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John Keim
ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders have sufficient causes for motivation.
They have been one recreation from reaching the Tremendous Bowl. They’ve a quarterback able to turning into one of many NFL’s finest, and so they bolstered their offensive line.
A handful of gamers have an added motive: their contract standing.
“It is undoubtedly an enormous 12 months,” mentioned operating again Brian Robinson Jr., who’s coming into the ultimate 12 months of his deal, “however it’s for lots of fellows round right here.”
The Commanders have 37 gamers coming into the ultimate 12 months of their contracts, with 20 who can be thought-about both starters or key backups. Not all of these 37 will make the roster. Some, akin to linebacker Bobby Wagner and tight finish Zach Ertz, most likely will play on one-year offers till they retire.
Others, although, have an opportunity for multiyear offers in the event that they produce, whether or not in Washington or elsewhere.
Washington coach Dan Quinn mentioned not everybody treats contract standing the identical. The workforce had 27 gamers within the ultimate 12 months of their deal on its 53-man roster final season.
“Typically having the safety may be simply the factor the particular person wants,” Quinn mentioned. “Typically it is the carrot that may be simply one thing that they want. It is personalized. The enjoyable half about our group is that they are actually linked and keep tight collectively. And so, there’s a lot enjoyable figuring out that the higher we play, extra alternatives are for everybody.”
Listed below are 5 gamers whose subsequent contract will probably be tremendously impacted by this season:
The Commanders didn’t negotiate an extension with Samuel after buying and selling a fifth-round choose to the San Francisco 49ers for him this offseason. They transformed $15.43 million of his current base wage right into a signing bonus and added 4 voidable years to unfold the cap hit. He’ll rely solely $5,151,105 on the cap this season.
Samuel, whom the Commanders think about a invaluable chess piece due to his skill to play receiver or run the ball, has missed a mixed eight video games the previous three years. Since ending with 1,770 yards from scrimmage in 2021, he has surpassed 870 yards solely as soon as.
However he matches into what Washington likes to do. He excels on screens and the Commanders have added athleticism to their line this season, which ought to assist open holes in area. Quarterback Jayden Daniels threw 52 display screen passes, sixth most within the NFL. Samuel is also adept at breaking tackles on brief passes. Daniels tried 26% of his passes at or behind the road of scrimmage (twelfth most within the NFL).
Samuel gained 61.5% of his receiving yards after the catch, tenth most final season amongst receivers with at the least 25 receptions. He averaged 8.1 yards after the catch, third most amongst receivers with at the least 25 receptions.
The Commanders just like the state of affairs Samuel is in, figuring out he must show himself if he desires one other large deal.
“I’ve obtained to make one of the best out of each alternative I get,” Samuel mentioned.
He, too, is within the ultimate 12 months of his rookie contract. In his first three seasons Robinson has rushed for two,329 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 4.1 yards per carry. The Commanders drafted operating again Jacory Croskey-Merritt within the seventh spherical. It is method too quickly to think about him Robinson’s eventual alternative, however regardless, the fourth-year again wants a robust season. He has but to hurry for greater than 800 yards in a season.
He ought to have a stronger offensive line to open holes; within the final 9 video games final season, together with the postseason, Robinson had six video games when he averaged 1.48 yards or much less earlier than first contact. The league common was 2.67 yards.
Nagging damage points have hindered his play the previous two years.
“The largest factor for me is being obtainable,” he mentioned. “I am hell after I’m effectively.”
Payne has one 12 months left on his contract and would rely $28 million on the cap in 2026. Nevertheless, they may save $16.8 million in cap area in the event that they launched him after the season. Payne’s contract was a difficulty in 2022, however he recorded a career-high 11.5 sacks and earned a four-year extension value as much as $90 million. He has a mixed eight sacks the final two seasons.
Nevertheless, the Commanders privately and publicly have lauded his offseason. A number of folks within the group singled him out throughout OTA work, additionally saying he seems extra relaxed and a bit of extra outgoing.
“On daily basis this dude is, I am having to inform him, ‘Hey man, let’s relax,'” defensive coordinator Joe Whitt mentioned. “He’s main by instance, and this 12 months you’ll be able to actually see him taking that management function and taking it to the following step. He is been the man that is simply actually stood out to me essentially the most.”
Tunsil has two years left on his contract, and it is arduous to think about him enjoying poorly sufficient to drive Washington to chop him after the season. If the Commanders did, they might don’t have any useless cash on their cap. However, for a five-time Professional Bowler, he is prohibitively inexpensive in 2026, with a cap hit of solely $21.5 million — at the moment 14th amongst offensive tackles. Washington drafted deal with Josh Conerly Jr. within the first spherical, and he’ll play on the suitable facet. Sooner or later in his profession, he might shift to left deal with.
Nonetheless, the larger query for Tunsil is what sort of extension would he obtain if he performs as they anticipate this season? In any case, the Commanders additionally might have their bookends for some time — offering high-level safety for Daniels.
“Laremy has a really, very distinctive talent set,” Washington offensive line coach Bobby Johnson mentioned. “He brings quite a lot of expertise but additionally that data. … Josh could be very proficient, quite a lot of upside. I am excited to see after we put these two collectively how Laremy’s expertise can speed up Josh’s progress.”
Lattimore has no assured cash remaining on the ultimate two years of his deal. He’ll rely $18 million vs. the cap in 2025 and $18.5 million in ’26. If he is minimize after the season there can be no useless cash on Washington’s wage cap.
Washington traded picks within the third, fourth and sixth rounds to New Orleans for Lattimore and a fifth-round choose on Nov. 5. However a hamstring damage restricted him to 2 regular-season video games (and all three playoff contests). Lattimore had video games the place groups (New Orleans, Detroit) did not problem him and others the place groups attacked him (Tampa Bay, Philadelphia). He wants a stronger exhibiting, to not point out to remain wholesome as he has performed in solely 26 video games mixed the previous three years.
“He is coming again with a chip on his shoulder,” Washington defensive go recreation coordinator Jason Simmons mentioned. “He desires to get again to the shape he has performed his complete profession.”
Lattimore mentioned throughout minicamp that he felt nice. He mentioned he had extra burst out of his break and that he feels “explosive.” He mentioned after watching his movie from final 12 months that he performed timid, primarily based on his motion expertise. Lattimore mentioned he by no means felt like himself in Washington due to the hamstring damage. A number of members of the group say they anticipate a special Lattimore due to a healed hamstring and a full 12 months within the defensive system.
“I really feel method higher than final 12 months,” Lattimore mentioned.
