5 potential Commanders candidates to replace Logan Thomas
The Commanders have a need to fill at the tight end position.
By Dean Jones
Who could the Washington Commanders target as a potential replacement for recently released tight end Logan Thomas?
The Washington Commanders have begun making the necessary sacrifices in pursuit of progression. General manager Adam Peters made his intentions clear by releasing three prominent veterans heading into free agency. This increases the roster needs but also provides some extra financial flexibility during a critical period of recruitment.
Logan Thomas was an expected cut ahead of time when one considers the savings involved. The Commanders got an additional $6.2 million to utilize as a result of his departure. It also allows Peters to find a dynamic playmaker to assist their new quarterback if they pick a talented college prospect at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft as anticipated.
Thomas was a solid if not spectacular performer, but this was the right call. Almost every contending team has an explosive pass-catching presence at the position. Something that Peters knows the benefit of after being part of the draft San Francisco 49ers' draft committee that chose George Kittle.
With this in mind, here are five potential candidates to replace Thomas in 2024.
Commanders could keep things in-house
While new blood is the preferred option, the Washington Commanders might also take this opportunity to find out more about two promising young tight ends who've been underused in recent seasons. Cole Turner looked set for more involvement after starring in the preseason. This didn't materialize for one reason or another, so it's hard to gauge exactly what the franchise has in the former Nevada college star after two seasons.
The same goes for Armani Rogers. He looked set for a potential breakout year before a cruel injury ended his campaign on the first day of OTAs. Much will depend on how his recovery is going, but the Commanders could decide to give him the No. 1 spot and a prolonged audition under Dan Quinn's coaching regime.
These options couldn't be dismissed entirely, but it seems unlikely considering the resources at Adam Peters' disposal.