Commanders Enhance Offensive Line Despite Key Injury
It’s rare for an NFL team to lose its top offensive lineman to injury and still improve its overall quality, but that seems to be what Adam Peters has done for the Washington Commanders this offseason.
Although the team may deal with the loss of Sam Cosmi for the entire 2025 season, Washington’s offensive line is set to be stronger this year compared to 2024.
Peters’ approach has centered on acquiring high-quality players, a strategy that had evaded previous management. After years of targeting budget-friendly free agents and late-round draft picks, the Commanders’ offensive line had struggled to find any semblance of mediocrity.
Cosmi was the team’s only consistently reliable starter and the only lineman picked in the first two rounds under the previous regime. However, the acquisition of Charles Leno Jr. provided stability at left tackle, although the rest of the line seemed patched together.
Significant Improvements Made This Offseason
This offseason, Peters took even bolder steps by trading for five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil and using the first-round draft pick to select offensive lineman Josh Conerly Jr., marking the first time Washington has used a Round 1 pick on an offensive lineman since 2015.
Despite losing Cosmi, the Commanders are poised for an improvement in offensive line performance in front of quarterback Jayden Daniels. Once Cosmi returns, whether this season or next, the line should rank among the league’s best.
Currently, two positions are secured: Tunsil at left tackle and Biadasz at center. Biadasz provided the team with much-needed stability last year, something that hadn’t been seen since Chase Roullier’s retirement.
Conerly is on track to step in at right tackle. Should he need more time, last year’s starter, Andrew Wylie, remains an option. Though not dominant, Wylie’s consistency improves as the season progresses.
The Commanders are also poised for depth improvements. Peters has constructed a robust offensive line with reliable backups, including Nate Herbig, who is expected to enhance the line’s overall interior strength.
With Tunsil and other strategic acquisitions, such as promising undrafted free agent Tim McKay, Peters is dedicated to avoiding the mistakes of previous regimes that overlooked the offensive line’s importance.
