The Washington Commanders are having a hard time convincing the top-end wide receivers on the open market to join their project. Alec Pierce reportedly got a bumper offer from the franchise, but he stayed with the Indianapolis Colts. General manager Adam Peters also made a strong push for Romeo Doubs, but he joined the New England Patriots instead.
A new report suggests the Commanders couldn't reach a compromise with a pass-catching asset who would have been a tremendous addition to the squad. And they pushed them straight into the hands of a heated division rival.
Washington needs more dynamism at the tight end position. Zach Ertz is making good progress from a torn ACL, and the Commanders haven't ruled out a return. But they need to get younger with more productivity, especially with Ben Sinnott remaining a work in progress.
Commanders couldn't find middle ground with Isaiah Likely despite reported interest
Isaiah Likely was among the most intriguing names on the market. According to John Keim of ESPN, he was also extremely keen on joining the Commanders. However, a price point to suit both parties couldn't be reached, and the Coastal Carolina product agreed to terms with the New York Giants instead.
According to reports, Likely has agreed to a three-year, $40 million deal with the Giants, which could reach $47.5 million with incentives. This is a big commitment, but reuniting the tight end with head coach John Harbaugh could be the spark that takes quarterback Jaxson Dart's game to even greater heights.
So, not only did the Commanders not want to pay Likely the going rate, but they will also now get to see him twice a season. Not exactly ideal, but there were also rumors about Washington not being enamored by the player's tape, either.
Either way, he won't be part of the Commanders' plans. Peters will have other possibilities. He could add one of the free agents still available. He could identify a draft prospect. He could even retain the current dynamic by bringing back Ertz. That would be extremely contentious, but it can't be dismissed entirely.
Peters is a tough negotiator. One only has to look at the way he handled wide receiver Terry McLaurin's contract saga to see that. If he went to the brink with Likely and refused to budge, this was only going to end one way.
What comes next for the Commanders is uncertain. Peters has signed three new faces so far, all on the defensive side. He's gotten knockbacks and is clearly looking for value. But he cannot get left scrambling around the bargain basement once again.
That is organizational malpractice given the available money.