Welcome to where “here we go again,” a “brave new world” and our constantly updated Washington Commanders’ 2024 free agency/offseason tracker collide.
The first offseason for the new regime hits overdrive as the NFL’s legal tampering period begins Monday at noon ET followed by the official start of the league year on Wednesday. The Commanders will be active, but how aggressive with their roughly $80 million (league high) in salary-cap space and numerous roster holes?
Put this page in your rotation for news and notes throughout the offseason. We begin with links to our pre-free agency coverage:
March 12
Commanders agree to one-year deal with DE Clelin Ferrell
The Commanders added more defensive end depth by agreeing to terms with Clelin Ferrell, the No. 4 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, league sources told me and Dianna Russini.
Ferrell, 27 in May, is part of the defensive end puzzle rather than a solution, though he started all 17 games for the NFC champion 49ers last season He missed the postseason with a torn meniscus. The sturdy presence had 3.5 sacks and 28 tackles as part of a rotation that included ex-Commander Chase Young after the trade deadline. More help is required beyond Ferrell and projected starter Dorance Armstrong.
March 11
Commanders agree to sign G Nick Allegretti to three-year deal
The Commanders’ reshaping of their offensive line continued on Monday by agreeing to terms with former Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti on a three-year, $16 million deal, a league source confirmed to The Athletic.
Allegretti, 27, primarily worked in reserve over his five years with Kansas City but started this season’s AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl. He played the majority of his 79 snaps in the Super Bowl after suffering a torn UCL. Allegretti will be given a shot to start, presumably at left guard and next to another one of Washington’s signings, center Tyler Biadasz.
Commanders reportedly agree to terms with kicker Brandon McManus
McManus spent 2023 in Jacksonville after nine seasons in Denver, where he overlapped with Washington general manager Adam Peters. He made 81.1 percent of his field goal attempts (30-of-37) and all 35 of his extra points last season. The agreement means the Commanders are moving on from Joey Slye (79.2 field goal percentage in 2023) after two-plus seasons.
Jacoby Brissett agrees to one-year deal with Patriots, per reports
If the Commanders want an experienced quarterback on the roster, it won’t be Brissett. Washington’s backup last season agreed to a one-year, $8 million contract plus incentives with the Patriots.
The Commanders, if they stand pat, have 2023 starter Sam Howell and the quarterback they likely select with the No. 2 overall pick in April’s draft.
Commanders agree to two-year deal with RB Austin Ekeler
The Commanders added a potentially dynamic running back in Ekeler after agreeing to terms on a two-year deal worth up to $11.43 million, league sources confirmed to The Athletic. Ekeler, No. 60 on The Athletic’s 2024 free-agent list, is coming off a quieter season after leading the league with touchdowns scored in 2021 (20) and 2022 (18). He finished last season with 1,064 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns. That was the third straight and fourth overall season he tallied at least 1,000 yards from scrimmage, finishing with 628 rushing yards and 436 receiving yards.
The versatile offensive playmaker became the fourth external free agent to agree to terms with Washington on the opening day of the league’s legal tampering period.
GO DEEPER
Austin Ekeler agrees to sign with Commanders on 2-year deal
Commanders agree to three-year deal with LB Frankie Luvu
The Commanders did something on the first day of the NFL’s legal tampering period not previously done in these parts for years: spend money on a free-agent linebacker.
Washington and former Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu agreed to a three-year contract with a maximum value of $36 million, a league source confirmed. Luvu, 27, hit free agency after generating 5.5 sacks, 125 tackles, 11 quarterback hits, 10 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles in 17 games for the Panthers last season. He ranked 20th in The Athletic’s top 150 free-agents list.
GO DEEPER
Commanders agree to deal with LB Frankie Luvu
Antonio Gibson headed to Patriots, sources confirm
Gibson is taking his dual-threat talents to Foxboro after agreeing to a three-year deal with New England, a league source confirmed to The Athletic.
Gibson’s four seasons with Washington were coming to a close as the new regime sought new pieces to join Brian Robinson Jr. and Chris Rodriguez Jr. in the backfield. The next change-of-pace back may come in the draft. Fortunately for Gibson, the 2020 third-round pick didn’t have to wait long for a new destination.
The terms, per a league source, are three years, $11.25 million with $5.35 million guaranteed, which essentially amounts to a year-to-year contract.
RB Antonio Gibson has agreed to a 3-year deal with the Patriots, source confirmed.
Not a surprise he’s moving on, and the Commanders now need a pass catcher out of the backfield. Fascinated to see of a new team had a better plan to use AG.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) March 11, 2024
Commanders reportedly agree to terms with C Tyler Biadasz
The Commanders addressed their shaky offensive line on the first day of the league’s legal tampering period by agreeing to terms with former Dallas Cowboys center Tyler Biadasz, according to reports. Biadasz, No. 65 on The Athletic’s top 150 free-agent list, will take over as Washington’s starter after holding that status with the Cowboys for the past three years. Per NFL Network, it’s a three-year, $30 million deal.
Center has become the Spinal Tap drummer of positions in recent seasons, with injuries wrecking the depth chart. The plan last season involved signing free agent Nick Gates and drafting Ricky Stromberg in the third round. However, Gates was benched for poor play midway through the season and will be released when the new league year begins, team and league sources told The Athletic. Stromberg played sparingly before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Tyler Larsen, a 2024 free agent, replaced Gates before injuries sidelined him for a third consecutive season.
Biadasz, a 2022 Pro Bowl selection, started 49 games over the past three seasons. Stromberg is the likely backup and possibly in play for guard work.
GO DEEPER
Commanders reportedly agree to deal with C Tyler Biadasz, adding a Pro Bowler to O-line
Commanders agree to three-year deal with DE Dorance Armstrong
The Commanders have agreed to terms with defensive end Dorance Armstrong, a league source confirmed to The Athletic. Armstrong, who turns 27 in June, had 7 1/2 sacks last season under Quinn in Dallas. ESPN reported that his terms are three years for a maximum salary of $45 million.
Attacking the edge-rusher position in free agency makes perfect sense. Washington’s top five from last season either hit free agency or, in the case of Montez Sweat and Young, were dealt before the 2023 trade deadline. Rising second-year players KJ Henry and Andre Jones Jr. might join the rotation, but the Commanders needed surer pieces next to Pro Bowl tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne.
Of Armstrong’s 93 career regular-season games, all with the Cowboys, the 2018 fourth-round pick never started more than five games in any season. Yet the 6-foot-4, 255-pounder also finished second on the team in sacks in each of the past two seasons, including a career-high 8 1/2 in 2022.
March 6
Commanders sign tight end Zach Ertz to one-year deal
The signing reunites Ertz with former Arizona coach Kliff Kingsbury, now Washington’s offensive coordinator. Ertz, 33, had 103 receptions and seven touchdowns under Kingsbury from 2021 to 2022 before the Cardinals made a coaching change. The financial terms of Ertz’s contract with incentives offer the 12-year veteran up to $5 million in earnings. The Commanders’ tight end room requires a makeover, which began with the salary cap-influence release of Logan Thomas. But the signing of Ertz should not preclude Washington from seeking additional help for one of the least productive tight end groups in the league.
(Photo of Austin Ekeler: Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today)
