7 Commanders players who can make themselves major money in 2024

Dante Fowler Jr, Clelin Ferrell - Commanders DEs

The Washington Commanders need more from their edge defenders. Especially after Montez Sweat and Chase Young were traded before the 2023 deadline.

They invested $33 million in free agent Dorance Armstrong this offseason. He figures to be a mainstay on one side of the defensive line. The other side remains very much up in the air.

The team has several young, unproven players. The Commanders also have two veterans who both signed one-year deals in the $3-4 million dollar range.

Both Dante Fowler Jr. and Clelin Ferrell were extremely high draft picks - No. 3 and No. 4 overall. Both have had somewhat disappointing careers to the point.

Washington may platoon them, with Ferrell playing on early downs, and Fowler coming in as a pass rusher. But if one of them can step up, he could see a big reward next offseason.

Fowler will be 30 years old next season, which will hurt his prospects. But a double-digit sack season - something he has not managed since 2019 - could change perceptions about how much he might have left in the tank.

Ferrell is still theoretically in his prime, but he has never been able to perform at a consistent level. He would need to prove he has matured as a player to the point that he could be a reliable starting-caliber edge defender.

It may not be likely that either player has a good enough season to cash in, but paired wagers always increase the odds. So it could happen to one of them.

The bad news in these scenarios is that should any of these players have an excellent season - except Cosmi and Dotson - general manager Adam Peters could decide the Commanders cannot afford to keep them.

The good news, of course, is that only comes after they have had a standout season in Washington. After so much misery in recent years, no fan will be complaining about that.