Commanders news: Caleb Williams, Dan Quinn, Ron Rivera and Austin Ekeler
By Dean Jones
Commanders linked with Austin Ekeler
The Washington Commanders have the league's most salary-cap space available as it stands. General manager Adam Peters wants to build through the draft, but it would be a surprise if he wasn't a big player in free agency as he looks to hit the ground running during his first offseason as the team's front-office supremo.
There are plenty of holes to fill. It's not going to happen overnight, but Peters has a strong reputation for exceptional personnel evaluation. He also knows how to plug gaps effectively when required.
Brad Spielberger from Pro Football Focus linked the Commanders with a daring approach for Austin Ekeler. Although paying running backs isn't in keeping with the current trend around the NFL, he believes pairing the veteran with Brian Robinson Jr. could give Washington a devastating one-two punch if utilized correctly by offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
"Antonio Gibson is a free agent, and while Brian Robinson’s pass-catching volume increased significantly in his second season, perhaps he forms a duo with Robinson as the early-down bruiser and [Austin] Ekeler as the late-down pass catcher who can break off chunk gains through the air and make life easier for a rookie quarterback."
- Brad Spielberger, PFF
Much will depend on the money involved. There's also a chance Ekeler stays with the Los Angeles Chargers after they hired Jim Harbaugh. Although the benefits of acquiring the explosive backfield threat are evident, it seems unlikely given the problems elsewhere.