Free Agent Names To Watch For Washington

March 14, 2023

by David Earl

Free Agency Is Upon Us

The obvious free agency targets this offseason will be the offensive line and linebackers, as Ron Rivera looks to strengthen this roster. While the interior of the offensive line was the most porous of the group, Orlando Brown Jr. leads this list, for obvious reasons.  I offer a mixed range of linebacker options but for a full breakdown of this group check out my free-agent linebacker group that highlighted one of my favorites, Kaden Ellis, from the Saints. If you are curious as to how Lamar Jackson could fit into this scenario contractually check out Steve Thomas’ breakdown here. This list doesn’t contain any real off-the-wall names, but are players I see who could be on Ron Rivera‘s early play calls in free agency. Let’s dive into this free agency group and some names to watch.

Orlando Brown Jr., OT, Age 26

• A projected average annual salary of $22.4 million
• Orlando Brown Jr. is not a likely candidate for Washington just solely on the cap numbers but he’s on this list in the event Ron and the front office find a way to make it work. Since losing Trent Williams, the left tackle position has been manned admirably by Charles Leno but he doesn’t give you position dominance like an Orlando Brown Jr potentially can. In the prime of his career, this 4x Pro-Bowl left tackle allowed no pressure on Patrick Mahomes blind side against one of the top pass-rushing units in Philadelphia even though he had some inconsistencies at the start of the season. There could be some debate about his actual monetary value but he is clearly an upgrade this team sorely needs. Orlando Brown allowed four sacks with playing 1,133 snaps on offense while Charles Leno Jr. allowed 8 sacks playing in 1189 offensive snaps. Brown also is 5 years younger than Leno (31 years old) and has proven durable.

Isaac Seumalo, OG, Age 29

• A projected average annual salary of $12.1 million
• Considering how terrible the interior of Washington’s offensive line played, Isaac Seumalo could be money well spent. Yes, he’s had some injury concerns, which I discuss here, but he is an absolute mauler at guard. Ron cannot just rely on rookies to solve this interior issue so while there may be better options in free agency they come with more questions. Ben Powers had a stand-out year last year, coming in at a projected average annual salary of $9.4 million, but was he more of a product of the system and players around him? Then, do you want a guy like Dalton Risner ($9.5 million average annual salary) on the sideline with a young quarterback who had a confrontation with Brett Rypien in Denver? Seumalo has always been the consummate team player and can anchor the right guard spot very well.

Nate Davis, OG, Age 26

• A projected average annual salary of $7.4 million
• Nate scored an overall PFF grade of 70.6 and allowed only 3 sacks all season while being accredited with 4 penalties. He was one of the better linemen in Tennessee and would surely provide an upgrade over last year’s starting guards. Like Seumalo he has recently struggled with some injuries missing a total of 5 games last season due to a lower-body injury. There is certainly risk with this type of signing but injuries are hard to predict, as we saw with an often injured Brandon Scherff, who missed significant time due to injuries only to start all 17 games for Jacksonville last year.

Tremaine Edmunds, ILB, Age 24

• A projected average annual salary of $11 million
• This is another high-end and unlikely signing for Washington, but he needs to be on this list because of the needs he fills for Washington. A young player with a very high all-around ceiling, he had one of his better seasons as a pro last year, recording the lowest completion against (65%), and 7 pass defenses. He recorded the lowest miss tackle rate of all linebackers (1%) with 102 tackles and 66 solo tackles in 12 games started. With all that said, is Edmunds a player who performed well in a contract year but is legitimately the player we saw, or will there be a decline once he makes his money? That is for Ron and the company to figure out.

Bobby Wagner, ILB, Age 32

• Had an average annual salary of $10 million prior to release
• This 6x All-Pro finished yet another strong season for the Los Angeles Rams, finishing with 140 total tackles (81 solo), 2 interceptions, and 5 pass defenses. Wagner will most likely go back to where his career started in Seattle, as mutual interest exist but Ron Rivera signing him could pay big dividends. The combination of his production, experience, and playing behind a very good defensive line gives Washington a presence that has not had since London Fletcher. At this point of his career, they could sign him to a lower base salary with plenty of reachable incentives giving plenty of cap flexibility.

Lavonte David, ILB, Age 33

• A projected average annual salary of $9.7 million
• While not as productive as Bobby Wagner, Lavonte David proved to be a productive player totaling 124 tackles (80 solos), 3 sacks, and 5 passes defended last season. He has been a consistent presence in the middle of the Bucs defense for a long time and is another veteran inside linebacker who can be a valuable stopgap as you groom the future at this position. Like Bobby Wagner, an incentive-laden contract could make signing David doable.

David Long, ILB, Age 26

• A projected average annual salary of $4.9 million
• David Long is apparently a guy Ron likes a lot, but is he what Washington needs? He was solid against the run last season starting 12 games recording 86 tackles (53 solos) and 7 tackles for losses. Long was utilized in blitzes last season often but record no sacks and 3 quarterback hits. He doesn’t offer great consistency in the passing game either so this signing would scream more of a lateral move away from Cole Holcomb. Given that, why not just bring back a more familiar player in Holcomb?

Mike Gesicki, TE, Age 27

• A projected average annual salary of $8.7 million
• I understand what Ron said about the tight ends on the roster and how well Logan Thomas made the transition to the position, but Mike Gesicki brings a more Travis Kelce vibe to Eric Bieniemy‘s offense. Gesicki is 2 years removed from his most productive year hauling in 73 receptions off 112 targets for 780 yards with a 65% catch percentage. What Gesicki brings that Washington does not have at the tight position is a versatile player who can play from the slot and can run the full route tree. If Ron decides not to address this position through the draft I can see a real scenario where Bieniemy makes a pitch for Mike Gesicki.

Jacoby Brissett, QB, Age 30

• A projected average annual salary of $5.4 million
• Jacoby Brissett is coming off one of his finer seasons, completing 64% of his passes, 2,608 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, with an interception percentage of 1.6% while playing for the suspended Deshaun Watson in Cleveland. He is a stable veteran that would give just enough push and challenge to Sam Howell this offseason while also not being a serious threat to Sam at the same time. His leadership also will be a strong asset for the young quarterback too. I understand the push to re-sign Taylor Heinicke,  it may be time to move on. For example, last season, when Carson Wentz‘s first pass went incomplete in his return against Cleveland and the stadium started to chant Heinicke’s name (I was there to witness it), it was any indication that it was time to move on from Wentz.  The same may be true here. If Ron Rivera truly wants Sam Howell to be that guy then he must eliminate the Heinicke distractions while bringing in a more than-capable veteran to push him such as Jacoby Brissett. Plus, with Heinicke’s projected average annual salary of $19.8 million, a Brissett signing would be far more feasible.

Donovan Wilson, S, Age 28

• No projected average annual salary
• If Ron Rivera is looking to add more depth at safety Donovan Wilson could be that versatile player. He posted a solid 51% completion rate against him on 39 targets but his strongest asset could be that in the block player, which would allow Kam Curl the flexibility to be utilized anywhere on the field on specific downs. To accompany his 101 tackles, Wilson was effectively used in blitzes recording 5 sacks and 3 quarterback hurries last season. Wilson is probably not a likely signing but we know Ron loves his position flex and it allows Kam Curl not to be overused as well.