Blogging The Boys
The latest news from around the division.
The expected salary cap increase will only help Washington’s cause.
Excitement couldn’t be higher for the Washington Commanders entering the offseason. They are coming off an incredible campaign where they reached the NFC Championship game against all odds. Adam Peters is well-positioned to build on this newfound positivity in the coming months.
The Commanders have the third-most available salary-cap space currently. This increased after the league confirmed another huge hike, which is only going to help Peters’ cause. Washington has seven selections in the 2025 NFL Draft. They are also an attractive destination after restoring their reputation.
Peters isn’t going to be reckless. There’s a need for aggressiveness and calculated risks if the right opportunities present themselves. However, the general manager has a long-term plan in place and won’t jeopardize this with rash decision-making.
Fans are eagerly anticipating what comes next with free agency on the immediate horizon. One respected insider provided some clues about what the Commanders could prioritize when the recruitment period commences.
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“Adam Peters and Dan Quinn had to kind of piece it together as best they could. Did an admirable job, but I expect reinforcements. Yes, I know Washington fans desperately want that number-two receiver opposite Terry McLaurin. I do think they’ll address that in some form, but they could allocate more resources to their offensive line and their pass rush if they lose Dante Fowler in free agency. Also, they have a ton of good players who just played out one-year deals that they could bring back. Bobby Wagner played great. Zach Ertz was a really good target for Jayden Daniels. Safety Jeremy Chinn, you’ll see some of those pieces back most likely.”
Sure, New York’s offense needs a ton of work, but their defense needs some help too.
The New York Giants need help on their defensive line. Dexter Lawrence is one of the top players at his position, but the Giants failed to surround him with a solid complement and depth in 2024. New York traded Leonard Williams to the Seahawks, and A’Shawn Robinson signed with the Carolina Panthers, leaving Rakeem Nunez-Roches as the only proven player — other than Lawrence — in Andre Patterson’s defensive line room.
The room is full of late-day three picks and undrafted free agents: Elijah Chatman, Elijah Garcia, Jordon Riley, D.J. Davidson, Cory Durden, and Armon Watts, who suffered a devastating knee injury at the end of the season. Perhaps the lack of proven depth behind Lawrence is a testament to Patterson’s coaching ability for depth in other areas of the roster was necessary; still, it was clear that the defensive line was an issue heading into the 2024 season. ...
