It's no secret that the Washington Commanders have some problems at center with Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles on the not-too-distant horizon.
Projected starter Nick Allegretti's latest scare wasn't serious. Even so, it still highlighted the complications that could emerge if the veteran gets hurt or underperforms.
Fans have been concerned about this since general manager Adam Peters made the surprising decision to release Tyler Biadasz. Some claim the problems stem from Washington's unwillingness to break the bank for Tyler Linderbaum, a high-priority free-agent target who accepted an offer he couldn't refuse from the Las Vegas Raiders.
Commanders' missing on Tyler Linderbaum was not their biggest center error
However, that wasn't the issue.
The bigger problem was Peters' failure to secure a legitimate contingency plan if their gamble on Allegretti failed to deliver the necessary rewards.
Allegretti's production during his two years in Washington wasn't exactly worthy of a free run to the starting job. But aside from sixth-round rookie Matt Gulbin, who remains a work in progress, the Illinois product got one anyway.
And the fact that he's also dealt with calf issues throughout training camp only heightens concerns.
Signing Linderbaum would have been a massive upgrade and a major statement of intent. Peters had a price in mind, and he was reportedly unwilling to come up when the Raiders came over the top. That left Allegretti as the main guy, but the Commanders had ample time to find a genuine backup option.
Someone like Cade Mays, who eventually signed with the Detroit Lions, could have pushed (and probably beaten) Allegretti for the starting job. Lloyd Cushenberry, Ethan Pocic, Luke Fortner, or maybe even a higher-end draft pick would have been a better solution than Julian Good-Jones, who hasn't shone over the summer and probably won't make the 53-man roster.
Commanders still have time to rectify offseason center negligence
Loyalty is admirable. Peters wanted to give those around a chance to impress, and Gulbin is a development project. But the cracks are already showing.
Peters will be keeping a close eye on developments.
The Commanders still have money to spend if the right player becomes available. There is also the imminent event of final cuts, which could place some intriguing possibilities on the waiver wire to scoop up.
That's to be determined. But in all honesty, this situation could have been avoided.
The Commanders missed the boat. They may have only targeted Linderbaum and decided to roll with what their options already on the squad when he got a megabucks offer from Las Vegas. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but Peters still has faith.
And if things take a concerning turn, there are contingencies probably ready to go.
Linderbaum was the big prize. Other veterans didn't come into the equation. But with Allegretti dealing with problems and the others failing to meet their targets, Peters has a big decision to make.
And he better get it right. The Commanders' offensive line stability depends on it.
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