5 free agents the Commanders must target after 2024 minicamp
By James Dudko
Commanders should consider signing Yannick Ngakoue
Dan Quinn and Adam Peters haven't been shy about overhauling the defensive line, particularly on the edges. They brought in Dorance Armstrong Jr., Dante Fowler Jr., and Clelin Ferrell earlier in free agency.
It's an intriguing trio given Armstrong and Fowler's experience working with Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. in Dallas. Ferrell, meanwhile, has a first-round pedigree as the fourth player selected back in 2019.
What's missing from this list of credentials is the prolific track record of a truly dominant outside pass-rusher. Don't count on the issue being solved by Jamin Davis, even though the former first-round pick continues to be remade as an edge-rusher, a transition he explained to JP Finlay of NBC4 Sports.
Jamin Davis says he’s liking the new staff and new roles, including coming off the edge. “I feel like it lets me cut it loose and getting after some QBs” pic.twitter.com/fDLrpPxltn
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) June 5, 2024
Davis is eager to embrace a new set of responsibilities, understandably so in a contract year. Unfortunately, he's not a natural rushing off the edge. This is a label veteran Yannick Ngakoue still merits.
The league's leader in forced fumbles in 2017, Ngakoue has played for six NFL teams. He logged 19.5 sacks in two years before floundering with the Chicago Bears last season. The player can still win on the outside, provided there's enough talent around him.
The Washington Commanders' loaded interior defensive line rotation would offer the right talent level. Especially once rookie Johnny Newton is fully healthy and able to join the starting defensive tackle tandem of Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen.
This group ought to routinely tie up blockers in the middle and leave edge-rushers free to binge one-on-one matchups. The last time Ngakoue had that freedom, he took football by storm with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Ngakoue's still only 29 years old. He's a more proven commodity than the Commanders' other viable options on the outside. A team credited by Spotrac.com with $36. 21 million worth of space under the salary cap should have no trouble recruiting him alongside J.C. Jackson or Patrick Peterson.
There should even be funds leftover to solve the pesky problem at left tackle.