The Washington Commanders are loading up. The franchise made a pair of splashy moves on Monday as NFL free agency began, trading for Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil and agreeing to sign former New York Jets defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw.
Last year’s NFC championship run, powered by an electric rookie season by quarterback Jayden Daniels, shocked the league. Monday’s moves showed that general manager Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn view their squad as a Super Bowl contender.
The Tunsil trade was a stunner — there had been no reports about the cornerstone lineman being available for a trade before Monday.
The Commanders sent 2025 third and seventh-round picks to the Texans along with second and fourth-round selections in next year’s draft. Houston sent a fourth-rounder with Tunsil to sweeten the deal, according to multiple reports.
A five-time Pro Bowler, Tunsil established himself as one of the league’s premier pass blockers in six seasons with the Texans. Pro Football Focus gave him a 91.7 pass-blocking grade since 2022, the second-highest mark in the league for an offensive tackle.
Tunsil allowed just two sacks during the 2024 regular season — they both came in the season opener.
SEE ALSO: Commanders re-sign punter Tress Way, tight end John Bates
The 30-year-old projects to provide an immediate improvement to Washington’s offensive line. The Ole Miss product will likely defend Daniels’ blindside with the Commanders.
The trade will allow second-year lineman Brandon Coleman to kick inside to guard. The 2024 third-round pick flashed potential in 12 starts at left tackle, especially as a run blocker.
With Kinlaw, Commanders general manager Adam Peters invested in a defensive front that needed reinforcements. Washington dropped a sizable offer, agreeing to pay $45 million over three years with $30 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports.
Kinlaw recorded a career-high 40 tackles and 4.5 sacks during his lone season with the Jets in 2024.
The 2020 first-round pick spent the first four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, recording five sacks and an interception while dealing with injuries.
Dearly departed
The South Carolina product will likely fill a Jonathan Allen-sized hole on Washington’s defensive line. The Commanders released Allen over the weekend after they failed to find a trade partner for the 30-year-old.
Washington saved more than $16 million in cap space by releasing the former first-rounder. The Minnesota Vikings hosted Allen for a free-agent visit on Monday, but he remains unsigned.
Safety Jeremy Chinn and wide receiver Dyami Brown also became former Commanders this week. The pair agreed to contracts with the Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars, respectively, on Monday.
Chinn is expected to sign a two-year, $16 million contract, according to multiple reports. Brown is slated to make $10 million in a one-year deal in Jacksonville, NFL.com reported.
Retention
As of Monday afternoon, Kinlaw was the only free-agent acquisition on the Commanders’ radar. Despite having some of the most cap flexibility in the league, most of Washington’s negotiations have centered on retaining players who contributed to last season’s playoff run.
Washington agreed to re-sign tight end John Bates on Sunday and punter Tress Way on Monday morning.
They’ll join returning players like running back Chris Rodriguez, kicker Zane Gonzalez, tight end Zach Ertz and linebacker Bobby Wagner. That group agreed to skip free agency to return to the Commanders.
“I just love what we’re building here. I love the team,” Wagner said Friday. “I just feel like this is the place. … We’ve got unfinished business.”
Around the NFL
Other franchises around the league took a similar approach in the lead-up to free agency.
The Cleveland Browns made disgruntled defensive end Myles Garrett the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league on Sunday with a four-year, $160 million extension.
The Buffalo Bills followed suit by giving quarterback Josh Allen a record-setting $250 million guaranteed on his six-year, $330 million extension on Sunday night.
But Garrett and Allen are award winners. Cleveland’s pass rusher was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. Buffalo’s signal-caller is the reigning MVP.
The eye-popping deals weren’t just reserved for the superstars.
Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn became the NFL’s highest-paid defensive back when he signed a four-year, $100 million extension on Friday. The 25-year-old has recorded five interceptions and a lone Pro Bowl appearance in four NFL seasons.
On the open market, former Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams fetched the largest deal of the day by agreeing to a four-year, $104 million contract with the New England Patriots.
New England also agreed to pay $60 million over three years to cornerback Carlton Davis and $37.5 million over three years for linebacker Robert Spillane.
A pair of major quarterback dominoes also fell on Monday. The Seattle Seahawks replaced the now-departed Geno Smith with Sam Darnold. The former Viking agreed to a three-year, $100.5 million deal, according to several reports.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields is headed to the Big Apple, agreeing to a two-year, $40 million contract with the New York Jets.
Aaron Rodgers — who Fields is replacing with the Jets — and Russell Wilson, Fields’ former Pittsburgh teammate, are the top remaining passers in free agency.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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