The Daily Slop
Editor’s note: Each day, Hogs Haven compiles 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, with a sprinkling of other stuff. Enjoy!
Commanders links
Articles
USA Today
Von Miller regrets picking Commanders over Seahawks in 2025 free agency
As the legendary pass rusher tells it, he received two contract offers for the 2025 campaign. One was from the Washington Commanders, where he ultimately signed and racked up nine sacks across 17 games.
Miller’s other offer came from the Seattle Seahawks, who
went on to win Super Bowl 60 over the New England Patriots.
Seattle’s success has left Miller ruing his decision not to join the Seahawks.
“Obviously, I picked the wrong team on that one,” Miller told Steve Smith and James Palmer on their “89” podcast.
“For me, with the Washington Commanders, I just felt like Jayden Daniels was poised for another great season,” Miller explained. “His rookie season went all the way to the NFC championship, and last year, he got hit with injuries, not just at the quarterback position, but all over the place. And those are some of the things that you just can’t calculate on teams.”
[H]e’s trying not to dwell too much on the opportunity he missed to be a part of the Seahawks’ Super Bowl-winning squad.
“It would have been three teams, three different teams with three Super Bowls,” Miller said, referencing a hypothetical situation where he ended up with the Seahawks. “But that’s just how it’s supposed to be.”
ESPN
CB Rasul Douglas to sign 1-year deal with Commanders
Douglas, 30, signed with the Miami Dolphins after 53-man roster cuts and played 15 games last season. While he began the season behind Jack Jones and Storm Duck, he was inserted into the starting lineup after an injury to Duck in Week 1 and established himself as the team’s top cornerback by season’s end.
He…defended 13 passes, which tied for the second most in any single season of his career.
He was named the AFC’s Defensive Player of the Week after defending five passes and recording an interception against the New York Jets in Week 14.
Douglas has started 93 games for five teams during his nine-year NFL career.
Commanders Roundtable
Why Rasul Douglas helps Commanders with Trey Amos recovering from injury
[Trey Amos] may have been the brightest spot among the rookie class after starting in eight of his ten appearances where he went on to record 32 tackles and tie three other rookies with six passes defended ahead of week 11. Yet the questions now stem from his recovery after Amos was placed on injured reserve back on Nov. 11 after suffering a fractured fibula.
[Rasul Douglas] arrives as a chance to step in as an outside cornerback in week one with patience for Amos. If Amos is at full strength, Douglas elevates the competition in a unit that has high expectations for Robertson and hopes of a bounceback out of Sainristil. The signing also allows Washington to play Robertson in the nickel more than outside to play to his strength where the former Lions corner can upgrade that rotation. As for who becomes the primary cornerback? With Amos sidelined, Douglas could step into a chance to compete with Sainristil adding positional flexibility as a nickel or outside corner in the rotation.
With questions lingering around the wide receiver options and all the noise that has come with it, Douglas gives the Commanders a quality stop-gap solution to upgrade what could now be viewed as a defense that has upgraded every unit.
From Sports Illustrated:
While Douglas adds to the room and brings experience to the competition, he also does not have to walk into camp with any pressure to be the starter. The simple fact that he gives Daronte Jones another piece to work with already makes the signing a good idea.
Proactive Football: How Adam Peters Uses July to Avoid August Emergencies
This is how functional teams handle July. They do not wait until something breaks and becomes a problem. They address potential issues before emergencies arrive.
While Douglas may not be a game-changer for Washington’s defense, he does make the cornerback room harder to sort out now.
That is not only one of those good problems; it is also the point of camp.
From Riggo’s Rag:
Douglas’ best days appear to be behind him now at 30, but he was still an adequate starter with the Miami Dolphins a season ago. He’ll likely be a backup in Washington, with a chance to provide quality depth and situational production with his ball-hawking skills.
More importantly, Douglas can serve as a mentor to Sainristil and Amos as they enter the primes of their careers.
He was once in their position as a Day 2 draft pick, with his team relying on him as a core piece of its future. It never went quite as planned, but despite all of his twists and turns, Douglas has made it to Year 10 in the NFL.
For a cornerback, that’s no small feat.
From A to Z Sports:
Amos has yet to participate in practice since he fractured his fibula in Week 10 of last year. The recovery has been going well, albeit slow.
When considering that, along with his relative inexperience, it’s easy to see why the Commanders brought in Douglas as not just a safety blanket, but someone who can start opposite Mike Sainristil on the outside. The soon-to-be 10th-year veteran had a great 2025 campaign with 62 total tackles, two interceptions, 13 pass break-ups, 1.0 sack, two tackles for a loss, and one forced fumble, proving he still has plenty of gas in the tank.
Amos, on the other hand, was very up-and-down before his injury. He finished with a team-best 18% forced incompletion rate, per PFF, but still gave up the second-most receiving yards despite missing seven games. He was also one of the secondary’s worst tacklers, finishing just a few decimals behind Antonio Hamilton Sr. for the highest missed tackle rate associated with pass plays.
Is Makai Lemon wide receiver one for the Washington Commanders in the 2026 NFL Draft?
All of the above should’ve created the desire for an established veteran to come in, because frankly, the Commanders have no clue how much Amos will progress in 2026. I mean, they haven’t even been able to see what he looks like post-injury, yet. That rightfully creates a major question mark no one has the answer to until it’s too late. Whether that comes via positive or negative connotation.
Overall, Douglas’ addition should be viewed more as a band-aid for 2026.
Trey Amos’ 2025 stats
There’s still a lot to like about Amos’ game, especially when considering he’s a former second-round pick. However, he was having a very up-and-down rookie season before fracturing his fibula, as you can see below:
- Reception % allowed: 67.6%
- Receiving yards allowed: 325
- Receiving TDs allowed: 1
- Interceptions: 0
- QB rating allowed when targeted: 108.1
- Forced incompletion rate: 18%
- Missed play pass tackle rate: 17.9%
- Games played: 10
Riggo’s Rag
Commanders’ silent Rasul Douglas ambush leaves Cowboys expert uneasy
Adam Peters struck in silence once again
The Washington Commanders general manager runs a tight ship with no leaks emanating from the building. That was evident once again with the team’s out-of-the-blue swoop for veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas.
And it left one Dallas Cowboys expert wondering why Washington’s bitter NFC East rival didn’t make a move beforehand.
Jerry Trotta of The Landry Hat thought this was a missed opportunity for the Cowboys, and the Commanders have now made it harder to solve their own questions in the cornerback room.
“Now 30 years old, Douglas has shown signs of decline in recent years, and the Commanders’ cornerback room is still nothing to write home about even after adding him. Even so, they got better, making this feel like a missed opportunity for the Cowboys. There’s still plenty of time for Dallas to address the position, but Washington signing Douglas only reinforces how shaky the group looks on paper.”
This is just the icing on the cake.
Douglas is long and physical. He can operate on the boundary or in the slot. He communicates effectively and is an opportunistic defensive back with a strong reputation for securing turnovers. The 2017 third-round pick may be nothing more than a depth piece, but the Commanders now have four genuine options capable of logging reps in the rotation.
As for the Cowboys? DaRon Bland and Cobie Durant could be the starting outside corners, with first-round pick Caleb Downs in the nickel. Injury-plagued defensive back Shavon Revel Jr. is the wild card, but it’s not hard to see why Trotta has his doubts.
ESPN
Ranking 2026 NFL rosters: Best projected starting lineups
No. 21 Washington Commanders
Biggest strength: Quarterback. This one might be a slight surprise, but we shouldn’t let an injury-plagued 2025 season distract us from Jayden Daniels’ elite rookie season in 2024. Daniels ranked fourth in QBR, tossed 25 touchdowns and posted a 148-891-6 rushing line in what was arguably the best rookie quarterback season ever. The dual-threat, 25-year-old is primed for a rebound season and has a good backup in Marcus Mariota. — Clay
Biggest weakness: Cornerback. The Commanders allowed a league-high 384.3 yards per game, in large part thanks to a secondary that surrendered a 59.2 QBR (second worst) last season. The Commanders will be hoping for a better season from Mike Sainristil and a Year 2 leap from 2025 second-round pick Trey Amos in 2026. Amik Robertson and Ahkello Witherspoon were brought in as veteran competition after primarily working as situational players during the past few seasons. — Clay [Note from Bill-in-Bangkok: It was reported today that the Commanders have just agreed to terms with 30-yr-old CB Rasul Douglas]
X factors for 2026: All the defensive additions, including edge rushers Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson, linebacker Sonny Styles, safety Nick Cross and Robertson. Can this group liven up what was a wildly lacking defensive unit from a year ago that ranked 30th in EPA per play? The Commanders badly need that to happen. — Walder
Nonstarter to know: WR Dyami Brown. The 27-year-old had only 20 catches for 227 yards and a touchdown in his one season in Jacksonville. Now, he’s back in Washington and back to being the designated deep threat in the Commanders’ receiving corps. There’s an opportunity to carve out a big role in this offense if Brown can prove he’s capable of more than running deep routes. — Schatz
The Athletic (paywall)
Every NFL team’s most intriguing newcomer heading into training camp
Washington Commanders: Rachaad White, running back
The Commanders’ running backs room is one of the most open positional groups heading into training camp this year. The mix of veterans and young backs offers depth but no clear leader. White’s speed and versatility, however, repeatedly drew praise from Coach Dan Quinn during OTAs and minicamp, and as Washington transitions to David Blough’s offense, it’s plausible it uses a running-by-committee approach, much like Ben Johnson did in Detroit and now in Chicago. Second-year back Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt is still developing as a blocker and pass-catcher, but his explosiveness as a runner combined with White’s versatility could create an interesting tandem for Blough. It also doesn’t hurt that White is close to quarterback Jayden Daniels, dating to their two seasons together (2020-21) at Arizona State. — Nicki Jhabvala
Pro Football Rumors
Could Commanders pursue WR DeAndre Hopkins?
SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora writes numerous executives and agents around the NFL believe DeAndre Hopkins “would be thrilled” to play with Daniels and the Commanders in 2026. Hopkins is one of several notable wideouts still on the market ahead of training camp, and he will offer his next team with plenty of experience in a depth offensive role.
Following a one-year stint in Baltimore, Hopkins has adopted a patient approach to free agency. The 34-year-old will of course aim to join a contender on his next stop, although the nature of the receiver market over the coming weeks will be worth watching closely. As the likes of Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen and Deebo Samuel find new homes, Hopkins will presumably narrow his list of potential landing spots.
Diggs has spoken about the possibility of playing for the Commanders, making Washington one of the logical landing spots for the Maryland native. As La Canfora notes, however, Hopkins brings with him fewer concerns from an off-field perspective than Diggs.
Podcasts & videos
Commanders SIGN New CB2? Mike Sainristil, Amik Robertson HAVE COMPETITION!
DEPTH MOVE: Rasul Douglas Gives Washington Commanders A Needed Cornerback Floor
NFC East links
Blogging the Boys
4 Cowboys’ position groups that need answers to questions
Cornerback
Another maligned position group in what was a terrible defense, the cornerback battle will be a contest where multiple positions are up for grabs. The projected starters are DaRon Bland and Cobie Durant. Durant will be trying to establish himself in Dallas as a first-year Cowboy; Bland is trying to bounce back from another injury-riddled season.
The Cowboys’ secondary allowed the second-worst defensive passer rating last season, as opposing QBs averaged 109.6; only the Jets were worse, averaging 110. The Cowboys will look to make something out of a healthy mix of veterans like Bland and Durant, along with youngsters like Shavon Revel Jr., Caelen Carson, and Devin Moore.
The key here for the cornerbacks is simply improving on what was bottom-of-the-barrel defense from a year ago. With reinforcements along the front seven and help on the back end with Caleb Downs, who will be seeing a ton of action at the nickelback position, this proposition isn’t far-fetched. The corners will be pushed by facing a great Cowboys receiving corps in practice. They could make the biggest turnaround as a position group one year to the next.
Blogging the Boys
Brian Schottenheimer had an ‘agreement’ to remain with Cowboys if not hired as HC
“So, what we did is while they were going through the process — ’cause there’s a process, right? I wasn’t sure, and there was a number of other teams — saying this very humbly — that were courting me and trying to say, ‘Hey, we want you to come be our coordinator,'” the Cowboys coach said. “And so, you know, after just talking it over with Stephen and Jerry, like, OK, while we figure this out and you guys go through the interview process, which there’s a thorough interview process you have to go through. We had made an agreement that I would stay here no matter what. And I didn’t want to leave. … I really wanted to be the head coach and put our fingerprint, our blueprint on it. And that’s what God had planned.”
Before hiring Schottenheimer for the big chair, the Cowboys also interviewed Leslie Frazier, Robert Saleh and Kellen Moore. Had either of the former two been hired, Schotty staying on as the OC could have been a natural pairing. It would have been interesting to see if Moore would have been fine with the coordinator staying on board.
The revelation that the Cowboys planned to retain Schotty could explain the truncated interview list, which didn’t include some of the more offense-savvy options available that season — e.g., Ben Johnson, Liam Coen, etc. Dallas has in the past insisted on keeping certain coordinators, so it wouldn’t be off-brand for the club to enter the interview process seeking to retain Schottenheimer.
Big Blue View
NFC East Grades: Where do the Giants rank at running back?
Washington Commanders
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White, Jeremy McNichols, Kaytron Allen, Jerome Ford, Robert Henry Jr.
Washington added Rachaad White as a replacement for Austin Ekeler, which was a good addition for David Blough’s offense. Croskey-Merritt showed talent in his rookie season but was not allowed to earn a bell-cow role under former offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. He did, though, rush for 805 yards (4.6 YPC) with eight rushing touchdowns. He must clean up the fumbles — he had four last season.
White comes in from Tampa Bay and will likely earn the passing-downs role and will be allowed to eat into early down work, as will Kaytron Allen, who Washington selected in the sixth round out of Penn State. McNichols is a depth special teamer who can be relied on in a pinch, and Jerome Ford will fight for a roster spot.
Points: 2
New York Giants
Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Devin Singletary, Eric Gray, Dante Miller, Damon Bankston
Cam Skattebo is returning from his devastating leg injury, but he looks good so far this offseason. Tyrone Tracy Jr. has proven to be a reliable second running back and one who can be trusted with the 1A role. He rushed for 1,579 yards with seven touchdowns (4.3 YPC) across the last two seasons, while being effective through the air, albeit Skattebo is more impactful on the ground and through the air than the third-year Purdue back.
Singletary is still effective as a rusher, and he provides value as a consistent option who can do everything adequately. Still, Singletary, 28, is coming off his two worst seasons — he rushed for 437 yards in each of his two seasons with the Giants. The duo of Skattebo and Tracy Jr. is what pushes the Giants to three points, but the presence of Singletary doesn’t hurt.
Points: 3
NFL league links
Articles
The Athletic (paywall)
At what age do NFL players in different positions peak?
Roger Goodell [said in a] conference call in 2011:
“Frequently, it is said that the average career is about 3 1/2 years. In fact, if a player makes an opening-day roster, his career is very close to six years. If you are a first-round draft choice, the average career is close to nine years. That 3 1/2-year average … adds a lot of players who don’t make an NFL roster, and it brings down the average.”
It’s fair to say that there’s no definitive answer on the “average” NFL career.
Assembling the data for this next graphic took me an entire week. It maps all player ages between 20 and 40, broken down by offensive position over the past 25 seasons. The darker the shade, the better the average performance among players of that age:
Whoa. Running backs peaking across a 10-year span? Tackles and centers peaking at 37? That can’t be right. Yet it is. In a way.
Think about it: Mediocre players get phased out of the game after their rookie contracts, so these numbers get skewed by long-term greats like Travis Kelce and Trent Williams.
Stars who perform into their late 30s are among the few players remaining in their age brackets, so they’re overrepresented in these numbers.
But that actually suggests something important: We should worry less about players aging. Players who last beyond a four-year rookie contract don’t drop off as quickly as everyone in your fantasy football league might think, and some even continue to improve.
For the salary cap nerds
Pro Football Talk
NFLPA records show more than $88 million in Browns cap credits for Deshaun Watson injuries
The March 2023 restructuring of Watson’s original five-year deal with the Browns contains an “Insurance Addendum,” which permits the Browns to purchase: up to $91,801,463 in insurance covering 2023, 2024, and 2025 for an injury occurring
As best we can tell, it appears that the Browns will have received, from 2024 through 2029, the following cap credits: $8.79 million (for 2024), $8.79 million (for 2025), $7.983 million (for 2025), $8.781 million (for 2026), $7.992 million (for 2026), $4.951 million (for 2026) $8.755 million (for 2027), $8.018 million (for 2027), $8.755 million (for 2028), $7.983 million (for 2028), and $7.983 million (for 2029).
That’s a total in cap credit for 2024 through 2029 of $88.781 million. Which also reflects, presumably, the insurance benefits received by the Browns on Watson’s five-year, $230 million deal.
The payments flow from the shoulder injuries Watson suffered in 2023, and the torn Achilles tendon he sustained in October 2024. (The Achilles tendon was re-torn later.)
In all, Watson missed 11 games due to injury in 2023, 10 in 2024, and all 17 in 2025.
Thus, while the trade for Watson and the five-year, $230 million, fully-guaranteed contract combine to create one of the single worst transactions in NFL history, the Browns’ decision to purchase insurance (the premiums for which surely weren’t cheap) resulted in more than $88 million in refunds for the games Watson missed due to injury.
