Grading the Washington Commanders' latest five signings from Day 2 of an extremely eventful legal tampering period for the organization.
It's been hard to keep up with the moves made by the Washington Commanders to officially kick off the legal tampering period before free agency. Adam Peters' long pause when asked a question about the roster he inherited upon becoming general manager is deafening. As it stands right now, no free agents have been re-signed and 12 new faces joined the ranks. That speaks volumes.
The Commanders seem to be identifying problem position groups and striking with conviction. Peters is laying the foundations for extra freedom during the draft. Washington has nine selections available and their critical needs are diminishing. This method of recruitment has been seldom seen and sorely missed in equal measure.
Much more is needed, but the Commanders haven't broken the bank with any agreement. They're working contracts to their advantage and taking calculated risks. Peters can get off any signed player with minimal cost attached, which is the model that became so successful with the San Francisco 49ers.
Without further ado, we took a look and graded the latest five signings from a frantic start to 2024 free agency.
Commanders signed Tyler Ott
Considering the Washington Commanders traded up for long-snapper Camaron Cheeseman, his eventual fate was extremely disappointing. With the former sixth-round pick long gone after a disastrous 2023 campaign, those in power brought in Tyler Ott to be his replacement.
Grade: B
Ott has previous connections to Commanders' special teams coordinator Larry Izzo from their time together on the Seattle Seahawks. He's a dependable presence with one Pro Bowl selection under his belt. The veteran spent last season with the Baltimore Ravens and looks to be a significant upgrade.
Commanders signed Dante Fowler Jr.
It's no secret that the Washington Commanders needed to bolster their pass rush this offseason. They began the legal tampering period by bringing in defensive end Dorance Armstrong. Dan Quinn turned to another close associate in pursuit of solidifying depth during his second opportunity as an NFL head coach.
According to reports, the Commanders have agreed to terms with Dante Fowler Jr. The edge presence played under Quinn on the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys. He might not be the force of old, but he's an experienced body who'll be a useful asset as a situational rusher and mentor to younger players such as K.J. Henry and Andre Jones Jr.
Fowler gained 10 sacks over his two seasons in Dallas. His snap count reduced to 25 percent last year as Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Armstrong took center stage. The production was decent enough for Quinn to bring him on board once again, but it remains to be seen whether or not his involvement will increase.
Grade: B-
The Commanders' lack of competent depth was exposed last season once those in power traded Montez Sweat and Chase Young before the deadline. Fowler is an upgrade, but asking him to fill a starting role might be unrealistic unless he transitions better than anticipated to a different environment.
Commanders signed Marcus Mariota
This put the cat amongst the pigeons.
The Washington Commanders reportedly agreed to terms with quarterback Marcus Mariota. He worked with pass game coordinator Brian Johnson with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. While his role will be as a primary backup, it promises to be integral.
Suppose the Commanders take a quarterback at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft as expected. In that case, Mariota will serve as his veteran mentor during an important transition from college to the pros. This is the same role Jacoby Brissett took on for Sam Howell last season, although he'd been in the league for a year with one start.
Mariota has yet to reach the heights anticipated as a No. 2 pick and likely never will, but he's serviceable if disaster strikes. The former Oregon phenomenon has had ups and downs throughout his NFL journey. Passing on this accumulated knowledge to a rookie signal-caller could be an invaluable asset to call upon.
What this means for Howell's future is unclear. Some have tried the move to a potential preference for Jayden Daniels, but nothing has been confirmed one way or another. Thankfully, we won't have to wait much longer before finding out.
Grade: B+
This is a solid pickup. Even more so if the choice is Daniels or Drake Maye as widely anticipated.
Commanders signed Clelin Ferrell
Clelin Ferrell was the No. 4 overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Clemson. Big things were expected of the defensive end. but he was another high-end pick utilized by the Las Vegas Raiders who couldn't meet some lofty targets.
Ferrell notched nine sacks in four seasons before joining the San Francisco 49ers in 2023. The edge presence looked a little more comfortable with better weapons around him, notching 3.5 sacks from 43 percent of the team's defensive snaps and improving his run-stopping for good measure.
Adam Peters was part of the brain trust that decided to take a chance on Ferrell. Bringing him to the Washington Commanders on a one-year deal is a supreme vote of confidence in the player to take another leap forward with Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr.'s system.
This is a low-risk, high-reward pickup. If it doesn't work out, the chances of Ferrell getting another NFL opportunity are slim. Nobody is expecting the production of a top-five pick - not at this stage based on his five-year sample size - but he could be a decent piece on the defensive end rotation with the potential for starting involvement if everything goes well.
Grade: C+
Ferrell might not be a world-beater, but he's got some nice physical attributes. Now is the time to start putting them to better use.
Commanders signed Jeremy Chinn
Jeremy Chinn looked like a potential superstar after taking the NFL by storm as a rookie in 2020. A steady decline followed through no real fault of his own. Now the athletic do-it-all defender gets the chance to resurrect his career with the Washington Commanders after agreeing to terms on a one-year, $5.1 million deal.
Chinn reportedly turned down multiple advances in favor of joining Dan Quinn's ambitious project. This is also the second signing from the Carolina Panthers after the Commanders secured the services of stud linebacker Frankie Luvu. If the new head coach and Joe Whitt Jr. use him correctly and he stays clear of injury, this has the makings of an absolute steal.
The former second-round pick's best football comes when he's close to the line of scrimmage. Carolina halted his momentum by switching him back to his college position of safety. He wasn't the same influential presence and didn't look suited to Ejiro Evero's 3-4 base system last season.
Grade: A-
Chinn needs to be involved with Washington's linebacking corps. He could potentially occupy the WILL role effectively in a 4-3, but creativity is key. The athleticism and instincts are there to become an impact player under Quinn and Whitt's guidance. Judging by their successful attempt to convince the Southern Illinois college product to come on board, they see it too.