Play Commanders GM
 

So, you’re in charge of the Commanders. You just landed Eric Bienemy, have good defensive talent, and good skill players.

What are you doing to prep for this year?

I keep looking at a trade built around Chase Young.

Here’s my plan if I’m them:

1) Package Young and #16 to move up in this spring’s draft, targeting CJ Stroud if he slips (I don’t think I’d do this for Richardson or Levis). The Raiders would be a good partner if that will land them Stroud.

2) Re-sign Da’Ron Payne and build my defense around he and Allen (honestly, with two elite DTs it makes Lb and DE much easier roles to fill).

3) improve in the secondary. A rangy free safety would make sense (Thornhill? Gardner-Johnson).

4) Try to ride the last-place schedule and a new offensive scheme to a playoff berth. I do really like the building blocks of their offense … using McLaurin and Dotson on the outside, relying on Robinson as the primary back, and using Gibson as an explosive touches guy (doesn’t he seem like a good fit for the eye candy stuff the Chiefs have been doing?).

I could see them trading Young but I think they wait until next year for the QB. That OL is garbage from L to R.

I'd go get Carr and tell Bienemy to earn his money. Put every resource I could muster into an OL and try to position myself for a QB I liked.

Albert Breer was on Russillo's podcast saying Carr is at the point in his career where he can be Alex Smith and be competent and buy you time to find a guy you love.

That's probably where I'd be. Carr isn't a great fit with the weather and the defense in Philly and NYG, but this is what Bienemy is for. Reid schemed Alex to competency, it's time for Bienemy to prove he's that guy.

I'd try to pull a Giants and just get a game manager type for now. They were winning some games with Heinecke. Could have snuck into the playoffs.

I don't like Stroud as a QB prospect, and I don't think the Commanders can get a draft pick that will allow them to get Will Levis.

One thing is for sure, though-- I'd get Wentz the **** off the team. Even as a backup. The guy is bad news bears.

This is going to be terrible to hear my fellow chiefs fans.

Id be going after one of the 49ers qbs.

Jimmy G can provide that franchise with some qb stability while they add more offensive talent.

The coaching staff doesn’t have the benefit of the doubt anymore, and if they dont prove it now they could all be unemployed next January.

Jimmy G is alex smithian: he has a proven winning record, and is consistent. He will help you win games, but wont be THE REASON you win games. Grabbing him on a 3-4 year deal that they wouldnt offer cousins could set them up for qb stability while they build a good offense around him and eventually get his replacement in the draft.

Look at their division. Can't win the division if you can't block those DLs. Gotta rebuild that OL. 2nd priority is probably adding receiving weapons.

Receiving weapons? What's wrong with their top 3 WRs in McLaurin, Dotson and Samuel? Sure, they could use a better TE but their receiving weapons are the least of their problems.

Nothings wrong with them. But if there’s a lesson to learn from the Chiefs, it’s that you can never have enough weapons, that’s all.

The mistake they could make is to try and build a great defense, and waste a lot of capital on that side of the ball. Obviously, they have to have a decent defense, but recent history has shown that great defenses are just not as decisive as they used to be. Offense is what decides games today. So build up the OL, find some additional weapons, build some defensive rotational depth, and find/develop a good QB until you can snare a franchise QB. But lay a foundation as much as possible until that QB shows up in the draft or whatever.

Commit to that D Line, don't trade Young and keep Payne. Draft O Line, beef that sucker up. Sign Carr.

All good plans.

I’m legitimately a Stroud believer, though. So that sways me.

I don't see how Stroud doesn't go #1 overall and the only way I do see it is if nobody trades with Chicago, where then he goes #2 overall.

So moving on from that...

Cut QB Carson Wentz
Re-Sign LB Cole Holcomb
I'm letting Payne walk with Mathis already in-house to pair with Allen.
I'm keeping Chase Young and hoping he turns it on but I'm not picking up his 5th-year option
Try to bring back Heinicke as my backup
Moving Sam Cosmi to RG permanently

FA Targets
OC Conner McGovern, NYJ - Quality starter at the pivot
TE Dalton Schultz, DAL - Quality starter and safety valve for Howell
ER Charles Omenihu, SF - Good rotational end in case Young is shit again
DT Taven Bryan, CLE - Quality rotational DT
DT Michael Dogbe, ARI - Another quality rotational DT
LB Darius Harris, KC - Good special teamer that could start
OG Nick Allegretti, KC - Capable of starting and potentially up-ending Cosmi or Norwell
WR Justin Watson, KC - Knows the offense, good special teamer, and can help the transition; they don't need a starter

Draft, trade up to 12 with Houston to select LT Broderick Jones, Georgia
Open myself to trade down in 2nd round and target a CB like Darius Rush, South Carolina
In the 4th, gimme a speedy slot/utility guy in WR Rakim Jarrett.
In the 5th, probably going to look really hard at a QB like Aidan O'Connell

Team ends up looking something like:

QB S. Howell, T. Heinicke, A. O'Connell
RB B. Robinson, A. Gibson, J. McKissic
TE D. Schultz, L. Thomas, J. Bates, C. Turner
WR T. McLaurin, J. Dotson, C. Samuel, D. Brown, J. Watson, R. Jarrett, D. Milne
OT B. Jones, C. Leno Jr, C. Lucas, A. Akingbulu
IL A. Norwell, C. McGovern, S. Cosmi, N. Allegretti S. Charles, C. Roullier

ER M. Sweat, C. Young, C. Omenihu, J. Smith-Williams, C. Toohill, S. Toney
DT J. Allen, P. Mathis, T. Bryan, M. Dogbe, J. Ridgeway
LB J. Davis, C. Holcomb, K. Hudson, D. Harris
CB K. Fuller, D. Rush, B. McCain, B. St-Juste, T. Castro-Fields, C. Holmes
DB D. Forrest, K. Curl, J. Reaves, P. Butler

Yup thats what I'd do. Carr is a decent QB huge upgrade over Wentz and Heinecke who almost got them to the playoffs last year

You guys like Stroud over Young?

Based on what I watched before the season, I did too, but haven't watched the 2022 tape for these guys.

I think Stroud is the better passer. I have questions about if Youngs frame will hold up in the league too

Yes.

Stroud is bigger, I think he holds up better, and I think his arm/accuracy/touch are really good.