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Daily Slop – 7 May 25 – Commanders GM Adam Peters goes one-on-one with Pat McAfee

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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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Washington Post (paywall)

NFL commissioner, Commanders owner pitch D.C. Council on stadium deal

Roger Goodell and Josh Harris attended an informal meet and greet hosted Mayor Muriel Bowser to discuss their stadium project.

Goodell and Harris met privately with Mendelson and mingled with all but one of the council’s members in the mayor’s ceremonial room [demonstrating] the extent of the NFL commissioner’s personal investment in expanding the football league’s footprint in the District.

Goodell, Harris and Bowser came to the Wilson Building after an Oval Office news conference blocks away at the White House, where they joined President Donald Trump in announcing D.C. as the location of the 2027 NFL draft.

But the deal to bring the NFL to the RFK site is far from done, several council members said. Mendelson said he remains wary of allocating public money for a stadium and is waiting to see more details. However, he gave some indication that a stadium may be in the city’s future during a news conference on Monday.

“I expect something will go forward,” Mendelson said. But, he added, he anticipates that the council will make changes to the deal.

The only council member not in attendance at the reception was Brianne K. Nadeau (D-Ward 1), who said Tuesday that she “wasn’t making a statement” with her absence and that she simply had other commitments. But she said she is still staunchly opposed to a stadium, preferring that D.C.’s dollars and land be used for other priorities.

The Athletic (paywall)

Adam Peters’ draft strategy, stadium news, Javon Kinlaw’s role: Commanders mailbag, Part 2

Who will be this season’s Tyler Owens and Colson Yankoff, undrafted free-agent signings who make the 53 and contribute? — Tim F.

Going off confirmed sources and other reports of expected UDFA signings, here’s a name:

Ja’Corey Brooks, WR, Louisville. The projected Week 1 roster with six receivers — five roster locks plus ex-Dallas Cowboy Michael Gallup — includes only two who play on special teams (Lane and Luke McCaffrey). That factor might create an opening for Dane Brugler’s WR36.

Brooks, a former Alabama transfer and five-star high school recruit — only Tampa Bay Buccaneers first-rounder Emeka Egbuka ranked higher among receivers in the 2021 class — blocked a punt in each of his three seasons with the Crimson Tide and has experience as a kick and punt returner.

This 6-foot-2 target also offers red zone height and catch radius. His breakout 2024 season (61 receptions for 1,013 yards and nine touchdowns) occurred under Louisville coach Jeff Brohm, who coached Washington assistant and former NFL quarterback David Blough at Purdue.

Any insight into how Javon Kinlaw will be used on the defensive line? Will he be a defensive tackle, defensive end or both? — Southeast D.

I’m certainly curious how often the coaching staff seeks to use this 6-foot-5, 319-pounder at end. We knew he’d see some action as an edge defender even before Washington didn’t draft one. The defensive tackle room depth — projected starters Daron Payne and Johnny Newton, free-agent signee/run defender Eddie Goldman and returner Sheldon Day — means Kinlaw can take snaps as the “elephant,” a lineman role Dan Quinn used with the Seattle Seahawks where a larger end focuses on run-stopping more than attacking the quarterback.

Riggo’s Rag

Why critics are dead wrong about Commanders’ defensive master plan

Washington no longer uses a traditional 4-3 or 3-4 front. On the roster, they may list other defenders as linebackers, but they aren’t. Not in the traditional sense.

Last year, the Commanders’ base defense was a 3-2-4, with two additional hybrid players who shifted around depending on the particular call. One of them was hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr., who manned that role more than anyone else.

The other was a hybrid safety/linebacker. That role was played by Jeremy Chinn. Washington took the traditional third linebacker role and split it between two players. One was better suited to playing on the line and rushing the passer, and the other was better suited to dropping into short coverage and shutting down crossers.

The first thing to notice about this situation is that both Fowler and Chinn are gone this year. How will they be replaced?

Jacob Martin would appear to be a plug-and-play fill-in for Fowler. However, new safety Will Harris can’t do what Chinn did last year. He is a good player, but looks much more like a traditional box safety than a hybrid who can run and make disruptive plays all over the field.

One of the most under-the-radar signings Adam Peters made this offseason was Eddie Goldman, who’s played in just 31 games over the past five seasons. He doesn’t project to make much of a splash in Washington. But he is a true nose tackle — something the Commanders haven’t had in about a decade.

Though some of the pieces seem to fit together, the one thing Washington is missing is that safety/linebacker hybrid. That’s why Medrano may be on the roster, though projecting success for him in that role would be a huge leap of faith at this point.

Perhaps I am wrong about Harris. Perhaps second-year man Dominique Hampton, who fits the athletic profile, or Tyler Owens can fill that type of role. Or perhaps Whitt has his wrinkle in mind which will take a smaller player like Sainristil and turn him into a playmaking monster.

Commanders.com

25 things to know about Commanders’ 2025 draft class

Conerly had an efficiency grade of 99.3 in 2024, which tied for first among all offensive tackles with at least 800 snaps.

Conerly is just the third Oregon offensive tackle taken in the first round in NFL history. The last one was Penei Sewell by the Detroit Lions in 2021.

Amos already has experience playing with two of Washington’s players. Since he played for Louisiana Lafayette from 2020-22, he was on the same roster as Percy Butler and Andre Jones Jr.

Although Amos only played one season for Nick Saban at Alabama, that experience played a role in him transferring to Ole Miss. Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin and defensive coordinator Pete Golding, both former Alabama assistants, know about the high standards Saban requires of his defensive backs. “You know, obviously, that they’ve been coached really well,” **Kiffin said last season.** “But you also know their mindset. That’s a big deal, someone coming into your program that’s been trained in an elite mindset versus somebody from some other places that you gotta work them out of some different mindsets.”

Medrano went from wide receiver looking for a role to a major contributor for the Bruins. He ended his college career ranked second on his team in tackles in 2024 behind only Carson Schwesinger.

Medrano also competed on UCLA’s track and field team and participated in four meets during the 2021 season. He made his debut at the Ben Brown Invitational, where he placed fifth in the discus throw.

For two weeks during the 2024 season, Lane wore a No. 25 jersey, which was retired in 2002, during a game in honor of former Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer. It’s a weekly tradition the program uses to recognize how influential Beamer was as a player and coach.

Croskey-Merritt was not invited to this year’s combine but had a solid Big 12 pro day. He ran a 4.45 40-yard dash and recorded a 41.5-inch vertical, both of which led the position that day. Had Croskey-Merritt traveled to Indianapolis, his 40 time would have ranked 11th, while his vertical jump would have been the best for the position.

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Riggo’s Rag

George Pickens trade fallout proves Commanders fleeced 49ers for Deebo Samuel

Pickens is a volatile, often unpredictable pass-catcher. He’s an exceptional performer at the top of his game, but can become petulant when things aren’t going his way. And if head coach Mike Tomlin is willing to let him go, as he did with Antonio Brown and Diontae Johnson before their respective careers spiraled, that comes with an obvious red flag.

George Pickens trade confirms Commanders got a steal with Deebo Samuel Sr.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Cowboys are sending a third-round selection and a fifth-rounder (2027) to the Steelers for Pickens and a sixth-round pick (2027). This makes Adam Peters’ outlay for All-Pro Deebo Samuel Sr. minuscule in comparison.

The Commanders sacrificed only a fifth-round pick for Samuel. He’s older than Pickens with more tread on the tires. He’s also got far more accomplished production under his belt despite a down year by his typically high standards with the Niners in 2024.

Pickens, like Samuel, is also entering the final year of his deal. It’ll be much more expensive to extend the former Georgia standout, especially if he hits the ground running in Dallas. Considering the money already tied to quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and a record-breaking deal imminent for All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, that’s going to impact the Cowboys’ roster construction considerably.

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