4 emerging alphas on the Washington Commanders roster in 2024
By Dean Jones
Sam Cosmi - Commanders OL
The Washington Commanders' offensive line was a grave concern coming into the 2023 season. Ron Rivera chose to rely on mid-level free agents and unheralded draft picks to provide the consistency that had deserted this once-productive group. The gamble didn't pay off and he paid with his job once the campaign concluded.
One positive emerged amid all the doom and gloom. Sam Cosmi's transition from the right tackle spot onto the interior went better than even the brightest optimist envisaged. Rivera didn't get much correct along the protection during his four-year tenure. This switch was a real bright spot.
The former second-round pick looked assured in pass protection and boasted enough core functional strength to make an impact on running plays. Cosmi ascended into one of the league's best young interior linemen, giving up one sack and conceding four penalties from 1,103 offensive snaps en route to a superb 80.6 grade from Pro Football Focus.
Cosmi's confidence increased exponentially throughout the campaign. He drove teammates on through times of struggle and blossomed into an emerging leader along the way. This is something the Commanders will be counting on once again where the Texas product is concerned next time around.
It's a big year for Cosmi in more ways than one. He must prove that last season's efforts weren't just a flash in the pan. If he does this and emerges as a true alpha on and off the field, a huge payday will be coming his way at some point.
Cosmi is heading into a contract year and looks set to make himself a ton of money with another profitable season of production under his belt. If Adam Peters likes what he sees over the summer, extending the player before competitive action arrives cannot be completely dismissed.
Questions remain about this year's offensive line, especially at the tackle spots. These no longer include Cosmi after his rise to prominence in 2023.