon Coleman will be the blindside protector for Jayden Daniels. Either option represents too big of a risk to take with the safety of Washington's designated franchise quarterback.

There are more choices at cornerback, but few of the options inspire confidence. It doesn't help 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes Jr. continues to look out of place. Or that new arrivals Michael Davis and Noah Igbinoghene have a lot to prove.

Fortunately, the Commanders can easily solve this problem by choosing from three big-name veterans who are still left on the market.

Before general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn make that call, they'll want to put their heads together and decide the long-term future of one of the few players who emerged from last season with any credit.

Commanders should extend Sam Cosmi

Having a career-best year on an offensive line that surrendered 65 sacks must've been bittersweet for Sam Cosmi. Even so, the 25-year-old can take heart from establishing himself as one of the few sure things along a reshuffled front five.

Cosmi is a player on the rise after successfully cracking the transition from tackle to guard, so the Commanders shouldn't delay securing his services for the long haul. Especially since interior blockers have grown in importance during recent seasons.

There's been a proliferation of dominant pass-rushing defensive tackles, started by Aaron Donald. This trend was continued by players like Chris Jones, Quinnen Williams, Dexter Lawrence II, Justin Madubuike, and the Commanders' own Daron Payne.

The emergence of so many interior game-wreckers, along with defensive coordinators' fondness for inside blitz packages, made a quality guard the quarterback's new best friend. It's why Daniels will lean on Cosmi after the latter finished last season giving pass-rushers short shrift, per PFF Commanders.

Peters has the cap space to extend Cosmi's deal before this season gets underway. The question is does the new regime have the appetite for risk to justify paying a player based on only one good season?

Given the growing importance of dominant guards in today's NFL, the risk of not adding years to Cosmi's contract would be even greater. Although perhaps not as great as rolling into the 2024 campaign with the current options at left tackle.