Free Agency Preview 2024: Cornerbacks and Safeties

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February 23, 2024

By Noonefromtampa

Overview

Over the last few years, the Commanders have invested a number of draft picks across all rounds to fill out the secondary. The new coaching regime is going to have to figure out the pieces they have, where they fit and what additional pieces they need to add through free agency and the draft. The biggest decisions will be whether or not to re-sign Kendall Fuller and Kamren Curl. Washington has a good cadre of young secondary players in Emmanuel Forbes, Benjamin St-Juste, Quan Martin, Darrick Forrest, and Percy Butler.

Washington Free Agents

CB Kendell Fuller (UFA), S Jeremey Reaves (UFA), S Terrell Burgess (UFA), S Kamren Curl (UFA)

Fuller was the most consistent of all the cornerbacks this past year, but, at 30 years old, he is also reaching the NFL tipping point for age. Does the organization want to invest big money in an aging player when the team may be in the situation of rebuilding out the roster? On the other hand, Fuller has been a steading influence and solid teammate. As a result, the new coaches might want a player like that back. Curl has been the major surprise in developing for a lower round draft pick into a major contributor on defense for this team. He is also one of the better safeties in the league and is very versatile. The new staff will probably want such a player back on defense. Reaves is a great special teams player and was acknowledged as such with a Pro Bowl birth in 2022. Burgess is a veteran player who has been on different defenses in his career who filled in when injuries impacted the safety position this past year.

My guess is that the team tries to bring back Fuller and Curl but will not overpay if they get a better offer somewhere else.

Free Agents

Teams still have time to franchise players and re-sign their own free agents, so this list will change until the start of the legal tampering period in March.

Top Cornerback Players

  1. Jaylon Johnson, Bears, 4 INT, 10 PD, 0 sacks, 36 tackles combined
  2. L’Jarius Sneed, Chiefs, 2 INT, 14 PD, 0 sacks, 78 tackles combined
  3. Kendall Fuller, Commanders, 2 INT, 9 PD, 0 sacks, 79 tackles combined
  4. Chidobe Awuzie, Bengals, 0 INT, 6 PD, 0 sacks, 57 tackles combined
  5. Stephon Gilmore, Cowboys, 2 INT, 13 PD, 0 sacks, 68 tackles combined

Other notable names: Steven Nelson (4 INT, 12 PD, 0 sacks, 63 tackles combined), Texans; Kenny Moore II, Colts (3 INT, 6 PD, 1.5 sacks, 93 tackles combined); Adoree’ Jackson, Giants (1 INT, 8 PD, 0 sacks, 63 tackles combined)

Gilmore is older but obviously has connections to the Washington coaching staff. He might fit as an older veteran mentor to a younger secondary. Johnson and Sneed, I think that their current teams will try to re-sign them. The Commanders make take a look at a slot CB like Moore who adds value but will not command a high price in free agency.

Top Safety Players

  1. Antoine Winfield, Buccaneers, 3 INT, 12 PD, 6 sacks, 122 tackles combined
  2. Kamren Curl, Commanders, 0 INT, 5 PD, 1 sack, 115 tackles combined
  3. Kyle Dugger, Patriots, 2 INT, 7 PD, 1.5 sacks, 109 tackles combined
  4. Xavier Mckinney, Giants, 3 INT, 11 PD, 0.5 sacks, 116 tackles combined
  5. Geno Stone, Ravens, 7 INT, 9 PD, 0 sacks, 68 tackles combined

Other notable names: Julian Blackmon, Colts (4 INT, 8 PD, 0 sacks, 88 tackles combined); Jordan Fuller, Rams (3 INT, 8 PD, 0 sacks, 94 tackles combined); Jordan Whitehead, Jets (4 INT, 9 PD, 0.5 sacks, 97 tackles combined); C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Lions (1 INT, 3 PD, 0 sacks, 17 tackles combined); Deshon Elliott, Dolphins (1 INT, 7 PD, 0 sacks, 82 tackles combined); Tashaun Gipson, 49ers (1 INT, 3 PD, 1 sack, 60 tackles combined)

The Commanders probably will not sign a top tier safety other than Curl. Gardner-Johnson is coming off an injury and the Bucs should franchise Winfield. Should Washington not elect to re-sign Curl, they may sign a veteran player, electing to go with someone like Blackmon, Fuller, or Elliot who could fill the role of the savvy veteran.

Sources: overthecap.com, pro-football-reference.com