Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters is locked and loaded heading into free agency. And absolutely nothing should be off the table.
The Commanders have roster holes everywhere you look. Peters needs to find the right balance between making the defensive improvements Daronte Jones desires and adding to the firepower around star quarterback Jayden Daniels. And with pressure building after a five-win campaign, the margin for error has disappeared.
Fortunately, there is money to spend. There could also be a window of opportunity to make a marquee splash that was expected to be closed before the legal tampering window opened.
Commanders could get their shot at acquiring Devin Lloyd in free agency
The Jacksonville Jaguars did not franchise tag stud linebacker Devin Lloyd. While the organization could work out a long-term commitment in the coming days, the chances of him testing the market now seem higher than ever.
This should put the Commanders on high alert.
They are in desperate need of an energy injection at their defensive second level. For all the positives around Bobby Wagner, speed is not his strong suit these days. And looking at the system Jones could run, it would be a surprise if the future Pro Football Hall of Famer got another deal in Washington.
Pairing Lloyd with Frankie Luvu would be a mouthwatering proposition. Even so, this will not be cheap, regardless of how much cash Washington has to throw around.
According to Spotrac, the second-team All-Pro is expected to get $20.14 million per season on a three-year, $60.43 million deal. This could even be a conservative estimate if a bidding war for his services begins. But to get the best, you have to pay.
Lloyd is undoubtedly the best second-level enforcer set to go on the market. There is still a chance Jacksonville won’t let things get that far, but they are leaving things extremely late to get something done. Maybe the AFC South club wants to gauge his offers before deciding whether to match them. Some NFL teams don’t like bidding against themselves, so it’ll be interesting to see how things go.
If the Commanders show interest, and if Lloyd is receptive, this would be a game-changer. And if Peters can work the money into something that doesn’t jeopardize his chances of strengthening other problem areas, that’s just the icing on the cake.
Obviously, it’s a fluid situation that can change in the blink of an eye. But if Lloyd is allowed to see what offers could potentially come along, the Commanders would be wise to do everything in their power to get him on board.
That could be the most telling statement imaginable about this franchise’s intent.
