How would you grade the Commanders' free agency class so far?

0:00What's going on? I'm Archmaning, Viori athlete and college quarterback. Whether I'm running, training, traveling, or just unwinding at home, I love doing it in my core shorts from Viori. With a breathable box or brief liner, a quick to dry, super versatile, and stand-up to even my most intense training sessions. Plus, they come in three inseims and a ton of colors. Ready to try pair? Go to Viori.com, slash arch, and get 20% off at checkout. I think you're going to love them as much as I do. That's Viori.com slash ARCH, and get 20% off your first order. Exclusions apply. Visit the website for full terms and conditions. Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns. Have a great day. Hey, this is Richard Dyche, the host of the Sports Media Podcast. If you're interested in what's happening with all the places where you consume sports, the Sports Media Podcast has you covered. I've been turning down interviews all week. Oh, the copy reached out. Oprah, George Stephanopoulos. So I said, no, I was booked on the Dyche podcast before the Taylor Swift

1:05phenomenon. I must live up to my responsibility. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. This from Jack, she and it was your own fault. You and Max were doing countdowns to 12 noon. You raised the expectations of fireworks when free agency began. We did do that. I'll put my hand up. I did start ladies and gentlemen, start your engines. We use the word fireworks. Fireworks was the everyone else used fireworks. Ian Rappaport was the one that said expect fireworks from Washington. Yeah. By the way, we've gotten fireworks from Washington this week. Some of the fireworks were lit. They just kind of were duds because they couldn't close the deal on Pierce and Linderbaum and Jalen Phillips and Romeo Dobbs, et cetera. Am I missing somebody that they went after that they didn't get? I don't think so. Oh, Tray Hendrickson. Yep, there it is. That would have been, had we

2:05been sitting here today talking about Tray Hendrickson and oh, by the way, on the verge of giving brand an IUCA proof-it deal. And the IUCA thing, I think I'm telling you, I think that's going to happen. It seems all but certain. Just from Rebecca, it's one of those worst cap secrets in the lead, but it's just waiting on, on San Francisco to finally make that decision to release. Yes. Shepter reported last night that there's no rush because they owe him no money. There are no trigger dates for more money and they can wait it out to see if somebody decides to offer something. You know, obviously the preference would be to get it done now, but there are no activities until after the draft. So if San Francisco is going to wait until the draft to see if anybody offers, you know, if they don't get the player they want, they don't get a receiver and somebody comes up with, you know, you'd have to come up with something meaningful enough, right? Well, no, because it's a release player. It's not, he's not eligible for free agency. It's a

3:09release player. So it's not like there's a comp pick for him. So anyway, this was Tim Settle earlier this morning talking about being in Washington and he was asked about what he thinks his role will be. Here's what he said. Hey, Tim, also welcome back to town. What was the terms of like playing? Well, what did they kind of sell you on as to the role? I know it's evolving with a new defensive coordinator, but what did they kind of sell you on the role? How they kind of saw you fitting in? However, they want to meet him. I'm interchangeable. So I mean, you know, however they want to use me, I'm here, you know, if that's to play no, that's to play three, if they want me to line up outside, I can do it all, but I'm coming to control the middle of the field. I would say, but, you know, I'm definitely looking forward to, I think I'm going to be using it a really good way. And I feel like I'm going to be used definitely to help the defense,

4:10you know, just being able to penetrate and do what I've been doing the past like my career, just being able to be involved and just cause havoc and just being able to destruct plays every play and just being able to just to be a force. Tim Settle mentioned everything there. And, you know, that's the area where we're, you know, we're probably not going to know until we know. And that is when they start playing games, what it will really look like and where these players are lining up and playing. Although with a new coordinator, you know, these off-season practices, these mini camps, certainly the training camp, even maybe a preseason game or two, you're going to want these coordinators to get into the rhythm of being a first-time play caller. So maybe we'll see more about, you know, the more of a reveal on what they're going to be when the season opener on the road this year against the New York Giants comes on September 13th. I'm predicting a,

5:16I'm just going to tell you right now they're going to open up on the road. Seems like they've had, you know, a lot of home openers in recent years, including last year, of course. Yeah, although the year before that was at Tampa, right? That was Jaden's first game at Tampa. Mox schedule about coming soon, about six weeks away, six or seven weeks away. Who knows, maybe I'll have Washington in the first Wednesday night pre-thanks giving game. I thought a lot about that yesterday because I like to think about the schedule, the NFL schedule and real games. I don't think I want that game. I don't think too much of that. It's a night for friends, for family. And now, and look, when football's on TV, it's on TV. In my house, it doesn't matter. The Thursday night games, even if it's a bad matchup, it's on, and it'll be on on Wednesday night before Thanksgiving if they play that game. And it'll get a massive

6:16audience. There's no doubt. I'd rather kind of have the football week and start with the lines at home on Thanksgiving day. All right, let's get back to the phone lines. Your reaction to this first week, a very busy week, obviously, for Washington. Top three money spent. Top three in new players added Chad in Nashville. Chad, what's up? What's up, cab? Yeah, man, if I would have called Monday, I would have sounded pretty dramatic, but I probably wouldn't have sounded as, uh, you know, as Ion dramatic as he is. I don't know what he's talking about. AP did exactly what we needed to do, which was getting younger. He gave it a B minus B plus, which for him, well, for him, it's not, it's not, it's, it's like average because he was a straight A student, but that's what Ion is. Ion's meh to pretty much everything. Now, I will say I was a little dramatic on Monday. I kind of

7:17forget having a GM, you know, for once, when we hadn't really had a GM since I was pretty much a little kid and, you know, trust in the process, I just was kind of getting sick of hearing, oh, man, they were so close, you know, starting to get to the spiel of like, man, you can't close the deal. You, you're pretty great at finding talent and often with the players, but you're not closing the deal. Now, but then after yesterday, I kind of look at even some of the contracts and I feel like a couple of the players that got, I have in my opinion, kind of cheap. I like them and they got faster everywhere on the board. And younger. You got to give them and younger. That's what you want. You went from the oldest team in the league, all right, and a slow, which means slow to faster. I mean, you're lying back or runs faster than you're tied in your D in runs faster than the corner that you just that you just signed. If there's one pick I didn't like or don't get, it is the corner. Now, I don't know how they go about, you know, assessing these players. I don't know if

8:21they're like, maybe it's coaching. Hey, I can use that talent and I can change that type of thing. But I like what AP did. I'm going to be honest with you. I think the draft is going to be crucial for him this year to hit because and I know you don't have a lot of picks. That's what was concerning me too earlier this week is you don't have a lot of picks. Everyone wants them to trade someone, trade them for what? And if you don't love somebody at seven, then you do need to try to trade back if you don't love somebody. The other caller that was saying that. Yeah, but let me just tell you, they don't love somebody at seven. In this draft, the chances of trading back are not going to be very high. There's just not going to be an appetite to trade up to seven. And honestly, I don't think you get Jeremiah love. I really think the Titans, I mean, I talked a lot of Titan fans and I live here in Nashville. I think the Titans draft love, in my opinion, I think he's gone before we get there. He gets there. And I think the beins that you signed, I think that helps kind of maybe narrow it down. Running back, I thought that

9:26they would go ahead and land somebody soon. But at the same time, you need a center. You have 20 million, I think to work with. I think letting go of Beaudish. I think they think that Allegretti is a cheaper, cheaper Beaudish. And that's the only reason they did it. I don't know why. That's the only question mark right now again with you with what you're. That's the one that I'd really love to know. And I'm going to try to find out what the plan there and why it didn't happen with Beaudish coming back. It's very possible with no guaranteed money left. They were like, no, you're not worth that. You're not worth a three year extension for 30 million. But we'll offer you this. And he said, no, I'd rather take my chances if you want to release me. And we still haven't seen the true details or I haven't anyway. I know it's three for 30, but I don't know how much of its guaranteed with the chargers. But yeah, um, thanks, Chad. As always, appreciate that. This from Brian Brian just said, this feels very much like a McGee McClain

10:36class. Remember when they were signing all those defensive players like, I can't even remember McClain's first name is Stacey McGee, I believe. They were both cowboys, right? They're both cowboys. And they, you know, there were others like Coliver and Deshan Goldson and Joran Johnson. Ricky, Ricky Jean, I think turned out to be a pretty decent player. He was okay. But yeah, Stephen Pia. I mean, there were, there were a couple of those years where Bruce literally went to TJ Maxx and looked for that, that bottom floor big bin of 80% off and just started doing his shopping from there, which is why, you know, all of his suits always looked flammable. I don't think there were many natural fibers in them. I'm kidding. But man, was he a bargain basement shopper?

11:39Dre, Dre, thanks for holding. Go ahead. What's going on? I'm Arche Manning, Viori athlete in college quarterback. Whether I'm running, training, traveling, or just unlining at home, I love doing it in my core shorts from Viori. With a breathable box or brief liner, they're quick to dry, super versatile, and stand up to even my most intense training sessions. Plus, they come in three inseims and a ton of colors. Ready to try pair? Go to Viori.com, slash Arche, and get 20% off at checkout. I think you're going to love them as much as I do. That's v-u-r-i.com slash ARCH, and get 20% off your first order. Exclusions apply. Visit the website for full terms and conditions. Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns. Have a great day. We talk about mindset and vision and the work that actually moves the needle. Listen to Aspire with emigrate available where you get your podcasts. Thanks for having me on. How are you doing? Good.

12:40Not much. I'm actually very intrigued by the free agent. The free agency so far. We have a lot of holes to fill, and the defense, that's like they're trying to set Dorante Jones up for success, like they didn't do with Joe Witt, pending on health and scheme fit. I think they add a few more players, and they might have a chance. Yeah, I mean, when that first year, they did add Bobby Wagner and Dorant's Armstrong in Fowler, Jr., and they drafted a bunch of defensive players, Jeremy Chin. They had to turn an entire roster for the most part over. You can't do it in one year. You can barely really do it in two years, but after three, and this is why we're seeing we've seen a four-year deal. We've seen three three-year deals. Away was a four-year deal. Settles,

13:41Chanel, and a Conquo, or three-year deals, and Nick Cross is a two-year deal. Two-year deal. We're not seeing all the one-year deals. We're not seeing veteran players that you could get sort of on the cheap, but might be good mentors to change the culture in the locker room, which was a lot of what Wagner and Fowler and Erts. A lot of that was about, we got to change the culture of this building. I mean, this place is Lancet, which it was. And then even on offense, and I agree, even on offense, I'm glad if we're potentially moving on from Zach Erts, I felt like his Ralph Running was predictable and defenses teed off on it. And, uh, hello, Dres kicking the car mode. We'll move on to Greg, but thanks for the call, Dres, Greg and Reston, go ahead. Hey, what's up, Kev? I'm fairly unimpressed. I kind of don't

14:47understand the huge pendulum swing where everybody's now praising AP. I look at the whole aggressive narrative that people have been pushing. If they were aggressive, they would have won some of those bids for the high-end players they were going after. I would say they'd been active. And you look at some of those contracts besides OA, outside of OA, none of those contracts looked like they had to be very aggressive to get those. And they're filling up spots that were left over from empty roster spots. Anyways, like, yeah, they got younger and faster. They got better. But how hard was it to get younger and faster from that team last year? And I think if they were aggressive, they would have landed one of those top ones. And I think that they weren't aggressive because they're being conservative. But the question there, Kevin, is- Well, I think in all and away, there was competition. So they did land both of those players with perhaps significant competition. But I don't mind the way you've described it. You know, they've been very active. I think aggressive, I think, to describe it as overly aggressive would be inaccurate because they would have landed one of those players by just paying a lot more money. And it's kind of silly money to do that. But I hear what you're saying. That's fine.

15:53And why I think they should have paid silly money to one of them at least would be if you look at the roster space the next few years, you don't pay silly money because you're concerned with your roster construction and resigning your young stud players. We have one. We have one that we're worried about signing resigning for the next three years. So I don't understand why you couldn't get aggressive enough to get a linder bomb, why you couldn't get aggressive enough to get Alex Pierce to leave the buddy Daniel Jones to the point of blank checks. Because there's no- we're number one in cap space again next year right now even with the signings. So I don't know. By the way, linder bombs the one that I would have been fine with them overpaying the projected market, you know, and even overpaying with the, you know, going a little bit higher than the Raiders. That one would have, I would have been totally okay with, but I also don't want Greg. I don't want the silly spending where we do. There's certain, you know, there's a certain age group in this fan base. It has the experience of the Snyder first nine years where it was, it was a

16:58laughing stock. I mean, it was fun to watch it, but it was really, you know, it was a clown show with everybody else. There's no doubt that Adam Peters definitely has an idea of what he's willing to pay. And he thinks that that is the market for that player. And to your point, I don't think he gets impulsive. I think he's very disciplined during these days. And he won't go, you know, he's not so hard-lined that he won't go slightly above because I think they probably had to do that with a way to a certain degree, especially with the guaranteed money. But linder bombs the one that I would have been okay with, you know, paying the largest center contract in NFL history, because he's that good and the need was that severe. I agree with you that I don't do the silly money thing either. And in a normal cap climate, I wouldn't at all. But what would be the downside to signing Alex Pierce or linder bomb to 32

17:58million dollars a year for three or four years? Look at our cap the next three or four years. Well, how about just with linder bomb? 28 million. How about we just go a million more a year and for, you know, essentially over, you know, over a three-year period, an extra nine million bucks. I would have done that in a heartbeat. No doubt. If it would have made a difference. I mean, no doubt. Pierce was not your roster's empty for two years. Yeah, Pierce, to me, I don't. I'm glad they didn't land Pierce, to be honest with you. I'm fine with that. I would, I would have loved dobs for what he got. And we'll see. But yeah, now it's very active though. A very active week for sure. And bigger commitments than they've ever made. Money-wise and year-wise in terms of guaranteed dollars. Sean and DC go ahead. Yeah, hey, Kevin, just a couple of points. Just the first thing. I think we should take it easy on Ian.

19:01You do have to room or I and you do have to remember it is big 10 kind of season coming up. That Purdue mixed double film will not grind itself and he's only got so much time. Let me tell you something. It's not just the Purdue mixed, the Purdue mixed doubles team against Northwestern in that first round of the big 10 tournament. I mean, he won't even listen that week. We won't get any calls from him that entire week. He'll be so needy with that, especially with his two hand back. I'm rolling in too. I imagine he's monitoring the wires closely for that. So, but wait, the two hand backhand was not a shot. Lots of men have two handed backhands, including yours truly, but continue please. To each their own. So I love what's been happening. I honestly, I was one of those people freaking out on Monday. I will gladly admit that I couldn't be more happy. I think they've completely remade the defense with youth and speed and all that stuff and I happen to like all the guys. If you're an NFL fan, I think you'll be familiar with some of these players. Now, it is time to get James and some of his toys, right?

20:06So here's what I'm going to throw out to you. Now, Stan made a trade suggestion a little while ago. I think that was fairly ridiculous, but I'm a Jeremiah love guy. I think the guy's going to be a monster. If you don't, you know, that's fine too. But what about this? You said you're not going to take the seven pick overall unless it's B-John, right? So I think you can see where I'm going about this. What about we trade number seven for B-John. Remember James Pierce on the Falcons who was nasty last year. That guy's going to jail for a long time. What about number seven? Probably the first next year, second next year, probably some kind of a decent player as well. What about figuring out a way to get B-John on this team? Well, what mind would Atlanta have to be in to deal B-John Robinson? Right now, the most productive running back in total yards from scrimmage in the game. Maybe the best total yards from scrimmage player in the game

21:09right now. It's, it require a lot more than number seven overall. Of course, it was, it was, it was not trading. Why are we doing this? I don't know, because I really want them Kevin. I really love them. Yeah, I would love them too. And I, and I like Jeremiah love. Like watching Notre Dame, I'm like, man, that guy's going to be great. I just, at number seven overall, to me, I don't put him in the B-John class. I don't even put him in the Gibbs class. I think there's more straight line. I've said Josh Jacobs with blazing speed, like a much faster version of Josh Jacobs, which by the way is not bad. It's one hell of a running back in the NFL. No doubt. But if they take an offensive player at seven, I hope it's Carl Tate. I think he's going to be a really good player. I do think a kind of serious conversation does have to be had about the lack of toys that Jayden has been surrounded with. I mean, look at what she Chicago has done. Yeah. I mean, they, they spend two first rounders, a second rounder. I mean, Luther

22:13Bird would, I mean, anyways, we need to, that needs to happen. No doubt. It does. Appreciate the call. Stay on hold, Robert and Jason and anybody else. And then we'll get to Dante Wittner at noon. Kevin, she and show the team 980 and the team 980.com. What's going on? I'm Arche Manning, Viori Athlete and college quarterback, whether I'm running, training, traveling, or just unlining at home, I love doing it in my core shorts from Viori. With a breathable box or brief liner, they're quick to dry, super versatile, and stand up to even my most intense training sessions. Plus, they come in three in seems and a ton of colors. Ready to try pair? Go to Viori.com, slash Arche and get 20% off at checkout. I think you're going to love them as much as I do. That's Viori.com slash Arche and get 20% off your first order. Exclusions apply. This is the website for full terms and conditions. Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns. Have a great day.

23:14I'm Mark Salinger, producer and one of the hosts of the Moth podcast. For nearly two decades, the Moth has brought live storytelling to stages around the world and to millions of listeners. These are real people telling true stories from their lives. Stories about a lost family recipe, about working to free a wrongfully convicted man, about realizing you need to leave your May December romance. Stories that will move you, surprise you, make you laugh. Stories you can't forget. Join us. Follow and listen to the Moth wherever you get your podcasts.