Where does the Commanders' offseason improvements rank compared to the rest of the NFL?

[ASFN Admin]

We are almost three weeks into the NFL offseason. The first wave of free agency is over, and teams are looking for bargains ahead of next month's 2025 NFL draft. So, how much better are the Washington Commanders after a few weeks of free agency?

Ben Solak of ESPN recently ranked all 32 teams based on how their rosters have improved. Solak ranked teams not only by free-agent signings but also by trades, re-signings, extensions, and restructures. Solak isn't as high on Washington's offseason as many other analysts. He ranks the Commanders 17th.

I loved: The return of cornerback Noah Igbinoghene. The headline moves are all fine. They sent the right amount of draft capital for Samuel and the risk/reward of an aging receiver with a unique skill set. The same is true of Tunsil, a high-ceiling but oft-penalized blindside protector who took a step back last season. But the quiet moves often have the bigger impact in the season.

Igbinoghene settled in as a solid starting nickel over the course of 2024, and his return allows coach Dan Quinn to be flexible with the alignment and usage of second-year star corner Mike Sainristil. I similarly appreciate the retentions of wideout Noah Brown and tight end John Bates -- two quiet, useful players who are integral as connective tissue for a contender.

I didn't love: The Kinlaw deal. Any team that makes as many transactions as the Commanders did will make a few questionable ones, but I simply cannot square this deal. Kinlaw maxed out as a rotational defensive tackle who didn't work for the 49ers, a team that has a high success rate in developing defensive linemen. He also didn't work with the Jets and Robert Saleh, who brought his 49ers magic to New York. Signing him to a deal worth $15 million per year implies he'll be a consistent starter on all three downs, so even if the pass rush has finally crystallized -- which is an extremely dubious claim -- Kinlaw will remain a mark in the running game.

Solak isn't the first person to question the Kinlaw signing. We've questioned it, too. It looks like an overpay for a player who has yet to live up to his potential. However, no one outside of Washington general manager Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn know how Kinlaw will be used. The Commanders' goal this offseason was to get bigger up front in an effort to stop the run. We'll see if their gamble on Kinlaw pays off. Quinn is known to get the most out of his players.

The trades for Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel fill major positions of need. Washington also brought back key veterans, such as linebacker Bobby Wagner and tight end Zach Ertz. The Commanders also added a couple of ex-Patriots, defensive end Deatrich Wise and cornerback Jonathan Jones. While Washington didn't spend big on another cornerback, remember the trade for Marshon Lattimore. Peters believes a fully healthy Lattimore will make a huge difference in 2025. In addition to Lattimore, the Commanders also have Mike Sainristil, Noah Igbinoghene and Jones in the cornerback room. That's a major improvement.

Did Washington do enough to improve? Did the Commanders close the gap on the Eagles? We shall see.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Where does ESPN rank Commanders' offseason moves?

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