Washington Commanders Called Out for Overpaying on Free Agent Signing
The Washington Commanders, and general manager Adam Peters arrived ahead of schedule in 2024, thanks in part to wunderkind rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels’ emergence and targeted aggressiveness at the top of the free agent market last offseason.
This spring, the Commanders largely looked to replicate that formula in free agency, after allowing Jonathan Allen to walk out of the building in free agency by signing former New York Jets disruptive defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw to replace him.
However, not everyone is a fan of the move.
Tyler Brooke of The 33rd Team put together a list of the most overpaid free agent contracts given out so far this offseason, with the Commanders’ $30 million guaranteed to Kinlaw among them.
“Kinlaw does bring some pass-rushing juice,” Brooke points out for The 33rd Team. “Generating 65 pressures and 8.0 sacks in the last two seasons. He even ranked 15th in pass rush win rate for the New York Jets this past season.
“Still, given Kinlaw’s injury history earlier in his career and struggles as a complete three-down defensive tackle, this is a pretty tough deal to justify, especially as an Allen replacement.”
Kinlaw’s injury history is a valid concern, but, if he can continue to consistently generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks, he could prove a worthy counterpunch to the likes of Jalen Hurts, Dak Prescott, and Jared Goff, who the Commanders will likely need to get through on the road to a potential Super Bowl berth.
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Bucs add Bryce Hall back into the cornerback mix
TAMPA — Bryce Hall began last year as the Bucs’ third cornerback but lasted only 11 snaps before he was sidelined for the season.
In fact, it was nearly the same as the one that ended Chris Godwin’s season about five weeks later.
Hall dislocated his ankle and fractured the fibula in his right leg in the season opener against the Commanders.
Hall finished 2024 on injured reserve, and the Bucs certainly could have benefitted from his experience of playing 39 games and 26 starts for the Jets.
Now Hall and the Bucs are getting a second chance.
He agreed to terms on a one-year, $1.17 million veteran minimum contract Tuesday.
Injuries have plagued Hall for much of his career, but when healthy, he has been very productive. In 2021, he started 17 games for the Jets and recorded 122 tackles with 16 passes defensed, which ranked sixth in the league that season.
Hall, 27, didn’t have to wait long to be called upon for the Bucs. He entered the game in place of cornerback Zyon McCollum, who sustained a concussion against the Commanders.
The Bucs have continued to fortify their secondary with veteran players. Last week, they signed Lions free agent cornerback Kindle Vildor.
Last season, when Jamel Dean went down, the Bucs were forced to turn to second-year pro Josh Hayes.
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