The Washington Commanders Offseason
2022 Dream Draft Pick: Ahmad Gardner
The Washington Commanders front seven, when healthy, is a beast of a unit and getting that unit support in the secondary could be the move that puts this team back into the playoffs in 2022 and Ahmad Gardner, if he fell to them, is that piece. He's an elite shutdown cornerback prospect with all the traits and intangibles needed to be a great NFL player and if he fell to the 11th pick the Commanders need to be hustling to the podium to turn his card in. He shores half the field and will force quarterbacks to make potentially dangerous throws to the opposite side of him and with the front seven rampaging the offense, this side of the football becomes a complete unit.
The To-Do List
Find a replacement for Taylor Heinike
Taylor Heinike has been a nice story in the NFL as the little quarterback that could when it comes to playing tough in big games but his ceiling has been maxed out and when the Commanders needed him to carry them in games, he simply couldn't do it. Taylor Heinike has one more year on his contract in Washington and I don't see any reason to rid themselves of him just yet and with potential quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, and Jimmy Garoppollo heading to the trade block as well as the #11 overall pick this season the Commanders should waste no time trying to replace Heinike.
The issue with trading for one of the top three quarterbacks listed above is no fault of Washington's but I doubt that Green Bay, Seattle, or San Francisco risk sending him within the conference unless Washington gives away the farm in draft capital and talented players. Aaron Rodgers would certainly change life in Washington and combined with the defense they would have, Washington could make a nice run in the playoffs but Aaron Rodgers probably would rather have Davante Adams over Terry McLaurin and Washington would have themselves a quagmire if part of the deal is that Washington signs Davante Adams and trades McLaurin in the offseason. Russell Wilson is a more doable option than Rodgers and without a 1st round pick in 2022 and a dysfunctional relationship with the franchise, Seattle could be much more inclined to trade him from the team however with Washington being within the conference and the talent level that Wilson is, it would at least cost the Commanders a couple 1st round picks and maybe a player or two. Jimmy Garopollo is coming off of a NFC Championship loss and with the 49ers now transitioning to 2021 #3 overall pick quarterback Trey Lance and while Garopollo doesn't have the talent of the above players, he's a much better quarterback than Heinike and should be considered as a viable trade option. He's got bigger body, a much higher floor in terms of talent, a bigger and better arm, and certainly has had more success. If the Washington Commanders want to trade for Garopollo, they could probably nab him for a Day 2 pick and change as it's very clear that he and the Niners want to separate amicably which lessens the price a bit for him.
The 2022 NFL draft doesn't have the clear #1 quarterback among the group but there are a few prospects in the draft that could entice Washington if they decide to go through the draft to improve the quarterback position. Kenny Pickett is looked at by many, including myself, as the best quarterback in the draft as he's the closest commodity to a franchise quarterback available in 2022. Pickett has the arm talent, the athleticism, and the build that teams covet in a quarterback prospect and while he's likely to be the first quarterback off the board, crazy things happen in drafts when there's no franchise quarterback and teams could just as easily ignore these quarterbacks just as much as they could go flying off the board. Pickett would give Washington fans hope and a solid future with the right offensive coaching staff. Desmond Ridder is the next best option, pre-combine and workouts I might add, but he'll need time to grow before he takes the field and luckily for him he can wait behind Heinike as his contract expires in 2023. Ridder is a big armed and highly athletic quarterback that has great leadership skills. He's raw and needs heavy coaching in training camp and the offseason before he takes the field but he's got the makings of a potential dual threat quarterback. Matt Corral is looked at by many as one of the most mechanically sound quarterbacks in the draft and it's a toss up as to who has the highest floor between him and Pickett but Corral certainly has the arm, talent, moxxy, and mechanics to be a potential plug-n-play quarterback in the NFL draft. However, he's not the biggest or most athletic quarterback of the group and kind of reminds me of a Taylor Heinike with better arm talent and while it certainly wouldn't be a backwards move for them to choose Matt Corral, it's more sideways than anything available. The final quarterback that has certainly made waves in Malik Willis as he's the most athletic quarterback in this draft by a country mile and has some of the best arm strength available in this draft and many, including myself, think that he has Michael Vick level potential if given the right quarterback coach and offensive coordinator. He's extremely raw in his mechanics and he can be far too reliant on his mobility to make plays but like Vick, the tools and talent are their for a potential game-changer at quarterback and luckily for him he could sit for a year behind Heinicke and develop. He's the biggest boom-or-bust quarterback in this draft and would certainly bring Commander fans to the stadium.
The issue with trading for one of the top three quarterbacks listed above is no fault of Washington's but I doubt that Green Bay, Seattle, or San Francisco risk sending him within the conference unless Washington gives away the farm in draft capital and talented players. Aaron Rodgers would certainly change life in Washington and combined with the defense they would have, Washington could make a nice run in the playoffs but Aaron Rodgers probably would rather have Davante Adams over Terry McLaurin and Washington would have themselves a quagmire if part of the deal is that Washington signs Davante Adams and trades McLaurin in the offseason. Russell Wilson is a more doable option than Rodgers and without a 1st round pick in 2022 and a dysfunctional relationship with the franchise, Seattle could be much more inclined to trade him from the team however with Washington being within the conference and the talent level that Wilson is, it would at least cost the Commanders a couple 1st round picks and maybe a player or two. Jimmy Garopollo is coming off of a NFC Championship loss and with the 49ers now transitioning to 2021 #3 overall pick quarterback Trey Lance and while Garopollo doesn't have the talent of the above players, he's a much better quarterback than Heinike and should be considered as a viable trade option. He's got bigger body, a much higher floor in terms of talent, a bigger and better arm, and certainly has had more success. If the Washington Commanders want to trade for Garopollo, they could probably nab him for a Day 2 pick and change as it's very clear that he and the Niners want to separate amicably which lessens the price a bit for him.
The 2022 NFL draft doesn't have the clear #1 quarterback among the group but there are a few prospects in the draft that could entice Washington if they decide to go through the draft to improve the quarterback position. Kenny Pickett is looked at by many, including myself, as the best quarterback in the draft as he's the closest commodity to a franchise quarterback available in 2022. Pickett has the arm talent, the athleticism, and the build that teams covet in a quarterback prospect and while he's likely to be the first quarterback off the board, crazy things happen in drafts when there's no franchise quarterback and teams could just as easily ignore these quarterbacks just as much as they could go flying off the board. Pickett would give Washington fans hope and a solid future with the right offensive coaching staff. Desmond Ridder is the next best option, pre-combine and workouts I might add, but he'll need time to grow before he takes the field and luckily for him he can wait behind Heinike as his contract expires in 2023. Ridder is a big armed and highly athletic quarterback that has great leadership skills. He's raw and needs heavy coaching in training camp and the offseason before he takes the field but he's got the makings of a potential dual threat quarterback. Matt Corral is looked at by many as one of the most mechanically sound quarterbacks in the draft and it's a toss up as to who has the highest floor between him and Pickett but Corral certainly has the arm, talent, moxxy, and mechanics to be a potential plug-n-play quarterback in the NFL draft. However, he's not the biggest or most athletic quarterback of the group and kind of reminds me of a Taylor Heinike with better arm talent and while it certainly wouldn't be a backwards move for them to choose Matt Corral, it's more sideways than anything available. The final quarterback that has certainly made waves in Malik Willis as he's the most athletic quarterback in this draft by a country mile and has some of the best arm strength available in this draft and many, including myself, think that he has Michael Vick level potential if given the right quarterback coach and offensive coordinator. He's extremely raw in his mechanics and he can be far too reliant on his mobility to make plays but like Vick, the tools and talent are their for a potential game-changer at quarterback and luckily for him he could sit for a year behind Heinicke and develop. He's the biggest boom-or-bust quarterback in this draft and would certainly bring Commander fans to the stadium.
Resign Brandon Scherff and Terry McLaurin Long-term
The Commanders are going to be in the quarterback hunt this coming free agency and draft and if they want to ensure that the next quarterback has great chance of success they need to resign their two best offensive players in Terry McLaurin and Brandon Scherff as they are coming off of excellent seasons despite the teams record. Terry McLaurin is one of the most underrated receivers in the NFL considering his production has come for a team that has an average quarterback at the helm in Taylor Heinicke as well as team that doesn't have a reliable #2 receiver in the roster and his production in his 3 year career has come tougher than most players in the league. Brandon Scherff is another player that the Commanders have to resign as he's coming off of his 5th pro bowl in his career and is a huge reason for this teams relative stability in the run game. He's one of the best guards in the NFL you can bet your bottom dollar that he will command a massive contract in free agency despite his 30yr old age. The Commanders have a huge need at the quarterback position and they need to give said quarterback the pieces to succeed whether it's a trade, a signing, or a draft pick because if they expect any of the three to come and change life without their two best offensive weapons, they will be at the bottom of the NFC East once again. I expect McLaurin to command at least somewhere between 17-20 million in free agency and the Commanders should offer him a similar deal considering his value in the passing game. Brandon Scherff will come a little cheaper due his age but a contract of 12-15 million a year certainly isn't out of the question. Both players have plenty left in the tank still have exceptional years ahead of them and the Commanders need to prioritize both players in free agency.
Sign Stephon Gilmore
If the above two players in Scherff and McLaurin are signed and Commanders maybe clear some cap room by cutting some dead weight on the roster the Commanders need to go after Stephon Gilmore in free agency as he's clearly the best cornerback available and would solidify one side of the field for the team with the front 7 that Washington has. Stephon Gilmore still has plenty of gas left in the tank and Washington has struggled mightily to improve the cornerback position and if your team struggles to fix it through player development and the draft, pay someone else for the service and Gilmore has been the NFL's ultimate mercenary at the position. Gilmore in 8 games last season still put a pro bowl together and even though his Carolina Panthers team face planted at the end of the season, Gilmore certainly broke their fall a bit in 2021. Gilmore is still a top 5 cornerback in the NFL and his 31 yr old age could make him a relatively affordable free agent. Yes, Gilmore has an injury history and yes his age is on the wrong side of 30 but there isn't a cornerback on the Commanders roster that can see him on talent level and it isn't as if the Commanders haven't tried to fix it with William Jackson III and Kendall Fuller but Gilmore is a far better corner than either player and would make this defense an imposing one once again.