Every offseason, the fans of all 32 NFL teams hope star players walk through the doors while the franchise is also able to retain key players too, and for the Washington Commanders, the past few weeks has seen some moving and shaking happen.
Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil were both traded for in blockbuster moves that instantly upgrade the Commanders at key spots, but some players had to be let go.
Two in particular were tough. Edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr. and receiver Olamide Zaccheaus are now with the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears, respectively.
Both played key roles in the Commanders' success last season, but now find themselves out the door and on other teams. But why?
"Sometimes the football and the business, they intersect," head coach Dan Quinn said. "But those two, I love them and way past football, and that's for life. Both of them made a huge impact on my life and will always be supporting of them, but that is part of it. You hear it's a business, and that is true, and there's certain times of year where those things intersect, and that's part of it.
"We all recognize that together, you wish everybody could be back all the time, but that's not how it goes."
We often see players, who have been key to their team's success, like Fowler Jr., who led the Commanders in sacks, be allowed to leave via free agency, which some see as odd, but Quinn states the business side played a part.
Former Kansas City Chiefs star guard Joe Thuney was a salary cap casualty and was traded to the Bears, so these kinds of moves happen all the time, and more often than not, it's purely a business decision.
Related: Commanders Offer Tantalizing Deebo Samuel Scouting Report
So yes, the Commanders were able to get two star players in that will elevate the offense, but that comes at the expense of other players.
And that, my friends, is the business side of football.
Related: Commanders' General Manager Reveals Terry McLaurin Contract Strategy
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This story was originally published April 2, 2025 at 4:16 AM.