7 guidelines the Commanders should adopt for offensive line improvements in 2023

Many changes have taken place across the offensive line. But how can the Washington Commanders mold them into a dominant unit?

As we witness the long-awaited regime change for the Washington Commanders, I have a couple of pieces of advice for new owner Josh Harris and his group. Today I’ll keep it short and sweet.

Let’s learn the Dos and Don’ts of building an offensive line.

DON’T overinvest in Commanders OL interior

A few years ago, Washington had over $30 million tied up in its three interior linemen – Brandon Scherff, Chase Roullier, and Ereck Flowers. They were playing two veteran castoffs from the Chicago Bears – Charles Leno, Jr., and Cornelius Lucas – at tackle and paying them a fraction of what they spent on the interior.

I don’t mean to denigrate the tackles, who performed as well or better than their more expensive linemates. But this is a stupid way to go about constructing a roster.

DO spend Commanders draft capital on tackles

The other three teams in the NFC East have at least one starting tackle drafted in the first round. The New York Giants, who have performed a miraculous resurrection of their recently-moribund line, have two first-rounders starting on the edge.

And not just first-rounders. The Philadelphia Eagles have Lane Johnson, the Dallas Cowboys boast Tyron Smith, and the Giants duo of Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal were all drafted in the opening 10 selections of the first round.

If Tyler Smith ends up playing right tackle this season for the Dallas Cowboys (projected starter Terrence Steele is currently on the PUP), then five of the six starting tackles on the Commanders' opponents will be first-rounders. Washington is expected to start a seventh-rounder and an undrafted free agent.

BTW – lest you have forgotten, last season, those three opponents all made the playoffs.