Talks could start heating up 'on both ends' for the Commanders and three time Pro Bowl free agent
The questions about the Washington Commanders' situation at left tackle aren't going away anytime soon. There is a very good chance they won't go away throughout training camp and even into the start of the season, too.That's because there isn't a permanent solution on the roster, right now. Sure, there are a couple of guys […]
The questions about the Washington Commanders' situation at left tackle aren't going away anytime soon. There is a very good chance they won't go away throughout training camp and even into the start of the season, too.
That's because there isn't a permanent solution on the roster, right now. Sure, there are a couple of guys that present viable options, but we don't know if they're going to provide the snaps needed to keep Jayden Daniels upright on both a short- and long-term basis.
At this point in the year, there typically isn't an end-all-be-all solution. Especially when it comes to a premium position like left tackle. Teams are going to do everything they can to either a) make sure they keep their in-house guy locked up or b) immediately snag whatever top free agent is on the wire.
But, in this particular offseason, three-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro left tackle, David Bakhtiari, is still available as he recovers from offseason knee surgery.
Bakhtiari has already been linked (speculatively, of course) to the Commanders on many occasions. In May, he was deemed on schedule to play in 2024 and he recently provided another update, saying things are "gonna heat up on both ends" over the next two months when it comes to finding a new employer.
Cornelius Lucas and third-round rookie Brandon Coleman are considered the top contenders for the left tackle job. Lucas is entering his 11th season in the NFL and has shown flashes of solid enough play on the left side, but it remains to be seen if he carry the weight that comes with playing a full 17-game season. And, obviously, Coleman is a rookie, so he has everything to prove over the coming months.
Bakhtiari would have to show his knee is good enough to provide effective play and even then, it'll be anyone's guess as to how long he actually lasts. It's been setback after setback with his knees (not his fault, of course) to where a team will be taking on a significant gamble in terms of his availability.
But, there are ways to mitigate those concerns. The Commanders could offer Bakhtiari an incentivized contract based on playing time, just like the New York Jets did with Tyron Smith, a left tackle with his own lengthy injury history. The more Bakhtiari plays, the more money he makes. It's that simple.
We'll see what happens, but this is certainly a feasible pairing that can work out if both parties want it to happen.
