2024 Roster Updates

[Kel Varnsen]

Everyone said Eckler's best years were behind him but he has done well here (minus the concussion time and those can be freak things). I think Gibson would have had a good year in Eckler's role here although probably not as good Eckler had on a per-game basis.

I know you are ready to die on the Forbes hill. While I'm fully on board with the idea he isn't a shutdown corner in this league, I'm not convinced he is a total bum yet.

I think Davis will continue to show up places too - if for no other reason than he is a freak athletic specimen and there are lots of desperate coaches and GMs in this league who look at that thinking they can fix him.

St. Juste will get another contract - if not here (and I don't think it will be here), then somewhere.

Please understand, I'm not saying any of these guys are ever going to sniff a Pro Bowl nomination, much less make it. Hell, I doubt any of them are regular starters and if they are it will be on a team in the bottom quarter of the league. But there are more guys in this league who never reach that level than do. I think a fair number of the guys we don't keep will move on and have careers other places. It's going to be interesting to see which ones step up for the challenge and which ones don't. That's all.

I think your last sentence on Gibson and Eckler is one of the key reasons this team has been successful. They knew Eckler would be an upgrade from Gibson. Too often in the past, this team settled for a guy because he was ok or did just fine or had some other quality that had nothing to do with playing football. This new front office looks at every guy and sees if they can get better and they don’t hesitate to make the move if they can. That same decision making follows the other guys you mentioned, but Gibson is at least contributing while these other guys aren’t. I’m really excited about what more this front office can do, but I also know there will be some regrets and some sad feelings when guys we like are let go. But I’m trusting the front office as their moves have been wildly successful so far.

 

[RWJ]

Love Eckler but with 2 concussions and a total of 4 since he has been in the NFL, it is time for him to hang it up. This for the betterment of his health. AP drafts his replacement in 2025.

 

[Conn]

It will be interesting to see if some of these guys go on to have decent careers elsewhere with different schemes.

Example - Gibson is having solid year in NE with over 600 combined yards.

LA obviously saw enough in Forbes to be willing to take on his remaining guaranteed money.

I'm not saying we should have kept any of them but I doubt that none of them can play at this level. I think most of them were seriously overdrafted, leading to unrealistic expectations.

Expectations don’t really matter to a new regime, the more players that can play in some capacity already on the roster, the easier their jobs would be. Most of these guys well and truly stink. And if they turn their careers around (for instance someone like Forbes) it will signal that they changed something fundamental in their approach to their career that was probably the result of the wake up call of getting cut.

Gibson is a pretty poor example, nearly any JAG RB across the league could have 600ish combined yards across the entire season. There are probably 70 RB’s across the league who could do what he’s doing as a backup. He’s replacement level or worse at this point in his career imo

 

[Gooseneck]

looks like Jets are picking up Mathis Salary-does that give us another 7.5 million

Team	Cap Space	Effective Cap Space	#	Active Cap Spending	Dead Money
Patriots	$131,548,830	$117,036,651	44	$171,238,792	$6,239,378
Raiders	$107,251,156	$92,495,552	40	$170,452,073	$29,256,771
Commanders	$102,232,851	$80,851,833	29	$185,846,212	$7,467,937

 

[burgold]

I think your last sentence on Gibson and Eckler is one of the key reasons this team has been successful. They knew Eckler would be an upgrade from Gibson. Too often in the past, this team settled for a guy because he was ok or did just fine or had some other quality that had nothing to do with playing football. This new front office looks at every guy and sees if they can get better and they don’t hesitate to make the move if they can. That same decision making follows the other guys you mentioned, but Gibson is at least contributing while these other guys aren’t. I’m really excited about what more this front office can do, but I also know there will be some regrets and some sad feelings when guys we like are let go. But I’m trusting the front office as their moves have been wildly successful so far.

Building on this, going from Gibson to Eckler is in some ways an anti-Snyder move. Snyder went from Ryan Clark to Adam Archuletta and from Johnson to Jeff George because production didn't matter. He wanted the sizzle of sexy. Archuletta and George were the workout warriors. They gleamed in terms of speed, arm strength, and "potential." Clark and Johnson were merely getting it done, but weren't going to wow anyone with their physical prowess.

Likewise, Eckler doesn't have that breakaway speed. You put him next to Antonio Gibson at a combine and its a Honda vs. a Ferrari. Now, if you can maintain that Ferrari and actually get the most out of it that's great, but Gibson never got the most out of his speed and power. Part of it was lack of vision, part of it was hands, and I'm sure part of it were his mechanics (coaches and trainers). With Gibson's speed, I was always surprised by how few big plays he was able to leg out.

So, the reality of it was that getting a Honda had a high probability of getting you further than the Ferrari. I did/do like Gibson and thought the team gave up on him, but I totally get and stand behind the decision of going for the Honda.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

I never saw the Ferrari speed Gibson was supposed to possess. He was fast for his size sure but we never really saw a lot of explosive plays from Antonio Gibson. Eckler had always been one of my favorite players in the league and I was pretty confident this signing would work out. He has lost a bit of his speed but I would not consider it a Honda vs a Ferarri. One of the worst things that happened to this team was seeing Austin Eckler hurt on a meaningless kickoff return at the end of a loss.

 

[burgold]

I never saw the Ferrari speed Gibson was supposed to possess. He was fast for his size sure but we never really saw a lot of explosive plays from Antonio Gibson. Eckler had always been one of my favorite players in the league and I was pretty confident this signing would work out. He has lost a bit of his speed but I would not consider it a Honda vs a Ferarri. One of the worst things that happened to this team was seeing Austin Eckler hurt on a meaningless kickoff return at the end of a loss.

Oh, I meant he was billed as a Ferrari. I agree that we never really saw it on the field. In the showroom though, people talked about Gibson being a homerun hitter with breakaway speed and zero to sixty acceleration in no time flat.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

The Lions free saftey has 9 interceptions. Ours has 1. Martin is solid and had a good game on Sunday, but we need more playmakers on this defense.

 

[DWinzit]

Oh, I meant he was billed as a Ferrari. I agree that we never really saw it on the field. In the showroom though, people talked about Gibson being a homerun hitter with breakaway speed and zero to sixty acceleration in no time flat.

Agreed, Gibson ran in the high 4.3's but looked like he was moving around 4.5. He was ACC Special Teams Player of the Year, first team Returner and Second Team WR. there were big expectations due to all the accolades at Memphis. The only time he really showed off was when split out and able to work in space. Honestly he was not given a lot of opportunity to do that but never exploded on the scene like expected. I will admit I was a fan of his being drafted although I felt they reached a round on him.

 

[Warhead36]

The Lions free saftey has 9 interceptions. Ours has 1. Martin is solid and had a good game on Sunday, but we need more playmakers on this defense.

We need more blue chip playmakers period. We have a total of two: Daniels and McLaurin. Fortunately the QB being an elite blue chipper is worth like three blue chippers of other positions.

But look at our competition in the NFC. Detroit's got a bunch. As does Philly. Hard to compete with them when they have huge talent advantages at many positions even if our QB is better.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

Agreed, Gibson ran in the high 4.3's but looked like he was moving around 4.5. He was ACC Special Teams Player of the Year, first team Returner and Second Team WR. there were big expectations due to all the accolades at Memphis. The only time he really showed off was when split out and able to work in space. Honestly he was not given a lot of opportunity to do that but never exploded on the scene like expected. I will admit I was a fan of his being drafted although I felt they reached a round on him.

I liked the pick too. I saw him as an Eckler, Sproles type of impact player. But we just never saw that, instead they tried to put a round peg into a square hole by trying to run him off tackle and he just didn't have the instincts of a running back. Because he was not a running back. Now he may have figured it out in New England but they are not stupid enough to make him the prime back there.

 

[heisenberg]

Patriots are waiving Ngakoue today.

Is he worth a look for the postseason?

 

[Bulldog]

Ole Phidarian Mathis.

Gotta give Ron some love for the creative names he added to roster, shame most of them could not play.

Let’s not compare the Commanders in Year 1 with the Eagles that started drafting a lot of their starters 3-4 years ago or made trades with extra picks acquired again, years ago.

This year is for free. This club has exceeded any expectations and ends having accomplished Job #1 - find a quarterback.

I think a number of the rookies and younger vets will continue to improve and be starters, it’s just that Daniels rookie year blew expectations for everyone out of the water.

We see Jayden do what he does and then ask why Johnny Newton doesn’t have 12 sacks and been a dominant presence.

It very rarely happens with rookies.

 

[heisenberg]

I think a number of the rookies and younger vets will continue to improve and be starters, it’s just that Daniels rookie year blew expectations for everyone out of the water.

We see Jayden do what he does and then ask why Johnny Newton doesn’t have 12 sacks and been a dominant presence.

It very rarely happens with rookies.

Very true, and another factor is jayden is getting opportunities that the other rookies aren't getting.
Jayden is on the field for every offensive snap and is the unquestioned centerpiece of our offense, its completely tailored to what he does.
Most of the rest of the rookies are being brought on much slower with a lower snap count and specific responsibilities designed to incorporate them rather than showcase them.

 

[Chris]

The only rookie that really has me scratching my head is Ben Sinnott. I thought he was going to be a good pick with skills that would translate and be valuable at this level with this OC. Now, for sure, the jury is still out but in the 16th game of the season he was only on the field for 8 of the offenses 83 snaps. Something is off there. Color me very curious.

 

[RWJ]

Key with Johnny Newton is his feet. If they hold up after the surgeries on both feet, he should do well.

 

[RWJ]

I think McCaffery can be added to the list with Sinnott.

 

[Chris]

I’m not thrilled with McCaffery at this point but at least he is getting some run. Sinnott is basically just a special teamer now.

 

[Warhead36]

Yeah I get bringing rookies along slowly but 2nd round picks should be contributing by now. Sinnott is TE3. By now he should have at least been pushing Ertz for snaps.

 

[Iraolaball]