It’s 5 o’clock somewhere…
The 5 o’clock club is published from time to time during the season and offseason, and aims to provide a forum for reader-driven discussion at a time of day when there isn’t much NFL news being published. Feel free to introduce topics that interest you in the comments below.
CLICK HERE to see the full 5 o’clock club archive
One position group (of many) where some uncertainty exists heading into 2025 is offensive tackle. While Washington has both of its starting OTs from the ‘24 season under contract in 2025, there may be options for making changes at one or both positions as part of a more general upgrading of the offensive line unit.
2024 roster
Rookie Brandon Coleman played well enough for a rookie at left tackle after starting the season in a platoon-style system with veteran Cornelius Lucas, who is set to be a free agent this month. Many pre-draft pundits in 2024 projected Coleman as an NFL guard, and the possibility of moving him inside (or to right tackle) is often discussed by fans, but such a move would have to be predicated on the Commanders having a better option at the left tackle position. It seems unlikely that the team will have the opportunity to draft an NFL-ready LT given Washington’s draft position. With the Rams re-signing Alaric Jackson, the only possibility for an upgrade in veteran free agency would seem to be Ronnie Stanley, whom the Ravens seem intent on retaining. It seems most likely that Coleman will be the Commanders starting left tackle in 2025 either because the coaching staff sees him as being very capable or simply because they don’t have a better option available.
The situation is a bit similar with veteran Andrew Wylie at right tackle. For one thing, the coaching staff seems content with his play, but also, the loss of starting right guard Sam Cosmi for most or all of the ‘25 season due to a torn ACL means that Adam Peters may have to focus resources on that position. Of course, many fans believe that Wylie could be the solution to that problem since he played guard for Kansas City in the past (and played pretty well). The same issue exists here as with Brandon Coleman; that is, the team would need to have a better option to play RT. Wylie could end up starting as Washington’s right tackle for the third straight season because (a) the coaches believe in him, or (b) there simply isn’t a better solution available.
2025 Estimated cap space and free agency options
The NFL announced last week that the league-wide salary cap will be $279.2m. Following the trade for Deebo Samuel, which Over the Cap is treating as a $17.46m cap charge for Washington in 2025, the Commanders have an estimated Effective Cap Space of about $58.65m.
The breakdown looks like this:
- Current estimated available cap space (46 players): $64.45m
- Less: Cap space required to sign draft picks: $8.32m
- Add back: Rule of 51 offsets/other adjustments: $2.52m
- 2025 Effective Cap Space: $58.65m
- Less: allowance for injury replacement during season: $5.65m
- 2025 Cap space available for signing/re-signing veteran free agents: $53m
The Commanders will need to add some quality players to the tackle position between now and the start of training camp by either upgrading one or both of the starters, or acquiring one or two quality backups. That could be as simple as extending impending free agents Cornelius Lucas and Trent Scott, leaving any true ‘upgrade’ to 2026, or it could mean using draft picks and/or cap resources to try to get better immediately.
For a full list of upcoming free agents, CLICK HERE
The list can be sorted by team or position.
Of course, some — maybe even most — of the most talented of these players will re-sign with their current teams, but Washington should be a popular destination for free agents looking for an opportunity to get to the playoffs with a dynamic quarterback. Washington should offer more appeal to high-quality free agents than at any other time in this century.
Options in the NFL Draft
Below is a list of college offensive tackles who will be entering the NFL via the draft in April, ranked by CBS Sports.
The overall rank in the left column can provide some general guidance about which round each player is expected to be drafted in, though such rankings are highly subjective and likely to change substantially between now and the end of April.
Washington holds the following draft picks (per Tankathon):
