The end of the 2022 NFL season is here for 28 NFL teams. That means those teams are either filling out coaching staffs or looking ahead to free agency and the 2023 NFL draft.
The Washington Commanders season ended two weeks ago. Washington promptly fired offensive coordinator Scott Turner and immediately turned to offseason preparation.
Regardless of any coaching staff changes, the Commanders have some holes to fill on the roster in 2023. Washington has some notable free agents in defensive tackle Daron Payne, quarterback Taylor Heinicke and linebacker Cole Holcomb. The Commanders are expected to apply the franchise tag to Payne if the two sides do not agree to a deal over the next several weeks.
Outside of the obvious need at quarterback, Washington has needs on the offensive line, cornerback and linebacker. The most pressing need is the offensive line. The Commanders struggled in pass protection last season, and they are specifically weak at guard.
Pro Football Focus has begun looking ahead to free agency. In doing so, they named one offensive and defensive free agent that all 32 NFL teams should pursue in March.
No surprise, PFF went with an offensive lineman for the Commanders in Nate Davis of Tennessee.
The 6-foot-3, 316-pound Davis was a third-round pick out of Charlotte by the Tennessee Titans in 2019. Since his entry into the NFL, the 26-year-old Davis has played in 55 games through four seasons, with 54 starts. Davis became a starter in Week 4 of his rookie season and never looked back.
He has missed 11 career games due to injury. Something of note, Davis is a native of Ashburn, Va., where the Commanders’ headquarters are located, and was a high-school teammate of star defensive tackle Jonathan Allen.
Davis is coming off the best season of his career, with his 70.6 overall grade his top mark through four seasons and his 66.8 pass-blocking grade in 2022 almost a 15-point upgrade over his previous high. Davis finished the 2022 season on injured reserve due to an ankle injury but is expected to make a full recovery.
Veteran right guard Trai Turner struggled in 2022, with his 53.0 grade ranking 64th out of 78 qualifying guards. The Commanders would benefit from an injection of youth to their aging and injury-battered interior offensive line, no matter who the quarterback ultimately is in 2023.
The Titans have the type of running game Washington wants to emulate, and signing their reliable right guard would be a smart move for the…
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