4 affordable free agents for the Commanders this offseason
By Dean Jones
Which free agents could become affordable targets for the Washington Commanders during their first recruitment period under Adam Peters?
The Washington Commanders have an embarrassment of riches to throw around this offseason. Their nine draft picks will provide long-term assistance if general manager Adam Peters can identify the right prospects. The new regime also has $96 million to spend in free agency with 50 players under contract.
While some fans expect lavish spending from the Commanders, Peters was keen to temper expectations. Washington spent large amounts on veteran players with minimal production attached during the Dan Snyder years. Things are going to be done differently moving forward.
That said, there are a lot of holes to fill, so it would be a surprise if the Commanders weren't active when the free-agent frenzy commences. A splash or two cannot be ruled out, but Washington could also benefit from some team-friendly deals to bolster the ranks.
With this in mind, here are four affordable free agents the Commanders should target in 2024.
Commanders could sign Lloyd Cushenberry III
The Washington Commanders are heading for another offensive line revamp. Hopefully, it will be prioritized effectively by Adam Peters after Ron Rivera went down the patchwork route more often than not. Releasing Charles Leno Jr. and Nick Gates suggests a major scale rebuild is coming.
Much will depend on Ricky Stromberg's progress, but the center position could use a veteran free-agent addition, especially if the Commanders select a quarterback at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft as expected. Considering the financial difficulties currently being navigated by the Denver Broncos in the wake of Russell Wilson's release, Lloyd Cushenberry could be an intriguing option.
Cushenberry played 1,070 snaps on offense last season, giving up just one sack and conceding five penalties en route to a creditable 73.2 grade from Pro Football Focus. With a market projection of $8.2 million per season over four years, it's something well within the Commanders' price range.