A big reason for the Washington Commanders' 2024 success was the veterans that were brought in to not only help Dan Quinn build and instill his culture, but to also help the team win games.
Jeremy Chinn is one of those guys and he had one of the best -if not the best- years of his career, last year. His 117 total tackles, one interception, and two fumble recoveries tied previous career-highs and he also set a career-best in tackles for loss, with seven.
The Commanders signed Chinn to a one-year deal, so he's currently an impending free agent. The Commanders have until 4 p.m. ET on March 12 before Chinn hits the free agent market, so there's plenty of time to work out a deal.
But if Adam Peters and Co. can't figure something out before then, they're going to have solid competition when it comes to acquiring Chinn's services and ESPN analyst Ben Solak predicts the Baltimore Ravens, in particular, will make a hard charge at the soon-to-be sixth-year veteran:
Big prediction for the offseason: The Ravens' age and lack of speed in the secondary nearly swamped their season, and they'll be desperate to avoid a similar trap in 2025. They will go after free agent safety Tre'von Moehrig, who had a strong contract year with the Raiders, and Jeremy Chinn, who is a great Kyle Hamilton foil, to revitalize the core of their defense. - Ben Solak, ESPN
Losing Chinn would be a big blow to the Commanders defense and the secondary in particular. He's a hammer that can play all over the field and his physical tone is exactly what Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. look for when establishing the vibe on defense and in an overall sense. There are some OK backup options behind him, so the sky wouldn't be falling, but none of them brings what Chinn does to the table.
Fortunately, money isn't an issue in Washington. With over $68.8 million in effective cap space (cap room that's already factored in the projected cost of the 2025 draft class), the Commanders have plenty to work with and won't be outbid without discretion. They basically have a no-trade clause and choose wherever they want to go and whatever they want to do without having to let outside influence factor in.
And lastly, it's not like the Commanders are picking the top-5 of the draft, or anything. Hell, they got farther than the Ravens did in the playoffs. So, playing for a contender like the Ravens doesn't mean as much when placed beside playing for the Commanders.
It makes too much sense for Chinn to stay and the dynamics around him work, as well. It'll be a surprise if he signs elsewhere but if he's allowed to test the market, then the Commanders better be ready for multiple challenges from all angles.
