The Washington Commanders‘ offseason has seen quite a few shifts. New faces have been brought in on both sides of the ball, and while general manager Adam Peters spent a lot of time and money on defense, he didn’t neglect the offense, eventually signing wide receiver Stefon Diggs to give Jayden Daniels more offensive weapons.
One of the questions around the Commanders’ offense is regarding the offensive line. Starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil suffered a torn triceps muscle during camp and is out for the remainder of the season shortly after signing a massive extension. Center Nick Allegretti finally returned to the practice field after missing time with a calf strain.
Sports Illustrated Senior NFL writer Albert Breer recently discussed what he’s seen from the Commanders’ offensive line during training camp. After talking about Tunsil’s injury, Breer writes:
The staff briefly considered moving Josh Conerly Jr. back to his college position, but decided against it because they really liked his progress at right tackle, having gotten bigger and stronger. Plus, they didn’t want him to have to rewire everything for this year and then go back to the right side next year. So, Brandon Coleman will be at left tackle, as he was as a rookie in 2024, which means Chris Paul will be the left guard. The other question is at center, where veteran Nick Allegretti, who’s got high-end football IQ and is steady, is trying to hold off Julian Good-Jones and rookie Matt Gulbin. Also worth noting: Right guard Sam Cosmi might be the team’s best lineman through camp, coming back from an injury-marred season last year.
The competition between Allegretti and Julian Good-Jones
The competition between Allegretti and Julian Good-Jones is probably not as close as Breer alludes to, but if it is, Peters may find himself in hot water for letting Tyler Biadasz go. The center-to-quarterback exchange has to be seamless. Any gaffes in that exchange will always result in a lost play and have a high likelihood of ending with a turnover. The more work Allegretti gets with Daniels, the smoother that exchange will be.
The rest of the line remains stable, even without Tunsil. These guys have largely been the same group for a couple of years, so they know how to play with each other; they know what to expect out of their fellow linemen, and they already work well together.
It also shouldn’t be a surprise that Sam Cosmi is viewed as the team’s best offensive lineman through camp. He’s been one of the Commanders’ most reliable guards since he was drafted in 2021, and he’s ranked among the elite guards in the NFL. The Commanders need him to stay healthy in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire:Washington Commanders’ Sam Cosmi impresses during training camp
Source: sports.yahoo.com
