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Riggo’s Rag
Cryptic social media posts hint at Commanders’ exit for two notable free agents
Dante Fowler Jr. and Dyami Brown are not happy...
The Commanders aren’t going to keep everyone happy. They made a sensational run to the NFC Championship game last season, but most fans are anticipating significant roster turnover again. Washington is loaded with salary-cap space with an urgent need to maximize quarterback Jayden Daniels’ rookie contract. There is no room for sentiment in pursuit of putting the pieces in place to keep up with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Not everyone will be fortunate to get another deal. Some will be expected to take their chances elsewhere. Others, like edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr. and wide receiver Dyami Brown, are perhaps feeling a little aggrieved.
Fowler took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice his displeasure. Something happened that made the veteran feel disrespected after gaining 10.5 sacks in 2024. Whether that was a lower-than-expected offer to stay or no contract coming at all wasn’t disclosed, but it doesn’t look entirely promising for his future in D.C.
The disrespect.. I can’t take it anymore
— Dante fowler (@dantefowler) March 10, 2025
Fowler’s post also provoked a response from Brown. The wide receiver bounced back from almost anonymous three-and-a-half years with the Commanders to make a significant contribution down the stretch. He produced big plays in high-stakes situations, which isn’t going to go unnoticed by teams looking for pass-catching help in the coming days.
Brown seemed to agree with Fowler’s thoughts about being disrespected. The Commanders were never going to offer him top dollar after trading for wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. Although his recent resurgence was encouraging, the overall body of work counts for something too.
Peters knows what he’s doing. His decision to release popular veteran defensive tackle Jonathan Allen confirmed there is no emotional attachment attached to his thought process. If the figures don’t work from a business sense, he’ll find alternative solutions.
All signs point to Fowler and Brown leaving the Commanders in the not-too-distant future. Nothing has been officially confirmed and it’s not exactly the end of the world, but Peters has to think quickly to ensure Washington upgrades both spots when the free-agent frenzy begins.
Pro Football Talk
Commanders re-sign P Tress Way
Way punted 50 times during the 2024 regular season, which was his lowest figure since punting 49 times during a 16-game 2016 season. He did not punt at all in two games and then added a third in the team’s playoff win over the Buccaneers.
Way had a net average of 42.9 yards when he was called upon to kick and he also completed a 23-yard pass during the team’s NFC Championship Game loss to the Eagles.
Washington Post (paywall)
TE John Bates will return to Commanders on three-year contract
He and Zach Ertz will stay together in Washington for at least another season.
A fourth-round draft pick by Washington in 2021, Bates has emerged as one of the team’s most consistent — and most consistently available — skill players, taking on a job owned by few in the NFL anymore as a primarily blocking tight end.
Bates has played in all but one game since he was drafted out of Boise State. This past season, he was targeted 13 times and caught eight passes for 84 yards. He added three catches (on five targets) for 31 yards in the playoffs.
Bates and guard Sam Cosmi, who signed a four-year, $74 million deal before last season, are the only members of Washington’s 2021 draft class under contract for next season.
Commanders.com
Mock Draft Monday | Charles Davis gives Commanders another explosive playmaker
This week, we’re focusing on a mock draft from the NFL Network’s Charles Davis, who has the Commanders adding to their offensive arsenal.
Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
Golden only participated in one drill during the wide receivers’ on-field workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine — the 40-yard dash — but it was enough to leave scouts with a positive impression of him. He ran a 4.29, which ranked behind Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston as the second-fastest of the combine.
“Sign me up for that,” NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah said in the booth broadcast alongside Rich Eisen.
But there’s more to Golden’s game than just speed. He’s a “do-it-all” receiver who succeeded on all three levels and at multiple spots on the field for the Longhorns during his college career. He proved himself as a bona fide playmaker, and Davis has him starting his professional career with the Burgundy & Gold.
“The Commanders’ receiver room could be undergoing an enticing makeover, with the trade for Deebo Samuel being the first move,” Davis wrote. “Golden would be a tremendous addition, fitting well alongside Samuel and WR1 Terry McLaurin.”
Podcasts & videos
Episode 1,024 - Analysis of a wild last few days for the Commanders.
- interest in Trey Hendrickson & Khalil Mack
- RIP Myles Garrett trade
- Zach Ertz, John Bates & Chris Rodriguez Jr. re-sign - why Rodriguez deserves more carries
- Jon Allen is releasedhttps://t.co/PLG66XdQrt
— Al Galdi (@AlGaldi) March 10, 2025
NFC East links
Bleeding Green Nation
NFL free agency rumors: Eagles want fourth-round draft pick for Dallas Goedert
Rumors picked up late last week that the Eagles were open to trading Dallas Goedert this offseason with many agreeing that the tight end would probably be playing elsewhere in 2025. On the eve of the free agency legal tampering period, more details are emerging and the Eagles appear to still be holding out hope to get a fourth-round pick for Goedert.
There are league sources who believe the #Eagles are holding out hope for at least a 4th-round pick for TE Dallas Goedert in a potential trade, even if said pick was from later years like 26’ or ‘27.
However, a lower pick & more of a salary adjustment is needed for some* teams… pic.twitter.com/VtXj599VlF
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 9, 2025
It’s interesting that Josina Anderson mentioned interested teams would not only need to offer a lower pick, but also that there would need to be some salary adjustment as well. It backs up assertions that the Eagles may only be willing to move on from Goedert this year because he’s asking for a new contract.
BGN’s Brandon Lee Gowton explained last week:
“The feeling here has been that the Eagles should ride it out for one more year while adding a potential Goedert successor (likely via the 2025 NFL Draft) to their roster this offseason. But perhaps it’s not that simple if Goedert is applying pressure for a new deal.”
Eagles Free Agency Rumors: Multiple NFC East teams interested in signing Isaiah Rodgers
If your expectation was that impending free agent cornerback Isaiah Rodgers wouldn’t have a strong market and he’d be easy for the Philadelphia Eagles to re-sign, you may need to think again.
Rodgers is drawing interest from multiple teams ahead of the NFL’s negotiating window opening at noon on Monday, March 10. This much according to a report from Aaron Wilson.
The Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Carolina Panthers were specifically mentioned.
With the Eagles reportedly designating Darius Slay as a post-June 1, losing Rodgers doesn’t seem ideal. Even less so with him potentially going to a division rival.
If Philly is able to re-sign him, Rodgers would be a nice outside starting CB option to pair with Quinyon Mitchell next season.
NFL league links
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Front Office Sports
NFL Teams Drop More Than $1 Billion in a Weekend Spending Frenzy
More than $1 billion was committed to NFL players this weekend, highlighted by the $330 million deal of Josh Allen.
It was a billion-dollar weekend for the NFL.
NFL teams combined to hand out more than $1 billion worth of contracts this weekend, highlighted by the six-year, $330 million deal the Bills gave quarterback Josh Allen, the second-largest total contract in NFL history behind Patrick Mahomes’s (10 years, $450 million) with the Chiefs.
Two other players agreed to nine-figure contracts: Myles Garrett (four years, $160 million) and DK Metcalf (five years, $150 million after a trade from the Seahawks to the Steelers).
In total, NFL teams spent $1.12 billion on 16 players this weekend, according to data from Over The Cap.
Over the Cap
How Teams Spend on Higher Priced Players in the NFL
[T]his is where a team like Philadelphia stands out. When they have a high priced player they generally keep that player. This number will likely drop for them this year when a few players do hit free agency but a rule of thumb during this successful run has been draft well, and keep the players you draft well. These numbers also show some shortcomings in drafting from teams like the Colts who have a high retention rate but just three players and moreso a team like Seattle with just 1.
The more worrisome teams are those under 50%. Those are the Steelers, Raiders, Panthers, Dolphins, Titans, Jets, and Saints. There is something there either with poor cap management, a tight budget, or something else causing the teams to not keep their highest priced players. In some cases it may be justified (Bryce Huff for instance was a disaster free agent signing and smart to let walk) but the trend isn’t great for these teams.
I think the trend here is that most of the successful teams are finding ways to keep their higher priced players. You can see here where a team like Dallas philosophically switches up going from not losing very high priced players to losing many in the next salary tier. The Ravens drop to 44% which is not a great look, though they have been better than most at identifying players who they should drop. The 49ers number at 42% should be alarming and is likely because of their salary cap issues some of which stems from the failed Trey Lance trade robbing them of so many draft picks. The Texans and Dolphins are also a really bad look.
All aTwitter
Wylie was the perfect example of how scheme can help a tackle. He played pretty much the same level both years, but this season they had a lot more of a run game, RPOs, play-actions, screens built in. Then tons of chip help too. Previous year he was left exposed a ton https://t.co/SRavVwGwxz
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) March 9, 2025
ESPN's @JFowlerESPN shared that "The most interesting thing posed to me this weekend is Washington could double down with a 'Philly Special' in both Josh Sweat and Milton Williams in free agency to rebuild their defensive line."
Will be interesting to monitor. pic.twitter.com/yYQ5XmTuaQ
— George Carmi (@Gcarmi21) March 10, 2025
Just ahead of free agency, former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack reached agreement today on a one-year, fully-guaranteed $18 million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers, per sources. Chargers get back their pass-rush standout. pic.twitter.com/R6M3toh3zF
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2025
BREAKING: The #Bills are releasing DE Von Miller after 3 seasons with the team, saving them around $8M in cap space.
His stats with Buffalo:
• 36 games
• 41 tackles
• 17 tackles for loss
• 14.0 sacks
• 2 PD, 1 FR pic.twitter.com/SFSPSS36AG
— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) March 9, 2025
Sources: Jaycee Horn has agreed to a 4-year, $100M extension — ($108M max) — including $70M guaranteed with the Carolina Panthers. At $25M per year, Jaycee is now the highest-paid DB in NFL history. Deal negotiated by Trevon Smith and David Mulugheta.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2025
We not even gonna do that tonight. If Fowler wants to know why he ain't getting the bag he wants. The answer is right here. Ain't no disrespect pic.twitter.com/piqxsxxr2G
— ARP Reez (@Reez_Delaghetto) March 10, 2025