Daily Slop – 11 Jul 25 – Watch Commanders Log Season 4, Episode 5

A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, and a sprinkling of other stuff

Commanders links

Articles

CBS Sports

NFL pre-training camp overreactions

Terry McLaurin will be paid as a top-5 WR at start of year

Overreaction or reality: Overreaction

McLaurin is one of the most underrated wide receivers in football. He had 44.8% of Washington’s receiving touchdowns last season, the third-highest percentage for any player in the league. He was also second in the NFL in receiving touchdowns last season (13).

Coming off five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, McLaurin put up numbers despite the myriad of quarterbacks that have thrown to him over the years. No coincidence McLaurin’s touchdown numbers went from four the previous season to 13 with Jayden Daniels as his quarterback.

Where McLaurin gets paid amongst the elite receivers is the question. He currently makes $23.3 million a season and watched the wide receiver market explode since he signed his extension in 2022. A pay raise is coming, but how much will the Commanders pay?

A.J. Brown is the fifth-highest paid receiver at $32 million a season. McLaurin likely won’t get that much, but $30 million a season (Tyreek Hill and Amon-Ra St. Brown make that much) is in the realm of possibility.

McLaurin should get top-10 money for his position. Highly unlikely he’ll be in the top-five range.

Micah Parsons will not be suiting up for Cowboys in Week 1

Overreaction or reality: Overreaction

The Bengals will trade Trey Hendrickson

Overreaction or reality: Reality

Daniel Jones will beat out Anthony Richardson for Colts QB job

Overreaction or reality: Reality

Commanders.com

Commanders 2025 training camp preview | Tight ends

• Can Ertz continue to turn back the clock? Ertz was one of the Commanders’ biggest surprises last season. Despite being one of the older active players in the league, he had his best season since 2021 and became a reliable red zone target for Jayden Daniels. Ertz said last offseason he was the healthiest he had been in years, and it showed with his 72.5% catch rate. Ertz made it clear he wanted to be back for 2025, and the Commanders were quick to re-sign him. Obviously, Ertz is near the end of his career, but the main question for him and Washington is whether he can maintain the success he had last season. If he can put up similar numbers, it provides more optimism that the Commanders will have another top 10 offense.
• What’s the update on Sinnott’s development? The Commanders had hopes that Sinnott — the second tight end taken in last year’s draft — could develop into an all-around player. That could still happen, but it was clear last year that Sinnott needed more time to develop. Tight ends coach David Raih said Sinnott has made strides this offseason, both as a blocker and pass-catcher. There were some positive signs during the season — he caught all his targets — and depending on how he looks in camp, he could get more looks in his second season. Fortunately for the Commanders, they managed to retain both Ertz and Bates, so there is no need for them to rush Sinnott’s development. They can ease him into a larger role, but it would be beneficial for him to show progress this summer.
• Can the Commanders get more out of their developmental players? Washington has several projects at tight end, from Yankoff to Jackson and Turner, and while there is no immediate need for them to play, it would be a bonus if one of them were to step up and become more meaningful contributors. Yankoff earned a spot on last year’s initial roster but was mostly a special teams player; Jackson is raw but has unique size at 6-foot-7; and Turner has struggled to get on the field but has put on weight and improved as a blocker to pair that with his pass-catching skill set. The Commanders kept four tight ends last season, so it’s reasonable to expect them to do so again. Any of those previously mentioned players could make a case to earn that spot, but they will need strong preseason performances to do so.

Riggo’s Rag

Eddie Goldman faces a fight to make Commanders’ roster this summer

The Commanders acquired the run-stopping interior defensive lineman on a one-year deal this offseason. He’s a formidable presence at 6-foot-4 and 338 pounds, but his production for the Atlanta Falcons was inconsistent at best in 2024.

Goldman’s also missed a lot of football over the last few years. He opted out of the COVID season and retired for two years after the 2021 campaign before returning in 2024. That should mean he’s relatively fresh compared to most 31-year-olds in the trenches, but it could still legitimately go either way.

Others will also fancy their chances of attaining rotational roles behind the top defensive tackle trio of Daron Payne, Johnny Newton, and free-agent signing Javon Kinlaw. The likes of Sheldon Day, Jalyn Holmes, and Carl Davis Jr. all flashed promise when reps came their way in 2024. They’ve also got the coaches’ trust and scheme familiarity on their side, which makes life more difficult for Goldman in pursuit of a roster spot.

Commanders.com

2025 opponent breakdown | Kansas City Chiefs

• Can the Chiefs protect Mahomes? It seems to be one of the biggest issues the Chiefs have dealt with over the years. Like their Super Bowl loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, Mahomes struggled to find open targets because he was harassed by the Philadelphia Eagles’ pass rush in Super Bowl LVII. Mahomes was sacked six times and threw two interceptions with a QBR of 11.4. And in another moment of history repeating itself, the Chiefs spent the offseason overhauling their offensive line. They traded Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears, signed Moore and drafted Simmons, hoping they can provide Mahomes with more time to operate and run the offense. The approach has worked for them before; after reworking the position in 2021, Mahomes led the league in passing yards and touchdowns while leading his team to a Super Bowl victory. The Chiefs are not quite as stacked as they were in previous years, but providing the league’s best quarterback with more time should elevate the entire unit.
• Will the Chiefs’ wide receivers step up? The Chiefs had 10 one-score victories last season, and part of the reason why they struggled to put teams away is because their receiver room was not as talented or productive as it once was. They were 14th in passing yards per game last season — a stark contrast from the top 10 production they got in 2020-24. None of their receivers topped 700 yards, and while players like Worthy and Rashee Rice show promise, the Chiefs need more from their receivers if they hope to beat the likes of the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens.
• How much does Chris Jones have left? Although Jones got his third straight First Team All-Pro selection in 2024, his production took a noticeable step back, as he recorded five sacks — his lowest total since 2017 — with 37 tackles. Jones is still one of the best defensive players in the league, but at 31 years old, it is reasonable to wonder how much longer he will suit up for Kansas City. Stats never tell the full story for a defensive tackle; Jones demands a lot of attention from offensive linemen, which allows his teammates to get free and make plays. So, perhaps the 2024 season was just an aberration for the six-time Pro Bowler. He’s under contract for another four seasons, at which point he will be 35 years old.

Podcasts & videos

Let It ******* Rip | Commanders Log: Season 4, Episode 5

NFC East links

ESPN

2025 NFL offseason grades: Draft, trades, more moves by team

Philadelphia Eagles: B+

• Biggest move: Re-signing LB Zack Baun
• Move I liked: Re-signing Baun
• Move I disliked: Trading S C.J. Gardner-Johnson for G Kenyon Green and light draft capital

The Eagles started their Super Bowl defense with a banger, re-signing Defensive Player of the Year candidate Baun to a three-year deal worth $17 million per year with $34 million fully guaranteed. Not only is Baun critical to Philadelphia’s defense, but the contract is a bit of a bargain — even after just one breakout elite season.

At $17 million per year, Baun’s deal is expensive but far from top of the linebacker market: Fred Warner and Shaquille Leonard’s 2021 contracts were worth $29 million and $30 million, respectively, in 2025 money when adjusting for cap inflation. Plus, Jamien Sherwood and Nick Bolton each signed for $15 million per year this offseason. They’re good linebackers, but I’d pay $2 million more per season to sign Baun any day of the week.

The Eagles also worked out extensions with Lane Johnson, Saquon Barkley and Cam Jurgens. Johnson’s deal added $8 million over the next two years and a 2027 year at $25 million. Though he’s 35, Johnson is also arguably the NFL’s best tackle, so he is well worth a new deal that averages $25 million over three years — below the top of the market.

Barkley’s deal put him near the top of the running back market (after adjusting for cap inflation) and added more than $20 million in new fully guaranteed money. Neither Johnson nor Barkley’s deals were necessary on paper, but the Eagles rewarded their stars and kept them happy (while showing the locker room that they’re willing to reward top performance). The degree to which they upped Barkley’s contract seemed unnecessary and could backfire, given how quickly running backs can fall off late in their careers.

Jurgens’ extension was more typical as a young player who can be a future building block. He ranked seventh in pass block win rate at center in 2024. It was by no means cheap, but the deal comes with plenty of upside.

New York Giants: B

• Biggest move: Trading up for QB Jaxson Dart
• Move I liked: Signing QB Jameis Winston
• Move I disliked: Signing CB Paulson Adebo

The Giants entered the offseason needing a quarterback. They acquired three. In free agency, they brought in both Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston for a combined $14 million in cap space. It was a good bargain.

At the time, they didn’t know whether they’d be able to draft a first-round QB. Wilson raises the floor and Winston the ceiling. Even though neither is the team’s future quarterback, why not try both at that cost?

The real investment was made in the draft by trading back into the first round to select Dart at No. 25 (after picking edge rusher Abdul Carter at No. 3). To move up from No. 34 to No. 25, the Giants dealt the Texans No. 99 and a 2026 third-round pick.

It was a no-brainer for Houston, but that doesn’t mean New York was wrong to make the deal. The math for draft trades completely changes when quarterbacks are involved because the upside is so much higher than for any other position. This was a risk well worth taking. Dart might not work out, but the Giants gave themselves a chance to find a franchise quarterback.

Their most expensive free agent acquisition was Adebo. I was not a fan of the move. Adebo, who suffered a broken femur in Week 7 last season, had strong on-ball numbers over the previous two seasons combined, with minus-49 EPA allowed as the nearest defender, per NFL Next Gen Stats. But on-ball production isn’t stable from year to year, and metrics that I would consider more important — such as target rate and yards per coverage snap — are more worrying.

Washington Commanders: C

• Biggest move: Trading for OT Laremy Tunsil
• Move I liked: Releasing DT Jonathan Allen
• Move I disliked: Signing DT Javon Kinlaw

Even if Washington overachieved in the playoffs, it still is in the enviable situation of having a franchise quarterback on a rookie deal, so it makes sense to push the chips in. Which is what it did.

Their biggest move was a bold trade of third- and seventh-round picks, a future second-round pick and a swap of fourth-round picks for Tunsil. The irony of the trade was that Houston badly needs offensive line help, and the Commanders didn’t have to upgrade — Brandon Coleman posted above average pass block and run block win rates as a rookie last season. But Tunsil is a high-end pass blocker despite leading all players in penalties last season.

At 30 years old, Tunsil could have plenty left. His current contract is a good value as it requires the Commanders to pay him $21.35 million in each of the next two seasons.

After also adding tackle Josh Conerly Jr. in the first round of the draft, the Commanders have options. Coleman, Conerly or Andrew Wylie — last season’s right tackle — could all feasibly start. Guard could be an option for whomever doesn’t start at tackle. Washington ranked ninth in pass block win rate last season, and should expect it to be better in 2025.

The trade for Deebo Samuel Sr. was a move that I was less a fan of the more I thought about it. The Commanders dealt a fifth-round pick and will pay $17.5 million for Samuel, who is 29 and coming off a rough 2024 in which he recorded 670 receiving yards and a career-low 37 overall score in ESPN’s player-tracking based receiver scores.

When grading the deal, I wrote that I was working under the assumption that Washington would add another wideout later in the offseason because Samuel would be a weakness as a No. 2 receiver. But there was no other major wide receiver addition.

Signing Kinlaw to a three-year deal averaging $15 million per year with $30 million fully guaranteed was a head-scratcher. Kinlaw has largely disappointed since being drafted in the first round in 2020; even with Kinlaw having a career season in 2024 this is a clear overpay. I was good with the Commanders cutting Allen, but paying Kinlaw this much to replace him doesn’t make sense.

The Commanders made a slew of smaller deals with older veterans, including bringing back linebacker Bobby Wagner and bringing in Jonathan Jones and Deatrich Wise Jr. Wagner, who is back on a one-year deal for $9 million, is a future Hall of Famer, but I worry the Commanders are pushing their luck relying on him again at age 35.

Dallas Cowboys: C

• Biggest move: Trading for WR George Pickens
• Move I liked: Drafting Edge Donovan Ezeiruaku in Round 2
• Move I disliked: Letting RB Rico Dowdle walk in exchange for Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders

Eight days after the Cowboys’ final game of 2024, they announced that head coach Mike McCarthy, whose contract had expired, would not be back. Dallas underwent an abridged search, interviewing only four candidates before hiring offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, who hadn’t been considered a major contender in the 2025 head coach market.

True to typical form, the Cowboys didn’t make any major free agent splashes. Their big move came when they acquired Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick from the Steelers for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick.

On paper, it’s a perfect move. Pickens not only fills a major need (a second wide receiver) but fits perfectly with CeeDee Lamb. Pickens is an outside, downfield threat who has been superb in contest-catch situations, which pairs nicely with Lamb, who can play inside and out. What’s scarier is that Steelers coach Mike Tomlin — who has a history of being able to manage all sorts of personalities — was evidently done with Pickens.

This could be a reasonable one-year play for the Cowboys (which could result in a compensatory pick if Pickens walks in free agency next year), but I would be wary of signing him to a long-term deal. In the meantime, Pickens is a big add for the 2025 Cowboys.

Dallas’ big-money move was re-signing defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, who agreed to a four-year deal averaging $20 million per year with $39 million fully guaranteed, per OverTheCap.com. That’s not unreasonable in a hot defensive tackle market. Odighizuwa ranked fourth in pass rush win rate at defensive tackle in 2023, though he dropped to 11th in 2024.

Dallas’ running back situation is uninspiring. Dowdle left for Carolina for under $3 million despite a very good 2024 season. In his stead, the Cowboys brought in Williams (who had minus-84 rush yards over expectation in 2024, per NFL Next Gen Stats) and Sanders (minus-44). Dallas also drafted Jaydon Blue in Round 5.

NFL league links

From the Netflix QUARTERBACK Season 2

Articles

SB Nation

NFL top-10 QBs rankings ahead of 2025 season

Let’s rank the 10 best QBs in the NFL right now.

NFL quarterbacking has never been more difficult to rank. Outside of the obvious top three QBs, from QB4-12 everything could be seen as incredibly fluid. There are QBs with different flavors and playing styles that make watching the QB spot fun throughout the NFL season. The top three QBs are pretty well known at this point: Kansas City Chiefs’ QB Patrick Mahomes, Baltimore Ravens’ QB Lamar Jackson and Buffalo Bills’ QB Josh Allen are the top three QBs in the NFL and all oscillate between the top three spots during the season. But how do the others shake out below them? Let’s find out.

Honorable mentions:

Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders: Daniels is the perfect modern spread QB, accurate downfield and dangerous with his legs. I’m curious to see if he can keep his negative plays down as much as he did last season going into 2025—that kind of stuff rarely ever sticks, but when it does, it’s for the elite guys.

Pro Football Talk

Report: Brandon Aiyuk likely starts season on PUP, but 49ers haven’t ruled him out for Week 1

49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is expected to start the season on reserve/physically unable to perform as he continues his recovery from knee surgery. That would sideline Aiyuk at least the first four games.

The 49ers, though, have not [yet] ruled out the former first-round draft pick from playing the season opener, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Maiocco added that the 49ers likely will play it safe with Aiyuk after he tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee Oct. 20.

Discussion topics

All aTwitter