2. Deebo Samuel Sr. - Commanders WR
The Washington Commanders needed to add more firepower around quarterback Jayden Daniels this offseason. Maximizing his rookie contract became the biggest priority above all else following his debut campaign for the ages. Adam Peters turned to a familiar face in the trade market to kick off another eventful offseason.
Peters struck a trade with the San Francisco 49ers for wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. The Commanders got the All-Pro for nothing more than a fifth-round pick. This makes the transaction a low-risk, high-reward pickup with some intriguing promise attached.
Samuel is coming off a down year after things fizzled out in San Francisco. The Niners are taking on more than $34 million in dead cap money, indicating that they don't believe he's got much left in the tank. That's not an opinion shared by the player, who's already begun working hard in pursuit of silencing his doubters.
The Commanders plan to line Samuel up everywhere, taking advantage of his versatility and dynamism with the football in his hands. His pending partnership with Terry McLaurin should be productive and explosive in equal measure. It's something else for opposing defenses to think about, which is only going to free up space for others to do damage.
It could go wrong, but Samuel could also seize a fresh challenge and thrive.
1. Laremy Tunsil - Commanders OT
No surprise who lands at No. 1 in these rankings.
Trading for five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil represents a significant game-changer for the Commanders. Adam Peters had to pay a premium to bring him into the fold, but the benefits will be substantial if the elite edge protector meets expectations.
Tunsil is one of the league's most accomplished pass protectors and has been for some time. The Commanders haven't had someone like this since Trent Williams was traded. His penalty numbers last season weren't ideal, but the production was still up there with the very best.
The Commanders' offensive line improved last season. It wasn't perfect, especially against the vaunted Philadelphia Eagles' defensive front. Peters recognized the need for a major alteration. Tunsil is all that and more.
Having someone capable of keeping quarterback Jayden Daniels' blindside free of major issues could make a huge difference when push comes to shove. Brandon Coleman was serviceable as a rookie. That said, adding one of the game's greats is an upgrade of epic proportions.
Tunsil is highly motivated to embrace this opportunity. He's also got his sights set on another new deal. If the offensive tackle reaches his billing, the Commanders will only be too happy to pay him accordingly.