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The Athletic (paywall)
Terry McLaurin’s extension shows how the Commanders will do business going forward
That McLaurin got $29 million in average annual value instead of the $32 million he sought is something they “debate” on ESPN. The deal is worth “up to” $96 million over three seasons in the same way I can get “down to” 175 pounds if I’d just eat a little better and work out a little more. It’s an aspiration, not reality.
Just as predicted, neither side is likely all that happy with the final resolution. But the Commanders offered, and McLaurin signed, and we’re 12 days away
from the season opener at Northwest Stadium — a game for which No. 17 will now suit up and play, with fuller pockets, including a $30 million signing bonus.
What does matter, though, is that there was an actual negotiation. And that’s the big ol’ marker general manager Adam Peters has slapped down on the table, a year-plus into his stint here.
Under New Management.
The Commanders are no longer the place where you pick up your golden handshake on the back nine of your career. Where there was financial anarchy during the worst of the Snyder Era, there is now rock-ribbed discipline.
It’s not show friends, Bob Sugar said in “Jerry Maguire,” it’s show business.
Washington is now San Francisco East — resembling a place where a lot of good football players have had to work overtime for their next big contract, including Nick Bosa and old friend Trent Williams.
There’s the unmistakable feeling that Peters is letting the rest of the league know how Washington’s going to do business going forward. This was his first high-profile negotiation in D.C., and it left no ambiguity about how sentimentality is not going to be an operating principle here.
The Athletic (paywall)
Most surprising NFL roster cut for every team
Washington Commanders: Clelin Ferrell, DE
Spoiler: This wasn’t that big of a surprise. Ferrell, the No. 4 pick in the 2019 draft, signed with Washington last season and re-upped in March as the team attempted to transform its defensive line. The Commanders needed to boost their pass rush, opening the door for Ferrell to prove he should maintain his spot. But he failed to show enough in camp and preseason to warrant keeping him over returning defensive ends Dorance Armstrong and Javontae Jean-Baptiste, or newcomers Deatrich Wise Jr. and Jacob Martin. — Nicki Jhabvala
Washington Post (paywall)
Breaking down the Commanders’ initial 53-man roster
After Tuesday’s cuts, here’s how the position groups look. Changes could be coming soon.
Tuesday was still a key date for Washington’s roster construction — and a great day for undrafted rookie linebacker Ale Kaho, one of the notable players on the bubble who survived the sweeping cuts. Here’s how the Commanders look immediately after their one and only cutdown of the summer.
Cornerback (5): Trey Amos, Marshon Lattimore, Mike Sainristil, Noah Igbinoghene, Jonathan Jones
Amos looked like a home run of a second-round pick all spring and summer. His addition should allow Sainristil to focus on inside cornerback duties, which fit his ball-hawking skill set best. Lattimore may be one of the season’s swing players — is he still an elite shutdown corner, or have injuries eroded his skills? Igbinoghene brings physicality, and Jones is a versatile veteran known for his speed and smarts.
Safety (5): Quan Martin, Will Harris, Jeremy Reaves, Percy Butler, Tyler Owens
In his third year, Martin could be a breakout player. Reaves, an irrepressible special teams standout for several years, may cut into Harris’s snaps after an excellent training camp. Owens is a strong developmental prospect, and Butler will provide special teams ballast.
A to Z Sports
Ale Kaho may be a gem on the Commanders’ defense after earning a spot on the 53-man roster
It’s hard to find quality players that go undrafted, because each player has their own reasons for going undrafted, but now and then a gem while shine through for a team. Ale Kaho showed up to Commanders Park this offseason, put his head down, and went to work. He was a quiet name throughout training camp, but he let his presence be felt on gameday.
Kaho led the defense in tackles for the entire preseason with 15, and he really popped out on tape against the Ravens. The game was pretty ugly as a preseason finale at home, but Kaho had seven tackles and one tackle for a loss, and flew around the field to make plays.
Riggo’s Rag
Commanders need a backup center, and Cole Strange could be a useful addition
There’s a chance someone like Michael Deiter or Nick Harris is brought back onto the practice squad. Neither inspires much confidence, so taking a chance on someone like Cole Strange wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world.
Strange was one of the oddest first-round picks in recent memory. He was projected as someone who’d be taken just outside the top 100 by most analysts and scouts. However, the New England Patriots thought he was worth the risk at No. 29 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Bill Belichick made a mistake with Strange. He was solid, but never looked capable of reaching his first-round billing. After experiencing some struggles this summer under the new regime, the Patriots opted to pull the plug on this costly experiment.
Nobody would be expecting Strange to start in Washington. Biadasz is the established center and a pillar of consistency on the interior. What the Commanders need is a capable understudy who could provide relief if he’s forced to miss time, which he did twice during the 2024 regular season.
Strange does have struggles against the run, but he’s a sound pass protector. He also has the scope to play either center or guard, which is the sort of versatility every team covets in their backup options.
The Commanders might have alternatives in mind, but Strange is a solid pro who could benefit from a change of scenery. It’s a low-risk move that could solidify one remaining issue along the offensive line depth chart, at least for one season.
Podcasts & videos
Terry McLaurin, High Expectations & Season Preview! | Get Loud | Washington Commanders
FIRST TAKE | “Commanders are Super Bowl contenders” – Stephen A. has high expectation for Daniels
NFC East links
The Philly Voice
Ranking NFL teams by age after 53-man cutdowns: 2025 edition
Calculating the average age of the 32 NFL teams, from oldest to youngest, as they get ready for a new season.
As of roughly 8:30 p.m. on cutdown day, when we finished collecting data from all 32 NFL team website rosters, the Green Bay Packers had the youngest team in the NFL.
The Washington Commanders have the oldest roster in the NFL this year, and by a wide margin at 28.1 years of age. In fact, I’ve been calculating the average age of every team in the NFL at final cutdowns every year since 2012, and the two oldest teams previously were the 2023 Saints and 2018 Raiders, both at 27.4 years of age.
A common “rebuttal” by fans who don’t want their team to be super old is usually something to the effect of, “Well if you take out this guy or that guy, then their average age is lower.” Of course, that premise can be applied to every other team, too. But in the case of the Commanders, they’re old across the entire roster, with a staggering 25 players who are 29 years of age or older.
The Eagles rank 2nd, as in, 2nd youngest. They were the 6th youngest last year. The retirement of Brandon Graham and the loss of a bunch of players to free agency have something to do with the lower age.
To note, “old” doesn’t mean “bad,” and “young” doesn’t mean “good.” But certainly, you don’t want to be old and bad, like some of the teams above. And obviously, teams that are both young and talented with good quarterbacks can feel pretty good about their long-term chances of being consistent contenders.
ESPN
2025 NFL roster cuts tracker: Updates for all 32 teams
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
Biggest move: With the uncertain status of Micah Parsons for the opener, James Houston (one sack, three hurries and two tackles for loss in 2024) was likely one of the beneficiaries, as Dallas chose to carry six pass rushers on the 53-man roster. Houston has been disruptive in practices and during the games, but can he make it to Week 1 still on the active roster and see playing time? The Cowboys likely will bring back Hakeem Adeniji as their swing tackle and cornerback C.J. Goodwin to the roster as soon as Wednesday, when they can place running back Phil Mafah (shoulder) and cornerback Caelen Carson (knee) on injured reserve/designated to return. — Todd Archer
New York Giants
Biggest move: The Giants cut Tommy DeVito. It was expected and really became a lock when they signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston and also drafted Jaxson Dart. DeVito was the fourth quarterback all spring and summer, and the Giants weren’t going to keep four quarterbacks on the active roster. Maybe DeVito lands on the practice squad, but even that seems like a long shot. However, he will have other options. Ihmir Smith-Marsette not getting an opportunity as the returner was significantly more surprising than the DeVito move. Smith-Marsette returned a kickoff for a touchdown — and a punt, as well, even though it was called back because of a penalty — while averaging almost 35 yards per kickoff return in 2024. One would’ve thought that earned him another chance to be the returner. But the Giants instead chose Gunner Olszewski over Smith-Marsette to be their returner to start the season. — Jordan Raanan
Philadelphia Eagles
Biggest move: The additions of tackle Fred Johnson and quarterback Sam Howell bolster depth at a couple of key areas. No. 2 QB Tanner McKee has earned the trust of the organization, but he suffered a finger injury on his throwing hand late in training camp. Rookie Kyle McCord isn’t ready for NFL action quite yet, so the Eagles turned to Howell, who has 18 career starts under his belt. Johnson spent the past two seasons in Philadelphia before signing with the Jaguars earlier this offseason. With no one emerging at camp this summer, he can step right into the swing tackle role on game day. — Tim McManus
Washington Commanders
Biggest move: Washington’s biggest roster move occurred last week when it traded running back Brian Robinson Jr. to San Francisco. But the Commanders’ most significant move Tuesday was keeping right guard Sam Cosmi on the physically unable to perform list. That means he’ll be sidelined for at least the first four weeks of the season as he continues rehabbing from a torn right ACL suffered in the NFC divisional round in January. Nick Allegretti has been working in his place. The Commanders have been optimistic about Cosmi’s recovery, but it’s an injury that often has a healing timeline of nine to 12 months. — John Keim
NFL league links
Articles
Front Office Sports
NFL Sunday Ticket Debuts Monthly Plan—but at a Steep Cost
YouTube is adding a month-to-month option to NFL Sunday Ticket this season, increasing the flexibility of the out-of-market media-rights package.
YouTube is adding a month-to-month option to NFL Sunday Ticket this season, increasing the flexibility—albeit with a price hike—of the out-of-market media-rights package that is the center of a $14 billion antitrust lawsuit.
For the first time since Sunday Ticket was launched in 1994, viewers will be able to purchase the service for a single month, as opposed to the entire season, which costs $276 for new users (with a YouTube TV subscription) and $378 for returning users.
Beginning in September, monthly Sunday Ticket plans will be available for $85 up to four payments ($340) for new users (with a YouTube TV subscription) and $115 for returning users ($460). Those monthly price points are $16 and $20.50 higher, respectively, than the full-season Sunday Ticket plans would cost across four months.
Sunday Ticket, including the monthly plan, is also available via YouTube for non–YouTube TV subscribers, although at even higher price points.
Multiview Expansion
YouTube is also expanding its Sunday Ticket multiview options to offer more combinations of local and national games for YouTube TV users. The streamer plans to gradually launch those improvements throughout the season, and a source told Front Office Sports that viewers will eventually be able to access all combinations of local and national games, which has not previously been the case.
