Adam Peters and his accomplished staff have an awful lot to get through over the next few weeks. The Washington Commanders’ offseason program has formally concluded, and the players now head off on a mini-break before things ramp up considerably at training camp later this summer.
That’s not the case for Peters. His hard work is just getting started.
He’ll be assessing the current roster, how each player is performing, and what more might be needed to help the Commanders get over the hump. If the general manager and head coach, Dan Quinn, decide more is needed, they won’t hesitate to find better solutions to potential problems.
There were plenty of standouts over Washington’s mandatory minicamp. Not much was made of the team’s edge rushing threat, which is an area of real concern among the fan base. If someone had stood out, the reporters in attendance would have mentioned it. But it appears that wasn’t the case.
This should force Peters into drastic action. And one painfully obvious solution is still staring him in the face.
Commanders would bolster their pass-rush considerably with Za’Darius Smith
Go and make Za’Darius Smith an offer he cannot refuse.
Smith is still sitting on the proverbial scrap heap after not getting a new deal from the Detroit Lions. He’s a savvy veteran who knows how to prepare, so there wasn’t a great rush to get involved in an offseason program. But with training camp on the not-too-distant horizon, it would be surprising if he were available for much longer.
His best days might be gone, but Smith can still get after the quarterback. He’s also capable of making a significant impression against the run, which was something the Commanders lacked at the defensive end position for most of the 2024 campaign.
The Commanders are an attractive destination for anyone these days. Getting the chance to help a contending team that reached the final four last season isn’t the worst proposition in the world. There would also be a chance to accumulate prominent reps immediately if he gets up to speed.
Smith is the sort of player who makes everyone else better. He can provide helpful hints to Washington’s young edge rushers. Going up against him in practice is going to polish the skills of the Commanders’ offensive tackles, including rookie Josh Conerly Jr., considerably before Week 1 against the New York Giants’ formidable defensive front seven arrives.
Peters could decide to stand pat and go with what the Commanders have right now. But the lack of impression made over mandatory minicamp, albeit in difficult conditions that tend to favor offensive players, might lead the front-office leader to make an alteration or two.
It’s a decision he must make quickly. Because there’s a good chance Smith won’t be on the market if there’s any delay.
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