Washington

Commanders

Well, let’s see if we can get a few Instagram posts off that change minds, Brandon. Aiyuk and the 49ers are at an impasse and he has not posted on his social accounts that he’s not “doing business” with the 49ers at this time, and unless he reports to the 49ers they can’t actually release him anyway. This situation has turned from a fait accompli that he’d eventually join the Commanders into something that surely has them second-guessing things, as reported by Nicki Jhavala of The Athletic earlier last month.

Fowler said a team could sign Diggs ahead of training camp, but didn’t do us the courtesy of naming any of those teams beyond the Commanders. He also pointed at the Ravens as a team that attacks late free agency often. Diggs is one of several unsigned receivers still waiting for a home as we near the start of training camp, and there’s a belief in his camp that he’ll be even better this year now that he’s shed a snap count he was on while managing 2024’s torn ACL recovery.

Washington spent the past four seasons in the Vikings front office, most recently as assistant general manager. With Minnesota moving on to a new front office, he was let go after Nolan Teasley was hired as general manager. Washington now joins the Commanders as senior personnel executive after previous incumbent Scott Fitterer left to join agency Athletes First. Commanders general manager Adam Peters previously worked with Washington in San Francisco’s front office from 2017-2021.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Douglas can reportedly earn “up to $3.8 million” on his contract. The Commanders continue to look for ways to revamp a secondary that ranked among the league’s worst last season and are hopeful that Douglas can provide some additional help. The 31-year-old corner started 13 of the 15 games he appeared in last season, totaling 13 pass breakups and two interceptions while earning a PFF coverage grade of 72.6. He has played primarily on the outside for his career and played 749 of his 851 outside last season.

Washington remains short of wide receiver depth headed into training camp, with Terry McLaurin as the clear No. 1 option and Treylon Burks perhaps profiling as the team’s WR2. Jhabvala said Samuel’s familiarity with the Commanders could make him an easy fit as a secondary or tertiary pass-catching option in OC David Blough’s system. “He played all three seasons in Washington alongside Dyami Brown, and he’s familiar with receivers coach Bobby Engram, who was Samuel’s positional coach for his final season with the Commanders,” Jhabvala said. “Samuel’s not at the point in his career where he could be a No. 2 in terms of workload, but his versatility and ability to separate could make him a good depth option in Blough’s offense.” Entering his age-30 season, Samuel — who mostly functions as a slot wideout — had just 38 receptions over 20 games with the Bills over the past two seasons. He is six years removed from his career 2020 season in Carolina.

Aiyuk, who is still under contract with the 49ers, continues to post highly erratic videos to social media platforms after a California judge issued a warrant for his arrest in early June following exhibitionist speeding past the 49ers stadium. Jhabvala said the posts could make it less likely that Aiyuk lands with Washington ahead of the regular season. It’s been nearly 20 months since Aiyuk was last on an NFL field. “What was once a seemingly minimal-risk option now appears more concerning,” Jhabvala said, adding that the Commanders would “have to feel incredibly confident that he’s fit, physically and emotionally, to not just sign, but be committed to what they’re trying to build.” That appears more unlikely with every unhinged Instagram video. Aiyuk, 28, said on June 25 that he would “sign with the Commanders” tomorrow if the Niners cut him from their roster.

Zach Ertz was second on the team with 72 targets last year, but after that you have to slide all the way down to John Bates at 16 to find another tight end. Chig Okonkwo is certainly in the TE2 tier at the moment, but this would appear to give him a path to low-end TE1 upside. Keim does say it’s not only Okonkwo who will have a bigger role, and the role may shrink a bit if and when the Commanders finally bring in Brandon Aiyuk or another veteran WR2. Still, Okonkwo’s range of outcomes is much better than it was last year in Tennessee.

Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt was noticeably bigger this spring, per Keim, and Dan Quinn said they’d told the back he needed to add bulk and be a bigger factor in the passing game. Keim doesn’t list a strong No. 2 runner on the depth chart, but we’d expect Rachaad White to have first crack at the No. 2 duties. Bill probably belongs in the RB3/RB4 tier for the moment.

Reporters asked Quinn to name players who stood out and stepped up throughout the offseason. White, WR Van Jefferson and rookie WR Jaden Bradley were the three offensive players. The latter two could have a tough time achieving fantasy relevance, but White has a wide range of outcomes. The Commanders are hoping RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt can return from his soft tissue injury and prove his three-down viability. They also drafted RB Kaytron Allen. White, 27, has struggled to perform well as a rusher, but is a proven passing game contributor. Depending on how things shake out in training camp, White could have a reliable role this season.

Keim went as far as to say that a league source was confused when the Commanders drafted Sinnott at No. 53 overall a year ago because he didn’t think the tight end was a fit for Kingsbury’s system. That source was spot on. Sinnott managed just 16 catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns through two seasons. Kingbury has since been fired and replaced by Blough, who previously held the title of assistant quarterbacks coach. Keim called out a deep shot and an intermediate throw over the middle to Sinnott as plays that are indicative of how Blough will use his tight ends in the regular season. Though free agent addition Chig Okonkwo is penciled in as the starter, Sinnott should get more run in his third season. Dynasty managers can leave the light on for him, even if he isn’t a consideration in redraft leagues.