Commanders' Roster Moves Raise Concerns About Team Direction

The Washington Commanders have faced scrutiny for their recent roster moves, particularly in the cornerback position, where quality play has been absent for the past five seasons. The last reliable cornerback performances came in 2020, under head coach Ron Rivera, when Ronald Darby and Kendall Fuller were still on the team.

Since then, the Commanders' attempts to bolster the position with free agents like William Jackson III and Bobby McCain have backfired, leading to a decline in overall performance. The report highlights the significance of investing in edge rushers, noting that successful teams have prioritized drafting and acquiring high-level talent in that area.

Conversely, the Commanders have avoided investing in edge rushers since the departures of Montez Sweat and Chase Young, with their roster now featuring low-impact players. The Commanders currently have the worst hurry percentage in the league, indicating a lack of pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

This deficiency in pass rushing has negatively impacted the cornerbacks, who have struggled with tackling and coverage. Despite some coverage sacks being recorded, the overall performance of the secondary has been undermined by the inadequate pass rush.

The report concludes that to improve their secondary, the Commanders must prioritize acquiring multiple high-caliber pass rushers, which has been ignored for too long according to the analysis.