The Washington Commanders need pass-rushing help despite a couple of new faces joining the ranks in free agency. Unfortunately for general manager Adam Peters, one of the most promising remaining on the free-agent market is now on their bitter NFC East rival.
It was surprising to see Azeez Ojulari still on the proverbial scrap heap entering the second wave of free agency. The former second-round pick flashed immense promise with the New York Giants, although he was behind Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux on the depth chart. After taking stock of his available options, the edge threat opted for the only team better than Washington in the NFC last season.
Commanders could regret letting Azeez Ojulari joining the Eagles
According to Jeremy Fowler from ESPN, Ojulari signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles that could be worth up to $4 million. This represents another shrewd move from general manager Howie Roseman, especially considering the minimal financial outlay attached.
The Commanders should have been all over this. Ojulari isn’t your prototypical veteran player approaching the tail-end of his career. He’s only just entering his prime and is only going to get better in a more stable environment. It would be a huge shock if he didn’t thrive in Philadelphia behind a formidable 3-4 defensive front.
Ojulari has the physical profile Dan Quinn typically looks for in his edge rushers. He’s explosive, dynamic, and versatile. The Commanders could have moved him around to exploit mismatches and capitalize on situational circumstances. But alas, it wasn’t to be.
Whether the Commanders were legitimately interested in Ojulari is anyone’s guess. It looks like a cost-effective addition if this is all it took to acquire the player. Instead of bringing him on board to see if he could thrive further within an established culture, Washington will have to counteract his threat twice a season.
This is the sort of move that’s become synonymous with Philadelphia’s success under Roseman. They acquire promising players from struggling organizations and mold them into capable performers in high-pressure situations. Having the ability to draft well regardless of need doesn’t hurt either. And everyone else is officially playing catch-up after the Eagles hoisted the Vince Lombardi trophy.
The Commanders cannot go into the season with their current pass-rushing options. Peters will know that better than anyone. He’s also earned the trust of fans after transforming Washington’s playing personnel in short order.
Ojulari was a popular choice among some sections of the fanbase. But make no mistake, that doesn’t detract from the outstanding job Peters has done.
Trust him. He’s the right man for the job.
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