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Daily Slop – 8 Jul 24: Links to blogs and podcasts to keep you in touch with the Commanders and the NFL in general

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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 and the NFL in general

Commanders links

Articles

Commanders Wire

Former Washington linebacker Brad Dusek dies

Former Washington Redskins starting linebacker Brad Dusek has died.

Sadly, the former left outside linebacker had suffered several years from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Dusek, born on Dec. 13, 1950, died peacefully on June 10, 2024.

Dusek was drafted 56 overall in the 1973 NFL draft by the New England Patriots. Just prior to the season, Dusek was traded to the Redskins. Playing all 14 games of the season on special teams in 1974, Dusek became a starter in the 1975 season. For the next five seasons, Dusek played in and started each and every game for Washington. He appeared in every game during the 1980 season, starting 14 of the 16 regular season games. Dusek started nine of his ten 1981 games, ending his NFL career. The former Texas A&M Aggie recovered three fumbles for Washington that he returned for touchdowns.

Dusek had a real nose for the ball, and his hustle allowed him to recover 16 NFL fumbles. In 1977, Dusek not only intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble, but he also registered 7.0 quarterback sacks (a career high).

Commanders Wire

5 free agents who could still help the Commanders

Edge rusher Carl Lawson

The Commanders signed three veterans this offseason: Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler and Clelin Ferrell. All are making the 53-man roster. Washington drafted Javontae Jean-Baptiste in the seventh round, and while he’s an intriguing prospect, he is raw. He could be ticketed for the practice squad. What does head coach Dan Quinn think of second-year defensive ends K.J. Henry and Andre Jones Jr?

Carl Lawson remains unsigned. He is 29 and spent the past three seasons with the Jets. He missed the 2021 season and played well in 2022 but barely played last season. He had seven sacks just two years ago. Sure, Lawson may not replace Montez Sweat’s production, but he likely offers more as a pass rusher than Ferrell. Lawson could be signed on the cheap and give Washington a rotational edge rusher who is poised to show he can still play.

Pro Football Talk

Zach Ertz using experience with Kliff Kingsbury to help Commanders learn offense

During an appearance on 106.7 The Fan, tight end Cole Turner said that his veteran teammate has been a valuable resource for the position group and the entire offense during the installation process this spring.

“Zach and [Kingsbury] have been together for years before. That’s the first thing about Zack that he’s seen what Kliff expects from the offense, and he’s not a selfish guy, he wants to help everyone out. It’s been really fun to play with him,” Turner said. “Me and Zach have become friends in just a few months of knowing each other, he’s a very personable guy and a guy that goes out of his way and wants to see the team win. It’s been great having him around — not just for the tight ends, but for everyone. He’s one of the leaders on the team, for sure.”

The Commanders added third-rounder Luke McCaffrey to Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson at wide receiver this offseason, but an experienced tight end like Ertz would still be a valuable target for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels if his reunion with Kingsbury sparks a revival in his productivity.

Podcasts & videos

Locked on Commanders: Washington Commanders Defensive Line Under Joe Whitt Jr. Should Look Much Different Than Before

NFC East links

Big Blue View

Summer Scouting: An intriguing class of tight ends

The 2025 tight end class doesn’t appear to be quite as strong as the upcoming wide receiver and running back classes. That doesn’t mean that this is a weak class by any means. There’s some solid talent at the top of the depth chart as well as some intriguing players who should go in the middle rounds.

This class also features something of a “greatest hits” of schools which have produced some of the best tight ends in the NFL over the past several years. It probably shouldn’t be much of a surprise that Michigan, Iowa, Penn State, and Notre Dame top our watch list.

Colston Loveland (Michigan)

The 6-foot-5, 245-pound junior currently sits atop the tight end chart and could be on a trajectory that makes him the first tight end selected next spring.

AJ Barner may have been the Wolverines’ secret weapon in the running game, but Loveland eclipsed him as a receiver last year. Loveland saw a significant uptick in production in his second season, catching 45 passes for 649 yards and 4 touchdowns last year (up from 16 receptions for 235 yards, and 2 touchdowns as a freshman). He was used in a variety of ways by Michigan’s “Pro Style” offense (or as close to an NFL offense as you’re going to see in college), lining up as an in-line tight end, H-back, and being used as a “Move” tight end.

Loveland’s greatest asset is his athleticism and mobility. He moves very well for his size and wastes no time getting downfield as a receiver or a downfield blocker. Michigan would frequently send him in motion before the snap, using him to create a numbers advantage on the play side as well as allow him to get into position as a blocker or receiver soonest. He puts his frame and athleticism to good use as a pass catcher, getting vertical in a hurry and using his size to high-point the ball.

NFL league links

Articles

NFL.com

Patrick Peterson questions state of DB market, says he’ll ‘definitely’ be ready for 14th NFL season

“What do you think it is about the corners and the safety market at this day and age?” Peterson asked his All Things Covered co-host Bryant McFadden. “We know it’s a passing league, right? Why do you see so many high-caliber guys who’ve played at a high level — defensive backs — still free agents right now?”

A peek at NFL.com’s list of the top 2024 free agents shows that of the 11 players still unsigned, five are active defensive backs: Stephon Gilmore at No. 11, Justin Simmons at No. 37, Adoree’ Jackson at No. 58, Micah Hyde at No. 87, Ahkello Witherspoon at No. 94. Steven Nelson (No. 55 in Gregg Rosenthal’s ranking) said in June he intends to retire at the age of 31.

That list doesn’t even include Pro Bowlers like Peterson, Xavien Howard and Quandre Diggs, who remain without gigs as camp nears.

Aside from Witherspoon, who’s entering his age-29 season, what those unemployed defensive backs have in common is they’re over the age of 30.

Pro Football Talk

Around the NFL podcast ends

the media enterprise owned and operated by the NFL continues to make some bizarre moves.

The latest comes from the shuttering of the popular Around the NFL podcast. Both the decision to end it and the clunky manner in which the move was handled become par for the new Goofy Golf course on which NFL Media has been playing of late.

The podcast went dark without warning in May. After getting multiple questions from PFT readers and PFT Live viewers in June, we asked NFL Media’s spokesperson about the show. Multiple times. There was never a response — not even an acknowledgement of the question.

On Sunday, the league announced (in a weird sort of way) that Around the NFL is no more. One of the three hosts, Gregg Rosenthal, will move to a different show. The other two, Dan Hanzus and Marc Sessler, are leaving NFL Media.

Some fans of the show aren’t reacting well. And for good reason. When most shows end, there’s an announcement. A farewell episode. Closure.

While it’s not surprising in light of other non-people-friendly moves the “football is family” NFL has made this year, this one carried with it weeks of uncertainty, confusion, and silence until one of the slowest weekends of the year, when the news was leaked to one specific outlet and amplified by the NFL Media X account.

All a’Twitter