The Washington Commanders have built a pretty solid roster over the last few years. Washington used four consecutive first-round picks on defensive linemen, two of which it has already signed to extensions [DTs Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne]. At the same time, the other two [DEs Montez Sweat and Chase Young] are slated for free agency in 2024.
The Commanders have also done an excellent job assembling an outstanding group of wide receivers through the draft, led by Terry McLaurin.
Washington has built a good secondary, too, headlined by former seventh-round pick safety Kamren Curl.
One area the Commanders have failed to address is quarterback. Washington is counting on 2022 fifth-round pick Sam Howell to be the guy in 2023 — and hopefully beyond.
ESPN’s Seth Walder recently ranked the core of all 32 NFL teams. What defines the from Walder’s perspective?
A core was defined as the five most important players to a team — the guys each roster is built around. The ranking is for 2023, but there was a consideration of age in deciding which players made each team’s core. For some teams, there were too many good candidates to choose from, while even getting to five was tough for others.
Who was Washington’s core, and where did Walder rank the Commanders? He had Washington at No. 28, which feels far too low, but he explains why.
Roster core: WR Terry McLaurin, DT Daron Payne, DT Jonathan Allen, DE Montez Sweat, DE Chase Young
Average core age: 26.4
Uncertainty at quarterback (and therefore, the lack of one on this list) dings Washington. But this is a solid collection of players in their prime, and the case could be made for the Commanders to rank higher. I believe Young can still be a good player, as he posted a 19% pass rush win rate at edge as recently as 2021.
It’s difficult to argue with Walder’s core Commanders. Young could be a stretch, though. The talent remains undeniable, but he has nine career sacks through three seasons. But, anytime you discuss Young, you must always consider his knee injury. It wasn’t an average ACL tear. And an average ACL tear is already a severe injury.
As for the quarterback issue, he’s right. Unless Howell comes through in 2023, Washington will look for another quarterback again in 2024. The odds may be against Howell, but the talent is there. If Howell hits, we have a feeling Walder’s list will look a lot different next year.
