Washington Commanders Free Agency: 4 Players to Watch in Divisional Round Sunday
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After an exciting day of Divisional Round NFL Playoff games on Saturday Washington Commanders fans everywhere are going to settle in for an equally thrilling Sunday.
With any luck, Commanders fans will get to see their future coach in action, and might just get to see some soon-to-be players for their favorite team as well.
Here are four upcoming free agents in the Divisional Round Sunday that Washington could have an eye on this offseason.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS @ DETROIT LIONS, 3 P.M. ET (NBC)
Mike Evans, Buccaneers Receiver
When you consider all Evan has achieved with Tampa Bay before, during, and after quarterback Tom Brady arrived and departed the team it would seem impossible he’d ever leave.
However, efforts by Evans and his agent to strike a new deal before this season were not met warm-enough by Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht, and while we still get the feeling he’ll be back, the door is certainly not bolted shut.
Evans just put together his 10th straight 1,000-yard receiving season becoming only the second player in NFL history to do so along with Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice, and is the current record holder for most consecutive seasons to start a career.
He’ll be 31 in August, and if Tampa Bay lets him walk out the door he’d be a great veteran leader with something to prove in Washington.
Josh Reynolds, Lions Receiver
In his second season in Detroit Reynolds collected 40 receptions producing 608 yards and five touchdowns.
His offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is one of the top candidates to become the next coach of the Commanders and we all know how familiar players tend to follow.
Reynolds could arrive in Washington with intimate knowledge of Johnson, his scheme, and his language, and as a proven producer who would find a nice role alongside star receiver Terry McLaurin and third-year pro Jahan Dotson.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS @ BUFFALO BILLS, 6:30 P.M. ET (CBS)
Chris Jones, Chiefs Defensive Tackle
How could Washington possibly lure a five-time Pro Bowl, two-time First-Team All-Pro away from a perennial Super Bowl contender?
Money.
Jones spent this season playing on the franchise tag and if Kansas City hits him with another they’ll owe him $23.4 of its $26.9 million in projected salary cap space.
The Chiefs traded receiver Tyreek Hill because of bookkeeping and could watch Jones walk away for the same reason.
If defensive tackle Jonathan Allen isn’t fully committed to the build that’s happening with the Commanders then Jones would be a nice mercenary to bring in to replace him.
And Washington certainly has the dough to make it happen.
Dane Jackson, Bills Cornerback
Jackson was drafted in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft and since then has secured three interceptions while starting in 28 games for Buffalo.
He only had one tackle in the stat box in the Bills’ Wild Card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he also had an 82.1 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus and allowed just 15 yards while being targeted 17 times.
Cornerbacks are largely scheme-dependent so there’s a nice asterisk to put here pending the hiring of a coach and figuring out the direction the defense will go, but if Jackson fits, then his rise as a productive seventh-round pick could continue with the Commanders.