Daily Slop – 19 May 25 – PFF says Commanders have weakest defensive line group in NFL

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

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Articles

ESPN

Inside the first month of being an NFL rookie

EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL for Washington Commanders first-round pick Josh Conerly Jr. during rookie minicamp. There were classroom meetings, drills with coaches and bonding with new teammates.

Until the final day, May 10. That’s when the Navy SEALs arrived.

They talked to the rookies for approximately 30 minutes about grit and mindset and what it was like to train like a SEAL. Then they had them perform a drill that reinforced what Commanders coach Dan Quinn often emphasizes: teamwork and communication.

They had three teams — two with six players and another with coaches — lift a 250-pound log. Whichever team held it in position the longest won. They squatted with it, did lunges and then held it at their shoulders with the log covering their neck area.

Conerly’s six-man crew emerged victorious after about five minutes.

“It gets hard after three or four minutes, to be honest,” said the 21-year-old Conerly, an offensive tackle.

But for Conerly and the other rookies in camp, the day reinforced the message Quinn wanted them to receive. Quinn has brought in the Navy SEALs in the past, both when he was in Atlanta and last year with Washington. With the rookies, the goal was to bring everyone together quickly after having been off for a while.

“It was cool, knowing that you all have to be on the same page, hear the same communication, and you just have to move as one at all times,” Conerly said. “One thing that kind of stands out to me about Coach Quinn, and one of his quotes, is doing hard … I’m going to say ‘stuff’ with good people. That resonates throughout the whole building.”

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Riggo’s Rag

Commanders 53-man roster projection

Commanders running backs (4)

• Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Jeremy McNichols.

The Washington Commanders’ ground game regressed as the season went on. Kliff Kingsbury’s offense was far too reliant on Jayden Daniels, which he’s more than capable of. However, it’s a trend that cannot continue moving forward.

Adam Peters opted to keep faith with the options already available. Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler will once again play key roles in the final year of their respective deals. However, there’s a growing belief that the Commanders might have a steal on their hands with seventh-round pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt.

If Croskey-Merritt takes on coaching, he’s got a good chance of establishing himself right out of the gate. If he needs a little longer, Jeremy McNichols is perfectly capable of manning the third spot behind Ekeler and Robinson.

Commanders wide receivers (6)

• Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel Sr., Noah Brown, Jaylin Lane, Luke McCaffrey, Michael Gallup.

The Commanders’ wide receiver room has a nice mix of explosiveness and youthful exuberance entering the 2025 season. Adam Peters struck a telling blow by trading for Deebo Samuel Sr., whose versatility and dynamism look tailor-made for Kliff Kingsbury’s schematic concepts.

Terry McLaurin remains the undisputed alpha, and he could get a new deal before Week 1 rolls around. Noah Brown re-signed to a one-year deal. He’ll be tasked with providing a physically imposing downfield threat capable of accumulating big plays and defensive pass interference penalties.

Luke McCaffrey should improve after being brought along gradually as a rookie. Jaylin Lane, the No. 128 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, has the traits capable of carving out an immediate role for himself. A chance is also taken on Michael Gallup, who came out of retirement to join Dan Quinn’s ambitious project.

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Pro Football Focus

Strongest, weakest position groups after free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft

Defensive Line

Strongest: Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers boasted the NFL’s top-graded defensive line last season. T.J. Watt is still at the top of his game as the only player who earned 90.0-plus PFF grades in run defense and as a pass rusher in 2024. Alex Highsmith wasn’t far behind with an 89.3 PFF pass-rush grade.

Even at his advanced age, Cameron Heyward managed to rank second among defensive tackles with a 90.1 PFF overall grade. Add in contributions from Nick Herbig, Keeanu Benton and first-round pick Derrick Harmon, who led all FBS interior defenders in pressures last season, and the Steelers will once again carry an elite unit into the 2025 season.

Weakest: Washington Commanders

Washington fielded the second-lowest-graded defensive line in the NFL last season. The team added a few veterans to the group, but none project to be impact players. Javon Kinlaw has improved a bit as a pass rusher but has never earned above a 55.0 PFF overall grade in his five NFL seasons. Jacob Martin projects as a rotational pass rusher, as well.

Deatrich Wise Jr. and Eddie Goldman have both struggled over the past two seasons. Playing in a division with the Philadelphia Eagles will necessitate some surprise performances from the Commanders’ defensive line, which looks like the team’s biggest weakness.

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The Athletic (paywall)

Must-watch game for every NFL team during the 2025 regular season

Chicago Bears: at Commanders, Week 6

It should surprise no one that this game will be played in prime time. Before we knew much about these teams in 2024, the NFL flexed it into a late-afternoon time slot. The result was the craziest finish of the season, one that began the demise of Matt Eberflus’ tenure and the Bears’ season, and helped ignite a magical Commanders run to the NFC Championship Game. This one could have serious NFC playoff implications. For a non-division game, this is as marquee as it gets. — Kevin Fishbain

Washington Commanders: vs. Dolphins, Week 11 in Madrid

For the first time since 2016, Washington fans can break out their passports to watch the burgundy and gold. That rarity and the international setting raise the intrigue against a Dolphins team coming off an 8-9 season. There’s no sleeping for Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. and cornerback Marshon Lattimore against the explosive passing combination of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wide receiver Tyreek Hill. — Ben Standig

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Podcasts & videos

THE DEEBO SAMUEL DOCUMENTARY (This is from when he was still with San Francisco)

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Photos

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NFC East links

Sports Illustrated

2025 NFL Season: Ranking Every Roster in the NFC East

The Eagles may be the defending Super Bowl champions, but the Cowboys, Commanders and Giants all made moves to get better this offseason.

1. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles retaining the No. 1 spot is a testament to the depth GM Howie Roseman has built throughout the roster over the years. The three other NFC East teams gained plenty of talent while the defending Super Bowl champions were forced to part with several key starters this offseason to maintain cap space flexibility.

But even with all the splash trades and signings elsewhere, the Eagles remain a level above the rest with their stacked offensive line and the league’s best running back in Saquon Barkley….

2. Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys went from a fringe playoff team to a contender in the loaded NFC East thanks to the late offseason trade of Pickens.

3. Washington Commanders

The Commanders were a year early with their surprising run to the NFC championship game behind Jayden Daniels’s historic rookie season. Thanks to two splash trades and an impressive draft class, Washington has built a legitimate contender with a roster that had several holes a year and a half ago.

After years of doing the heavy lifting, McLaurin has a quality running mate in Samuel, the versatile playmaker acquired from the San Francisco 49ers. Daniels should have a cleaner pocket this year with the arrival of left tackle Laremy Tunsil, the five-time Pro Bowler and former Houston Texan. There’s also depth at tackle with the team investing a first-round pick on Josh Conerly Jr., who could compete with veteran Andrew Wylie for the right tackle spot.

Washington continued its renovations of the once shaky secondary with the second-round selection of Trey Amos and signing of veteran Jonathan Jones. With more help, Marshon Lattimore could have a better season after struggling to find his footing with his new team following the midseason trade from the New Orleans Saints. Plus, the Commanders got it right with slot cornerback Mike Sainristil, the 2024 second-round pick.

4. New York Giants

The Giants’ offense still needs plenty of work, but this unit acquired better quarterback options with the signing of Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston and the first-round selection of Jaxson Dart. None are Hurts, Prescott or Daniels, but whoever wins the starting job won’t have to be perfect when playing with a stacked defense.

New York could have one of the best defensive fronts in the league after using the No. 3 pick on Abdul Carter, who’ll play next to defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II and edge rushers Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.

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The Athletic (paywall)

If Cowboys get George Pickens’ best, what would that mean for 2026 and beyond?

In Lamb, the Cowboys are already paying a wide receiver top dollar. They are also paying the quarterback the most money of any player in NFL history, as Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will often remind you. Without any restructures, that’s roughly 35 percent of the team’s salary cap tied to two players in the passing game.

Would the Cowboys add Pickens to that equation?

The messaging from the front office has been inconsistent. Jones has spoken often about funds allocation, in terms of the salary-cap “pie” and the limits for how much investment goes into certain positions. For a time, they pointed to the big contracts they gave out last year and stated that it was the responsibility of those players to raise the level of their games to elevate the passing game, and the offense in general. However, the tune has changed a bit over the past month. In drafting Tyler Booker at No. 12 and trading for Pickens, the Cowboys are investing in their investments.

As long as Prescott has glowing results in 2025, the Cowboys will likely continue to build around him. They understand that these next four years of Prescott’s contract are likely the final years of a contending window with Prescott in his prime. Prescott is one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL, but he’s not top-tier. He needs the right pieces around him. If the Lamb-Pickens duo proves to be the talent that elevates Prescott, it would serve the Cowboys well to keep the tandem together.

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NFL league links

Articles

NFL.com

2025 NFL schedule: Lions, Browns among seven teams with toughest 17-game slates

Rank – 1 – Detroit Lions – 2024 record: 15-2

• Strength of schedule: .571 (T-2nd)
• Prime-time games: 5

Replacing both coordinators following a shocking playoff loss to the Commanders would be hard enough for the Lions if they didn’t have to take on a monstrous opposing slate featuring 11 games against teams that made the playoffs last year. They are also TV darlings now, and their schedule is littered with showcase games.

The Lions open with the Packers in Green Bay, followed by the Bears (for Ben Johnson’s return to Detroit) and a road game against the Ravens. The hits just keep coming, leading into the Week 8 bye: at Cincinnati (Week 5), at Kansas City on Sunday night (Week 6) and home against the Buccaneers on Monday night (Week 7). And then what about another trifecta coming out of the break? Week 9 brings a home game against the Vikings, followed by roadies at Washington and Philadelphia (the latter being another prime-time battle, on Sunday night).

Detroit will also have three Thursday games this season: the traditional Thanksgiving game (against the Packers), the following week’s matchup against the Cowboys and Christmas Day at the Vikings. Oh, and in between those two games, they face the Rams and Steelers, too.

The Lions will have a shot at going 8-0 at home, one year after they lost three times at Ford Field (counting the postseason). But the road schedule is arguably the NFL’s most imposing. Each of Detroit’s nine road opponents harbor anywhere from fair to very realistic playoff hopes.

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Discussion topics

Pro Football Talk

The Vikings’ two-week European road trip is a sign of things to come

For the first time ever, an NFL team will play a pair of road games in two different European cities. It’s a sign of things to come.

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Vikings’ Week 4 game against the Steelers in Dublin followed by their Week 5 game against the Browns in London is trial run for the expanded use of multiple teams that will play in multiple European cities in consecutive weeks.

As soon as next year, there could be two or three teams that swap two traditional road games for a pair of neutral-site games in London and/or Dublin and/or Germany and/or Spain and/or elsewhere in Europe.

In 2026, those teams would likely come from the AFC, which will have nine road games in the current 17-game eight/nine home/away rotation.

Eventually, look for four franchises to serve as the “road” team in (math is hard) eight European games.

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