The Washington Commanders spent all season learning what life is like with a franchise quarterback with all the makings of a superstar.
Jayden Daniels is the engine of Washington’s emergence and the biggest reason why the Commanders will be expected to compete every season soon.
But it didn’t take long in the NFC Championship Game to show that Washington was a full step behind the Philadelphia Eagles and the true Super Bowl contenders
With more cap space than 29 teams, the Commanders will have the opportunity to sign, trade, and draft their way to a top-class roster headlined by a superstar under center.
Washington did a nice job of elevating its floor in free agency before the 2024 season. With that roster construction comes the chance to swing for the fences.
Subsequently, the Commanders were urged by the 33rd Team to sign a major upgrade at receiver in Cincinnati Bengals star Tee Higgins.
“The Washington Commanders are heading into Year 2 with Jayden Daniels and are sitting on nearly $100 million in cap space,” Marcus Mosher wrote. “Now is the time to be aggressive, and you can bet they will be this offseason.
“Tee Higgins is the top player on the market, and the Commanders could easily make him the highest-paid receiver in the league. Adding Higgins with Terry McLaurin would ensure that Washington has enough playmakers to win the NFC next season.”
To avoid wasting Daniels’ immense potential, optimizing the passing offense is imperative. Higgins, who posted 911 yards and 10 scores in 12 games, would be a significant improvement upon boundary receivers Dyami Brown and Noah Brown – both of whom are free agents come March.
It’s possible Higgins doesn’t want to be second fiddle again after playing in Ja’Marr Chase’s shadow for so long, but it stands to reason that he could be prioritized over Terry McLaurin while still benefiting from playing with a co-star out wide.
And if there’s any additional hesitancy, setting the market at receiver is one way to quiet those concerns – the Commanders shouldn’t have any issue spending.
If overpaying for a receiver puts Washington over the top, so be it. Nobody will care how much Higgins is being paid if he’s doing it with a Super Bowl ring in his possession.
