The Washington Commanders are taking a huge risk at center. It remains a source of concern and debate among the fan base, but there is quiet confidence in the building that everything will go according to plan.
Tyler Biadasz was released, which rocked everyone connected to the organization. Nothing much was done to fill the void, so it seems likely that veteran Nick Allegretti will get the first shot at manning the starting job.
And for prolific right guard Sam Cosmi, confidence in Allegretti's outlook couldn't be higher.
Sam Cosmi is confident Nick Allegretti can shine as Commanders' center in 2026
Cosmi publicly supported Allegretti during organized team activities. The veteran highlighted his intelligence and versatility as reasons the Illinois product should not only win the No. 1 job but also perform at a high level.
"Nick's a really, really intelligent guy. He's a smart dude, and you've got to be pretty smart to play center. I always say, if you can play guard really well, you can play center. He was able to do it. I have full confidence in his ability to play center at a high level."
Although Cosmi wasn't exactly going to say anything else, his comments are a sign of faith in the building. Allegretti's time at either guard position hasn't gone well over his first two years in Washington, but he did take a step forward at center when Biadasz sat out late in the 2025 campaign. That was obviously enough for general manager Adam Peters to take drastic action.
Some in the media have accused Peters of misreading the center market this offseason. Tyler Linderbaum was reportedly among their top targets, but they were unwilling to match the market-resetting offer he received from the Las Vegas Raiders. Allegretti may have been the fallback option with an early extension, but he might be capable of making an impression with a smooth transition into offensive coordinator David Blough's new blocking concepts.
Unsurprisingly, Allegretti has been getting the bulk of first-team reps at center during their early stages of OTAs. The Commanders may also give some time to sixth-round pick Matt Gulbin, who is an intriguing developmental project. Brandon Coleman is another possibility, though it seems like he's going to battle it out with Chris Paul for the starting left guard position over the summer.
It's a risk, of course, but a calculated one. And if Cosmi is bullish on Allegretti's potential, that should slightly alleviate fears.
Everything seems to be going as planned. There is a long way to go and much tougher tests to navigate before Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles, but Allegretti has left an early mark.
If the same trend continues, Peters will be vindicated.
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